When Should You Consider Prenatal Genetic Testing?
Pregnancy is exciting, but it’s also a time filled with making important decisions. For some, that means deciding whether to undergo prenatal genetic testing. The decision to do prenatal genetic testing can be complicated, but it can help to learn as much as you can about how it works.
What Is the Difference Between Prebiotic and Probiotic Foods?
The gut microbiome, the unique population of microbes that live within the intestines, is a popular topic in digestive research. While we used to think of microorganisms in the gut as harmful germs, many are actually helpful to us. Evidence also shows that adding probiotics and prebiotics to the diet can help the microbiome thrive. But what are prebiotic and probiotic foods, and what is the difference between them? Having a clear understanding of what these terms mean and why it’s beneficial to keep the microbiome strong can improve your diet.
The Facts About COPD and Preventing Lung Infections
Lung infections are common and treatable, but they can be serious for people with lung diseases like chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD). Having COPD makes hospitalization and complications from a lung infection more likely. Severe lung infections can cause permanent damage and may be life-threatening. Managing your COPD and other conditions is key to preventing lung infections.
What Are Triglycerides? What You Need to Know
You probably know that high cholesterol is a risk factor for heart attack—but having high levels of triglycerides can also put you at risk, especially if you already have cardiovascular disease. What are triglycerides, and what can you do to keep them at a healthy level?
How Injections for Back Pain Work & When They’re an Option
Most Americans have back pain at some time or another. It’s a common reason for missed work and trips to the doctor. If basic over-the-counter care isn’t helping your pain, could injections for back pain be the solution?
Top Reasons Sugar Alcohols May Not Be a Good Sugar Substitute
If you’re trying to cut back on the amount of sugar you eat, you may turn to foods with sugar substitutes rather than sugar. But are these sugar alcohols really a healthy alternative?
What Does It Mean If You Have Fruity Breath?
You have a faint taste of fruit in your mouth, but you haven’t eaten fruit all day. What could be causing your fruity breath?
Ear Tube Surgery
Do you sometimes wonder if you or your child would benefit from ear tube surgery? Here’s how to recognize whether you or the child might, what to expect from the procedure — and how to avoid needing it in the first place.
Contact Dermatitis: Is Your Laundry Detergent Causing a Skin Rash?
You recently started using a new brand of laundry detergent, and now you have an itchy rash. Could the laundry detergent be to blame? Yes. Your rash could be the result of contact dermatitis, a reaction to components in the detergent.
Strengthen Your Immune System with 7 Simple Strategies
From diet and exercise to washing your hands, learn what the experts say about keeping your immune system in shape to protect you from becoming ill.