Human-caused climate change has already made heat waves around the world more frequent and intense. Scientists who study the role of global warming on weather say that every heat wave today bears the fingerprints of the climate crisis. Climate change, driven primarily by humans burning fossil fuels, is worsening global extreme weather in general, but…
Fibroids grow in the uterus. They are almost always noncancerous. You can have one or more. A fibroid may be too small to see with the eyes alone or it can grow as big as a grapefruit or larger, even filling the pelvis or stomach area and making someone appear pregnant. “These are not just…
Mayo Clinic physicians are working hard to change how clinicians and patients think about aging. A new publication in Mayo Clinic Proceedings outlines a new framework for “healthspan” — the years of life spent in good health, with preserved function, cognition and independence. The paper, coauthored by Christina Chen, M.D., a Mayo Clinic physician in internal medicine and…
During hot weather, the body loses more water through sweating as it works to stay cool. Even mild dehydration can trigger thirst, making you want to reach for a drink more often than usual. In addition, heat increases the body’s need for fluids and electrolytes, especially during outdoor activities or exercise. Choosing water as your…
During periods of intense heat, many people experience a noticeable loss of appetite, and even the thought of a hot meal can seem unappealing. This is not simply a matter of preference but the result of the body’s complex thermoregulatory system, which shifts resources toward cooling rather than digestion as temperatures rise, according to The…
The human gastrointestinal tract houses roughly 100 trillion microorganisms (good bacteria). These microorganisms make up what’s called the gut microbiome. These good bacteria fight off bad bacteria to help keep our intestinal tract healthy. Probiotics: Promoting digestion, benefiting health Probiotics are living organisms, also known as microbes. They’re primarily bacteria and yeast whose main role…
Researchers at the University of Calgary have reported what could be a major breakthrough in the treatment of colorectal cancer: removing a single gene may render tumor cells visible to the immune system and dramatically improve the effectiveness of immunotherapy. The study, published in the journal Cell Reports Medicine, was led by Dr. Arshad Ayyaz…
Fiber has been getting a lot of attention in the news lately. What exactly is dietary fiber, and why is it important for overall health? Dietary fiber refers to the parts of plant-based foods that your body can’t digest or break down. Unlike proteins, fats, or simple carbohydrates, fiber passes through the digestive system largely…
Skin cancer is the most common cancer in the U.S., and it only takes one blistering sunburn during childhood or adolescence to nearly double a person’s chance of developing melanoma later in life, according to the American Academy of Dermatology Association. Since babies are much more prone to sunburn than older kids, it’s especially important to…
Whether skies are clear or overcast, your skin is exposed to ultraviolet (UV) radiation from the sun. UVB rays are the primary cause of sunburn, while UVA rays penetrate more deeply, contributing to premature aging, such as fine wrinkles and sunspots. Both forms of UV radiation increase the risk of skin cancer. A tan is…
