About 1 in 10 couples trying to have a baby suffer from infertility. The National Institutes of Health notes that advancing age is the primary cause of infertility, but there are other factors that can affect the chances of having a baby including excessive alcohol consumption, smoking, exposure to environmental toxins, certain medicines, radiation treatment…

Among a group of 176 office workers, those who participated in a three-month program aimed at improving their sitting posture were less likely to report neck pain, back pain, elbow pain, and knee pain during the course of the study. Journal of Education and Health Promotion, December 2018

Many people suffer from abdominal bloating, which feels like an inflated balloon in the abdomen. The International Foundation for Gastrointestinal Disorders notes these common triggers for bloating: too much gas in the intestine; abnormally high amounts of bacteria in the small intestine; imbalance of microorganisms that live in the bowel, which could be the result…

Although rare, vision problems do occur among newborn and infants. The American Optometric Association lists the following signs of vision problems in this age group: excessive tearing, which may indicate blocked tear ducts; red or encrusted eye lids, which could signal an eye infection; constant eye turning, which may signal a problem with eye muscle…

Chapped lips are more common during the winter months. To prevent dry chapped lips, the Mayo Clinic recommends the following: before going outside in cold weather, apply a lubricating lip cream or balm; avoid licking your lips; drink plenty of fluids; moisten the indoor air with a humidifier; avoid contact with irritants or allergens; and…

While the underlying mechanisms are not yet understood, the current evidence suggests a link between obstructive sleep apnea (OSA) and elevated triglyceride and cholesterol levels. Internal Medicine (Czech), November 2018

The National Stroke Association reports that stroke remains among the top ten causes of death in children. The following are risk factors for stroke among youths: heart defects present at birth, sickle-cell disease, immune disorders, diseases of the arteries, abnormal blood clotting, head or neck trauma, mother’s history of infertility, infection in the amniotic fluid,…

In a study involving 162 patients with both prediabetes and vitamin D deficiency, those who took a high dose vitamin D supplement for six months experienced improved insulin sensitivity that significantly reduced their risk for developing type 2 diabetes. Diabetes Research and Clinical Practice, December 2018

Wrinkles are a part of aging, but you can take steps you can take to keep your skin smoother for longer. To accomplish this, the American Academy of Dermatology recommends the following: use sunscreen daily on all exposed skin; avoid tanning; use a moisturizer; test makeup and skin care products to determine if you will…

Scientists from Northwestern University report that individuals may soon be able to wear a small battery-free patch that can alert them when they are approaching an unsafe level of ultraviolet (UV) ray exposure. Researcher Dr. Steve (Shuai) Xu notes, “In the [United States], we’re in a skin cancer epidemic, which is driven by excessive UV…