For many people, a case of COVID-19 lasts a week or two. For millions of adults, though, symptoms stick around for weeks, months, even years. Long COVID is associated with more than 200 symptoms that return or persist more than four weeks after initial infection, including neurological, respiratory, gastrointestinal and cardiovascular complaints. “Long COVID remains…
We spend a lot of our days sitting down. We go from our desks at school or work to our cars and then to our couch to watch television and play on our phones. Sitting and sedentary behavior have been linked with many health issues, including heart disease, diabetes and certain types of cancer. Sitting…
Processed foods have a bad reputation. Countless articles blame processed foods for obesity and chronic disease, and we’re frequently advised to rid our diets of processed foods to improve our health. This negative reputation isn’t entirely accurate for all processed foods, though. “Processing refers to any alteration to the food, whether it’s heating, freezing, washing…
Regular exercise provides many health benefits, from reduced risk of chronic conditions to improved mood, sleep and focus. Walking is often recommended as an easy way to exercise, but for people with limited mobility in their lower bodies, it’s not a viable option. Mobility impairments, which can result from age, injury or a chronic disease,…
Have you ever felt bad about yourself because you ate an extra serving of a tasty side dish at a family gathering? Or believed you’re a failure because you had birthday cake at a party? Do you beat yourself up when you order something besides a salad at a restaurant? You might know that a…
When life gets busy, is your workout the first thing you eliminate so you can get everything done? It’s just one workout, you think. But then weeks have gone by, and you haven’t returned to your exercise routine. If you’re not exercising, you’re not alone. The U.S. Department of Health and Human Services (HHS) recommends…
The Food and Drug Administration (FDA) approved the medication Ozempic in 2017 to control blood sugar (glucose) for people with type 2 diabetes. But it made headlines this year because celebrities and social media influencers were using it for weight loss, causing a shortage of the medicine for those who really needed it. Andrea Coviello,…
Obesity has been an epidemic in the United States for more than 40 years, and it’s getting worse. According to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC), 42 percent of U.S. adults are obese. And nearly 20 percent of children and teens are considered obese. These stats are concerning because obesity is a medical…
Health experts and fitness buffs have long espoused the health benefits of building muscles—or strength training—for adults. It improves balance, builds stronger bones and muscles, and increases metabolism to help the body burn more calories. Strength training also can protect joints from injury. The popularity of this type of exercise has now gained traction among…
Your teen is anticipating a big day: midterm exams followed by band practice and a soccer game. The pressure is on to perform at a high level. It’s easy to grab an energy drink for a pick-me-up—the promise of enhanced focus and athletic performance attracts many teens. But these drinks have serious downsides. The high…
Along with a dip in temperatures and a rise in pumpkin spice-flavored fare, the hallmarks of fall include respiratory illnesses such as the flu and RSV, or respiratory syncytial virus. Cases of COVID-19 are also increasing. This year’s flu shot is now available, and there’s a new vaccine for RSV. Plus, another COVID-19 booster is…
Having obesity does not mean you will get cancer, but it does mean you are more likely to get cancer than if you maintained a healthy weight. Excess body weight is thought to be responsible for about 11 percent of cancers in women and about 5 percent of cancers in men in the U.S., as…
