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Why You Wince When Watching Another's Pain
Ever wonder why you instinctively wince when you see physical harm come to a TV or movie character on screen? There's a scientific explanation for why we flinch when watching painful events, even though we know it's not real, researchers reported Nov. 26 in the journal...
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One Week Off Social Media Improves Mental Health
For many young adults, social media is where life happens: Friendships, news, stress, all rolled into a single screen. But a new study suggests that stepping away, even for just one week, may help ease anxiety, depression and sleep problems. Researchers tracked 295 young...
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Tai Chi Equals Talk Therapy in Easing Insomnia
Having trouble sleeping? New Chinese research suggests the age-old practice of tai chi might help. The study found it equaled talk therapy in helping middle aged people with insomnia regain restful slumber in the long term. "Our study supports tai chi as an alternative...
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The Best Time to Eat Thanksgiving Dinner
Most American families sit down to Thanksgiving dinner in the late afternoon, typically between 4 and 5 p.m., according to a YouGov poll. This timing gives everyone a chance to enjoy a relaxed meal, socialize, and still have room for dessert or snacks later in the...
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Sticking to a Regular Bedtime Lowers Blood Pressure
A step as simple at sticking to the same bedtime each night could improve a person's blood pressure, new research suggests. In just two weeks, people whose more haphazard bedtimes shifted to a regular bedtime saw improvements in blood pressure that were equal to those seen...
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Dr. Small: Be Mindful of Mental Health This Thanksgiving
With Thanksgiving just days away, many Americans are already anticipating their favorite holiday comforts - turkey, stuffing, gravy, cranberry sauce, and pumpkin pie. While the meal and the gathering often bring joy, experts say the holiday can also have real effects on...
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All About Fiber: The Next Food Fad
U.S. consumers who have had their fill of finding protein added to everything from cereal to ice cream are about to meet the next big food fad: fiber. Americans have been boosting their protein intake for years; even Pop-Tarts and Starbucks are selling protein-enhanced...
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Daily Orange Juice May Affect Heart Health Genes
Your morning orange juice may be influencing your health in ways you can't see. In a new study published recently in the journal Molecular Nutrition & Food Research, researchers found that daily OJ intake altered gene activity connected to heart and metabolic function. For...
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Recover Faster From Common Cold Without Drugs
Everyone is at risk for the common cold. Cases tend to peak during the fall and winter months, largely because people spend more time indoors in close contact. Cold, dry weather also dries out the nasal passages, making them more vulnerable to infection. average adult...
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Survey: 72% of Adults Experience Sleepiness Daily
Tired? Well, a new national survey shows that you're not alone. Researchers found that most adults feel sleepy during the day, and that tiredness affects many parts of everyday life. The American Academy of Sleep Medicine (AASM) surveyed U.S. adults and found that 72% say...
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How to Stop Waking During the Night to Pee
The need to urinate during the night, affects one-third of adults over the age of 30 and half of those over the age of 50. Known as nocturia, it is considered a medical problem if you have to pee more than twice during the night or have trouble going back to sleep. A common...
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Nonhormonal Options for Symptoms of Menopause
Shilpa Gajarawala struggled with hot flashes, night sweats, sleep problems and brain fog. But given her history of breast cancer, treating these menopausal symptoms with hormone therapy wasn't an option. "For two years, I tried to kind of power through," said the 58-year-old...
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Daily Self-Hypnosis Decreases Hot Flashes
Self-hypnosis might help some women in menopause find relief from hot flashes. Hot flash frequency and intensity decreased by more than 50% among women who listened to a daily audio hypnosis session, researchers reported Nov. 11 in JAMA Network Open. "All sessions were...
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Regularly Listening to Music Lowers Dementia Risk
Listening to your favorite singers may do more than lift your mood - it could also protect your brain. A new study from Australian researchers found that older adults who regularly listened to music had a 39% lower risk of developing dementia compared to those who didn't...
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Eat These 4 Nutrients to Lower Blood Pressure
High blood pressure, often called "the silent killer," typically has no symptoms but is responsible for nearly half of all heart disease and stroke-related deaths worldwide. Left untreated, hypertension can also raise the risk of kidney disease and other serious organ...
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Dr. Crandall: Long-Term Melatonin May Harm Heart
New research is raising concerns about long-term melatonin use. According to the American Heart Association, a study found that people who took melatonin for more than a year had a higher risk of developing heart failure within five years compared to nonusers. They were also...
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Dark Chocolate May Give Memory a Quick Boost
Japanese researchers have discovered how the astringent "bite" of cocoa flavanols can stimulate the brain - even though very little of the compound actually enters the bloodstream. In mouse studies, the sensation of astringency triggered sensory nerves that activated...
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How a Full Moon Affects Sleep
For centuries, people have wondered if the moon has the power to influence our behavior and health. Many believe that when the full moon's radiant glow lights up the night sky, it can stir something deep within us-affecting our sleep, emotions, and even our sanity. In fact,...
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Just 3,000 Steps Daily Slows Alzheimer's Decline
A new study found that taking as few as 3,000 to 5,000 steps daily can slow the decline of Alzheimer's disease in people at increased risk by as much as three years. The study, published in Nature Medicine, involved older patients who had biological signs of the illness,...
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Family Recordings Might Ease ICU Delirium
A comforting voice from home might be enough to soothe ICU patients on ventilation, a new study says. As many as 4 in 5 ICU patients on mechanical ventilation develop delirium, or sudden confusion, panic, upset and anger. But playing recorded messages from a family member can...
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Can Simple Hand Exercises Prevent Dementia?
One of the latest trends sweeping social media are videos of hand and finger exercises said to prevent Alzheimer's disease and dementia. These exercises include clapping, tapping, arm circles, and intricate finger movements in various directions. While they may seem simple,...
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Long-Term Melatonin Might Harm Heart Health
Folks using melatonin supplements as a sleep aid might be putting themselves at risk for future heart problems, a new study says. Adults with insomnia who'd been using melatonin for a year or more had 90% higher odds of heart failure, researchers are scheduled to report Nov....
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Watching Inspiring Videos Cuts Stress, Boosts Mood
A surprising new study has found that watching short inspirational videos can be just as effective as meditation for lifting mood and reducing stress. For the study, 1,000 men and women, ages 18 to 86, watched a three- to five-minute inspiring video, or comedy clips, or...
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Dr. Small: 'Green' Mediterranean Diet Protects the Brain
A healthy diet doesn't just benefit your waistline - it may also help keep your brain sharp as you age. New research published in Clinical Nutrition suggests that a "green Mediterranean" diet can slow brain aging and improve cognitive health.Dr. Gary Small, a brain health...
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Doctors Latest Prescriptions Are to Get Outside
Find a shady spot under a tree, take a breath of fresh air and call me in the morning. Health care providers have long suggested stressed-out patients spend time outdoors. Now hundreds of providers are going a step further and issuing formal prescriptions to get outside. The...