It was a big deal when Paxlovid became available to the public in December 2021. COVID-19 was still surging across the country, causing high numbers of hospitalizations and deaths. A pill that you could take at home to reduce the risk of serious illness was a game changer. Paxlovid was authorized for adults and children…
Kids often complain of aches and pains: Tummies hurt, boo-boos bleed and limbs feel funny. As parents, it can be tough to know what’s going on. Children’s perception of pain and their ability to communicate how they feel is different from adults, says UNC Health pediatrician Edward Pickens, MD. “A child is not going to…
If you try to eat healthy and exercise regularly but can’t lose excess weight that is causing health problems, you’re not alone. Nearly 1 in 3 adults struggle with weight-related chronic conditions such as high blood pressure and type 2 diabetes. “In addition to medical problems related to obesity, obesity can impact quality of life,…
Heart attack prevention and treatment are continually improving, but research shows that young women and Black people don’t fare as well as other patients. For example, a young woman (between ages 35 and 50) who has had a heart attack is twice as likely to die compared with a young man, according to preliminary research led by…
Cardiology, Health Disparities, Heart and Vascular Health, Heart Attacks, Research, Women's Health
There’s a lot of buzz about anti-inflammatory diets—food you can eat to reduce inflammation—but do they actually work? To fully understand how foods can affect inflammation, it helps to understand what inflammation is in the first place. Inflammation is simply your immune system’s response to an irritant, whether an infection such as a cold virus…
In the span of a few decades, HIV went from an uncontrolled, terrifying illness that led to death in a matter of months or a couple of years to a treatable condition with effective medications. Today, people with HIV can live full, active lives for decades, even though the disease is still incurable. “It’s a…
Just about everyone knows someone who has dementia, a progressive brain disorder that gradually erases memory and thinking skills. Many of us are concerned about developing Alzheimer’s disease or another form of dementia as we age. Some risk factors for dementia, such as age and genes, can’t be helped. But “there are things we can…
Heart failure, also known as congestive heart failure, is a chronic condition that affects more than 6 million Americans. Despite its name, heart failure does not mean your heart has stopped working. Rather, it means that your heart has weakened or been damaged so it isn’t able to pump enough blood to the rest of…
Frozen shoulder can be a perplexing condition. One day, you might notice a little soreness in your shoulder, then within a week or so, the pain becomes intense, and you can’t raise your arm. You haven’t injured your shoulder, so what the heck is going on? Blame inflammation in the capsule surrounding the ball and…
If you experience leg pain as you get older, you may chalk it up to a normal part of aging or early signs of arthritis. However, it could be a more serious but relatively common condition called peripheral arterial disease, often known as PAD. Approximately 6.5 million people age 40 and older in the United…
Thinking of trying a “dry January” after a particularly wet December? No, we’re not talking about the weather. A practice called dry January—that’s no drinking alcohol for a month—has gained popularity in recent years. People do it to give their bodies a rest after holiday partying, to lose a few pounds and to improve sleep.…
Editor’s note: This article originally ran Aug. 30, 2021 and was updated Sept. 4, 2022 and Dec. 13, 2022. This winter is shaping up to be a doozy when it comes to infectious respiratory viruses: COVID-19, RSV and the flu. But other than a COVID-19 booster and washing your hands a lot, what can you…
