Bringing wholesome healthy tips
According to the World Health Organization, chronic obstructive pulmonary disease, or COPD, is the sixth-leading cause of death worldwide. The main cause of COPD is tobacco smoking. But what if I told you that the prognosis for a person with COPD is a lot worse if they don’t brush their teeth regularly and well? WHAT?! How are these two things possibly connected? It may seem absurd at first glance. However,…
Breast cancer recurrence happens when treatment doesn’t get rid of all the cancer cells in the breast. Treatment can shrink breast cancer tumors until they’re undetectable. However, the weakened cells are still present, and over time, they can regain strength and start to grow, potentially leading to the creation of tumors. The odds of breast cancer recurring can range between 3 and 25 percent, depending on what treatment is received…
In the 5th century B.C., the Greek physician Hippocrates said that “all parts of the body, if used in moderation and exercised in labors to which each is accustomed, become thereby healthy and well developed and age slowly …” Translation: moderate exercise on a regular basis can help a person stay healthy as they age. We’re talking about fast walking, running, swimming, cycling, dancing, hiking and squats — things that…
If you’re living with type 2 diabetes (T2D), you probably already know how important it is to take steps to keep your arteries healthy. That’s because microvascular diseases like retinopathy, known as diabetic vision loss, and nephropathy, which can lead to kidney failure, are major contributors to complications associated with T2D. It’s a significant reason your doctor will recommend you follow a healthy diet and exercise regularly. But if your…
Sometimes, dealing with age-related diseases can feel like playing that old arcade game, Whac-a-Mole. You smash one down, then another pops up, and so on. That’s why one of our favorite sayings is “prevention is the best medicine.” However, working at preventing them all could seem daunting — unless there’s a connection. That’s what’s so empowering about research revealing common risk factors that link stroke, dementia and late-life depression —…
My colleagues and I have written a lot here about the dangers of phthalates. Phthalates are synthetic chemicals used to make plastics more flexible. They’re found in everything from dish soap and detergent to lotion and deodorant to the carpet and upholstery in your home. Phthalates are endocrine disruptors. They interfere with the normal functions of the hormones that make our body work. Chronic exposure to phthalates affects every organ…
Nonalcoholic fatty liver disease (NAFLD), a condition where fat builds up in your liver, is now known as metabolic dysfunction-associated steatotic liver disease (MASLD). But while the name may have changed, its severe health impacts have not. Metabolic dysfunction, such as that caused by type 2 diabetes or obesity, could increase your odds of developing MASLD. Also, MASLD can lead to metabolic dysfunction-associated steatohepatitis (MASH), which can cause cirrhosis or…
About one in ten people in the United States has type 2 diabetes (T2D). Perhaps you’re one of them. If you are, you may be aware that the metabolic condition can impact other areas of your health, increasing risks for heart attacks, strokes and aneurysms. But fewer people know that having T2D can set you on the road to cognitive decline by kickstarting mild cognitive impairment (MCI), a transitional phase…
Brush your teeth two to three times a day, and don’t forget to floss. That’s the mantra we’ve heard since childhood, and the advice most of us follow when it comes to our oral health. But something is missing in that advice. That’s because if you’re not also cleaning your tongue, you’re not getting rid of smelly bacteria that still produce bad breath. But there’s another significant reason to make…
You may have heard the phrase “dopamine hit” in relation to something pleasurable. That’s because it’s relatively well-known that dopamine is involved in the brain’s pleasure center. Doing something you enjoy can trigger a rush of this feel-good neurotransmitter that not only causes you to feel pleasure but reinforces the behavior that made you feel that way. But sparking your brain’s reward center isn’t all that dopamine does. It also…