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Articles by Michael Spertus
How to Speed Up Healing So You Can Get Rid of That Nasty Scab
Healing is complicated, but you can speed up healing—and reduce the chances of complications like infections and scars—by making the right moves. Our editors and experts handpick every product we feature. We may earn a commission from your purchases. Stave off scabbing Scabs. So annoying. Sitting there announcing to the world that you have a boo-boo and flirting with infection.
10 Surprising Things Muscle Spasms Reveal About Your Health
What would cause a muscle spasm? At one point or another, you’ve probably had a charley horse, also known as a muscle spasm, and you wondered where it came from. Muscle spasms tend to occur when a muscle is overworked or injured, according to U.S. National Library of Medicine. For example, you’re likely to experience leg spasms when you’re running or hiking long distances.
Heart Health Tips: Foods Bad for the Heart
What not to eat for your heart Eating well for your heart is just as important as avoiding foods that are bad for your heart. Prioritizing whole foods, fresh fruits, and vegetables is the easy part. But what about pizza, French fries, and candy? They have ingredients like trans fats, refined grains, and sugar than can increase the risk of heart disease and other cardiac issues. Keep your ticker in tip-top shape by avoiding the following worst foods for your heart.
9 Foods You Should Never Eat Before Bed
Foods to avoid before bed You may nibble on a “light snack” before going to bed to avoid getting hunger pangs in the middle of the night. Despite your efforts, you toss and turn for hours in bed, and can’t help but wonder if it’s something you ate. The truth is there are certain foods, even healthy foods, that can interrupt sleep and wreak havoc on your digestion system. Unfortunately, all food can really intervene with digestion and sleep if you consume it within two to three hours before bed.
Heart Failure Treatments: What Cardiologists Recommend
Heart failure is a chronic condition that can be treated with lifestyle changes, medication, and more. Here are the cardiologist-recommended treatments for heart failure. Understanding heart failure In simplest terms, heart failure, or congestive heart failure, occurs when the heart can’t pump enough blood to meet the body’s needs. It’s surprisingly common—about 6.2 million adults in the United States have it. That’s a lot of people walking around with heart failure.
What It Means When You Have Chest Pain That Comes and Goes
Don’t shrug off chest pain that comes and goes We often think of chest pain as a sign of heart attack, yet chest pain doesn’t automatically mean you have a problem with your heart. There are plenty of other potential culprits—such as heartburn or exercise-related chest pain after a strenuous workout. Both are unpleasant. But neither is serious, like a heart attack. Still, to be clear: Cardiologists say chest pain is a warning sign you should never dismiss.
Can Dehydration Cause High Blood Pressure? What Experts Say
The link between dehydration and blood pressure Dehydration can sometimes cause low blood pressure that can lead to fainting, but not drinking enough water also can result in high blood pressure if you’re not careful. High blood pressure is when the force of blood against your artery walls is too high when your heart beats. If left untreated, this force can damage the blood vessels and cause heart disease, stroke, kidney failure, and/or vision problems over time.
9 signs you’re drinking too much water
By Lianna Roth Hursh, medically reviewed by Dr Michael Spertus of Reader's Digest | How is it possible to drink too much water? Dietitians constantly remind us that drinking enough water is absolutely vital in order for our bodies to function properly. And it is – unless you drink too much of it. Though most people look out for the signs of dehydration, over-hydration is equally as dangerous.
4 Dangerous Signs That Your Body Is Overheating—and 4 Ways You’re Making It Worse
What is overheating? If you’ve ever felt faint in a hot yoga class or looking for shade because those sun rays are making your brain bubble, you’re somewhat familiar with overheating. Another risk is not knowing the signs of dehydration. While you might not clinically suffer from heat exhaustion, those are warning signs.
Mucus in Stool: What's Normal and What's Not
Mucus is naturally produced by your gastrointestinal tract, but if you can see it in your stool it can be a sign of an infection or inflammation. smusselm/Getty Images If you make it a regular habit to peek at your poop—which we actually encourage you to do as one of those good toilet habits—then you might, on occasion, see a small amount of mucus either in the toilet or after you wipe.
10 Silent Signs You May Be Developing a Pain Pill Addiction
Hanna Kuprevich/Shutterstock The prescription problem From back pain to diabetes, arthritis to high cholesterol, many health conditions require prescription medication. These medicines can make you feel better and there are ways to use prescription drugs safely. Yet an estimated 18 million Americans ages 12 and older have misused prescription drugs at least once in the past year, according to the National Institute on Drug Abuse.
Why Is My Poop Black? 9 Most Common Reasons
When black poop happens, family practitioners like Christine Traxler, MD, and pediatricians like Alison Mitzner, MD, are often the first ones their patients call. As Dr. Traxler puts it, “There’s been lots of scary stuff in the media about black stool being a sign of cancer or other serious health problems.
Why Is My Poop Green? 9 Most Common Reasons
Green or greenish poop can be normal and has a lot of common causes behind it, from eating green foods to taking certain medications. Peter Dazeley/Getty ImagesIt may be alarming to see green poop in your toilet bowl, but it isn’t necessarily a cause for concern. All stool starts out as greenish-yellow, says Baltimore colon and rectal surgeon, Jeffery Nelson, MD, the surgical director at The Center for Inflammatory Bowel and Colorectal Diseases at Mercy Hospital in Baltimore.
12 Common Bedroom Items that Are Secretly Toxic
Is pollution invading your bedroom? Most people think about pollution as an outdoor problem that they can escape when they go inside, but indoor pollution may be even more dangerous and pervasive. According to the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA), Americans spend around 90 percent of their time inside, where the concentrations of some pollutants can be up to five times higher than what you’d typically be exposed to outside.
8 Medical Appointments to Make During Lockdown-and 2 that Can Wait
Many of the doctor's appointments on your calendar were postponed or canceled due to efforts to help slow the spread of Covid-19, and now many doctors and hospitals are opening up for business as usual. But which appointments should you reschedule STAT and which ones can wait? Medical testing and doctor visits can make you anxious, even when there’s no global pandemic to worry about. Fears of Covid-19 may only add to this stress.
Here’s What Happens When You Get Hit By a Rubber Bullet—and What to Do
The use of a rubber bullet is one of the more controversial crowd-control measures, says Robert Glatter, MD, an emergency physician in New York City. Physicians for Human Rights (PHR) have called for extreme restrictions on the use of rubber bullets, while Israel has disallowed them except in extreme circumstances and only with special approval from the chief of police, according to a 2016 report put out by PHR and the International Network of Civil Liberties Organizations (INCLO).
8 Uses for Rubbing Alcohol You Never Knew About (and 2 You Should Avoid)
Your health can benefit from rubbing alcohol in ways that go way beyond wiping down surfaces. But you have to use caution—here's what doctors want you to know about rubbing alcohol uses. Due to the spread of Covid-19, you now likely have a bottle (or a few) of rubbing alcohol in your medicine cabinet as your go-to disinfectant for killing germs. After all, rubbing alcohol is considered a powerful germicide, especially at concentrations of 60 percent or more.
Here’s What Happens When You Get Tased—and What to Do
Tasers may not be as dangerous as you think, but they still pose a significant risk if you fall into one of these categories. In a sign of the continuing unrest gripping the United States after the death of George Floyd in Minneapolis, two Atlanta police officers recently lost their jobs after tasing two students from two historically black colleges and dragging them from their car during last week’s protests in the city.
Astringent, Anti-Inflammatory, Antibacterial
One of the first home remedies in the United States was witch hazel—a shrub first used by Native Americans to treat a number of ailments, says Niket Sonpal, MD, assistant clinical professor at Touro College of Osteopathic Medicine. But researchers are just now discovering the different chemical compounds within the plant’s bark and leaves that help explain why witch hazel has been a go-to treatment for centuries for everything from infections to bug bites.
9 Secrets Your Blood Type Reveals About You
plenoy m/Shutterstock Your blood type matters Unless you've recently given blood, you may not think much about your blood type. The presence or absence of certain molecules called A or B antigens, as well as a protein called the Rh factor, determine which of the eight common blood types you have coursing through your veins.
How Safe Are Homemade Hand Sanitizers?
Normally, having hand sanitizer “on-hand” is a good thing. When you’re out and about and don’t have access to a sink, the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) notes that hand sanitizer containing at least 60 percent alcohol can be used to kill many, but not all, germs that cause illness. This includes cold, flu, and even coronavirus (COVID-19).
17 Common Lies You Tell Your Doctor (and Why You Need to Stop)
Tell your doctor the truth—your life could depend upon it Whether it's a question about how often you exercise, your vitamin pill regimen, or illicit drug use, your doctor needs to know how you're treating your body to properly and safely treat you. Unfortunately, anywhere from 60 to 80 percent of Americans fail to tell their doctors details that could make a critical difference in their care, according to research published in the journal JAMA Network Open. Not convinced you need to come clean?
17 Natural Cold Remedies That Really Work
Cold remedies that are natural may offer some relief If you’re having trouble dealing with or shaking cold symptoms, you might want to give some natural remedies a try. In addition to the strategies doctors and nurses use to treat a cold, opting for natural cold remedies at the right time may offer some additional relief, too. Note that these are the options that are thought to be effective against colds.
Why Am I So Irritable? 16 Medical Reasons
Your crankiness could be thanks to a slew of issues Don’t be so quick to blame your crankiness on one thing. Everything from a lack of sleep to certain medications could be to blame for your irritability. Here are some possible medical reasons why you always feel cranky. demaerre/Getty Images Lack of sleep Make sleep a priority if you want to make sure your mood is as good as possible. Aim for seven to nine hours a night, rather than the five or six that many adults get.
Is It too Late to Get a Flu Shot?
Flu season is here with a vengeance, but there’s still time to get your annual flu shot if you haven’t already. “It’s late—but not too late,” says William Schaffner, MD, an infectious diseases specialist at Vanderbilt University Medical Center in Nashville, Tennessee. Just don’t delay much longer, he warns. The 2019-2020 flu season is a vigorous one with more illnesses likely and it takes a week to two weeks to build up protection to the virus after vaccination.
46 Secrets Your Pharmacist Isn’t Telling You
Pharmacists have plenty of knowledge to spill Pharmacists have the inside scoop on everything from how to save money on prescriptions to common mistakes to avoid. Make the most of your visit to the drugstore and remember their recommendations and other things that pharmacists want you to know. ldutko/Shutterstock When you pick up your prescription, at a minimum, ask… What is this drug? What does it do? Why am I taking it? What are the possible side effects? How should I take it?
My "Exhaustion" Turned Out to Be Hashimoto's Disease
In 2015, 24-year-old Christa Hammond was embarking on what she called a “picture-perfect life.” The Erie, Colorado resident had recently finished graduate school and had a job in data analysis, her passion. “I’d just gotten married to Craig, the love of my life,” says Hammond, who is now 29. “Everything was going pretty much exactly as planned and you’d think I would have been overjoyed. But I wasn’t.
10 Surprising Things You Don’t Realize Are Causing Dark Under-Eye Circles
Lack of sleep isn't the only thing to blame for those dark circles under your eyes. Four doctors share why they happen, and how to brighten them. 1 / 12 What causes dark under-eye circles? The skin under our eyes is much thinner than anywhere else on the body, and it’s packed with tiny blood vessels.
13 Things You Need to Know About Body Fat
There are several types of body fat, and some types, namely brown or beige fat, are actually good for you. Here are 13 things you need to know about body fat. Here’s what you need to know about body fat Fat tends to get a bad rap, and while being overweight or obese can increase your risk of certain diseases and conditions, there is more to this story. Not all fat is created equal—and some types are even good for us.
10 Reasons to Donate Blood: What Doctors Need You to Know
Four-and-a-half million Americans need a blood transfusion annually, and that requires you (and me, and your neighbor, and your sister, and your dad) to donate blood, if you can. (Read on to see the groups of people who should not donate blood.) The process can make some people nervous, but blood donation is safe, available to most healthy adults, takes just about an hour, and you can return to work after.
11 Surprising Benefits of Giving Blood
Less than 10 percent of eligible people actually donate blood each year. If you’re one of the elite few, congrats! Giving one unit of whole blood can save as many as three lives. The number one reason people give is to help others, according to the Community Blood Center, but there are plenty of other benefits to the donor. Check out some of those benefits, all for less than an hour of your time plus free snacks.
Expert-Approved Ways to Quit Vaping
PavelKant/ShutterstockThe dangers of vaping are becoming more clear to medical experts and the general public. Inhaling the vapor from electronic cigarettes brings toxic chemicals into the lungs and, as of November 2019, had caused more than 2,051 cases of lung injuries (called “vape lung”) and 39 deaths.
Throat Lozenges: Do They Really Work?
Whether it’s flu season or you’re fighting off an icky cold, throat lozenges are one of the go-to items you may find yourself reaching for at the pharmacy. There are plenty of different flavors and brands to choose from, so it’s important to be strategic about choosing the right throat lozenges to relieve your throat symptoms. We checked in with Orlando, Florida-based health expert and surgeon Jamin Brahmbhatt, MD, to find out which ingredients to look for and which to avoid.
How Bad Is It for Me to Reuse a Tissue?
iStock/south_agency Battling a cold is exhausting: Symptoms like sore throat, cough, congestion, and sneezing can steal your will to get up and go. Still, work beckons so you force yourself to head back in. You swig a glass of possibly immunity-boosting OJ, try some zinc, and head out the door. Unfortunately because you are still exhausted from sleep deprivation and hopped up on cold meds, you forget to snag your box of tissues.
The 8 Worst Flu Shot Mistakes According to Immunity Experts-Plus, Here's Who Needs a Flu Shot in 2023
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Here's How Many Times Men Need to Ejaculate to Lower Prostate Cancer Risk
Attention men everywhere: You may have a great excuse to get it on in the bedroom. After all, it’s all in the name of science (and potentially your health). It appears that ejaculating frequently—during sex, masturbation, or while sleeping—may reduce men’s risk of prostate cancer.
11 Things Your Bowel Movements Can Reveal About Your Health
iStock/Sarah Musselman If pooping is comfortable, things are (literally) going well Pooping shouldn't require too much pushing, according to the National Institute on Aging. Likewise, bowel movements shouldn't hurt. Your BMs can tell you a lot about your health, so taking a glance in the bowl to look at color, shape, size--and even taking (a little) whiff on occasion can be important. Here are some of your weirdest pooping habits, explained by science.
12 Foods That Make Inflammation Worse
Amawasri Pakdara/Shutterstock White bread Wheat products like white bread and pasta can quickly cause inflammation in the body. “Refined wheat flours have been stripped of their slow-digesting fiber and nutrients, which means the body can break down these foods very quickly,” says Christopher Hollingsworth, MD, an endovascular surgeon at NYC Surgical Associates. The quicker our bodies break down these carbs, the faster our blood sugar levels rise.
Bug Bite Symptoms You Should Never Ignore
Changlu Wang/Courtesy Rutgers New Jersey Agricultural Experiment Station Bedbugs While bedbug bites aren’t life-threatening, it’s imperative to diagnose them when they arise. When you’re bitten by a bedbug, the bug injects an anesthetic and an anticoagulant that makes it hard for a person to realize they’ve been bitten.
59 Health Symptoms You Should Never Ignore
View as slideshow Don’t dismiss these important cues from your body that could signal huge health problems. Your life may depend on it. Pressure or tightness in the jaw, neck, or arms triocean/Shutterstock Believe it or not, you might be having a heart attack—especially if you’re a woman. Women under 55 who have had a heart attack are actually more likely to have experienced lesser-known symptoms like this.
19 Secrets Massage Therapists Know About Your Body
If your allergies are flaring You have pressure points over your eyes, forehead, cheeks, and even around your jaw. When these are tender and inflamed, and the quality of the tissue feels different, we know you might be dealing with pesky allergies, says Melanie Brunette, Associate Spa Director at Canyon Ranch wellness resort in Lenox, MA.
5 Gentle Ways to Heal Emotionally After a Miscarriage
Pressmaster/Shutterstock Guilt is tough to avoid after a miscarriage, but even if you drank a margarita, went to hot yoga, dyed your hair, took a nine-hour plane ride, or busted your bum on the ice in your driveway, the miscarriage is most likely not your fault and could not have been prevented. Don’t believe the myths that can make the miscarriage even more painful.
9 Things to Never Say to a Friend Who's Had a Miscarriage
iStock/Thinkstock “How are you doing?” This seems like a simple, well-meaning question, but Stephanie O’Leary, PsyD, clinical psychologist and author of Parenting in the Real World, explains that it has a loaded answer for any woman who has recently experienced a miscarriage. “The honest answer is likely somewhere between horrible and devastated, but posing the question puts your friend in a position to either cover up her feelings or delve into emotions that can be overwhelming,” she says.
Are You Drinking Too Much Water? 9 Telling Signs, From Nutrition Experts
Jordi Salas/Getty Images How is it possible to drink too much water? Health authorities have educated us that drinking enough water is absolutely vital for our bodies to function properly. And it is—unless you drink too much of it. Though most people look out for the signs of dehydration, experts say overhydration can be equally as dangerous.
10 Types of Poison Ivy Treatment You’ll Be Thankful to Know
dulebenets/Shutterstock Cucumber calms the rash It's not exactly a day at the spa, but using cucumber slices is a simple poison ivy treatment. Either place slices of this cooling veggie on the affected area, or mash it up to make a cucumber "paste" that you apply to the rash for soothing relief, says Rebecca Baxt, MD, a board-certified dermatologist with BAXT CosMedical in Paramus, New Jersey. Check out these tips on how to identify poison ivy so you don't get it in the first place.
50 Signs You’re Healthy from Every Type of Doctor
Marcos Mesa Sam Wordley/Shutterstock If you're a woman, your menstrual cycle is regular "Regular menstrual cycles (intervals of 27 to 35 days) are a sign of reproductive health. [They] suggest normal ovulation, and that reflects balanced hormone levels from the brain down to the ovaries.
The Danger of Swallowing Pills Without Water—It's Not Choking
Most of us at some point have taken a pill without water, either because we were in a rush, too lazy to get up from our desk, or there wasn’t a drink nearby. But here’s why it’s actually quite dangerous. Add this to the list of everyday health mistakes you might be making. Washing a pill down with water is important not only because it makes swallowing easier, but because it helps prevent the pill from getting stuck in your esophagus, which can cause much more than discomfort.
Uses for Hydrogen Peroxide You Never Knew About
iStock/tab1962 Use hydrogen peroxide as a mouth rinse Some hydrogen peroxide uses aren’t intuitive, but they still work! Hydrogen peroxide is a common active ingredient in many mouthwashes, according to the American Dental Association. Save money on mouthwash by mixing equal parts hydrogen peroxide and water and swish it around your mouth. Bonus: It’ll help naturally whiten your teeth in the process. Check out these other easy ways to whiten your teeth naturally at home.
Do You Really Need to Take Probiotics After Antibiotics?
You may have wondered whether or not you should take probiotics after antibiotics. Perhaps you’ve read about this strategy or maybe your doctor recommended it. Either way, do you really know everything about the supplements you’re taking? Should you even take them in supplement form, or is food better? Read on to learn more about probiotics and antibiotics. What are probiotics, anyway? There’s a lot of buzz around probiotics. However, many people don’t exactly know what probiotics are.
Does Sun Protective Clothing Really Work? Dermatologists Weigh In
You already know you should wear sunscreen, but it’s oh-so-easy to forget to apply it when you’re rushing to take advantage of the beautiful sunshine. (And if you do remember, chances are you’re making one of these 18 common sunscreen mistakes that up your risk for sunburn, sun damage, and even skin cancer.) Short of hiding indoors all summer, what’s an active nature lover to do? What is sun protective clothing?
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