Brain stimulation therapy holds promise

By Robert H. Shmerling, M.D.
Posted on April 14, 2023

Imagine this as a morning routine that replaces your first cup of coffee: You wake up feeling a bit foggy, so you slip on a wearable device that looks like an extra-thick headband. You turn on the power source and settle in while electrical current flows into your brain. Twenty minutes later, feeling more focused and energized, you start your busy day feeling grateful for this new... READ MORE

Much of mom’s wellness advice is myths

By Carmen Dargel, M.D.
Posted on April 12, 2023

Dear Mayo Clinic: My mom always scolded me for not drying my hair after washing it, telling me I’d catch cold. She also talked about dressing right for the weather, starving a fever and lots of other things. I’m wondering if there is any truth in any of these sayings. With Covid still lingering, I’m trying to convince my grandchildren, ages 8 and 12, to be more mindful about... READ MORE

Researchers study meditation for anxiety

By Margaret Foster
Posted on April 11, 2023

Can a once-a-week meditation class alleviate anxiety and depression? That’s what researchers at Georgetown University Medical Center want to find out. Its previous study found meditation could be as effective as an anti-anxiety medication. In January, they published their findings in JAMA Psychiatry that a study of more than 276 people found mindfulness-based stress reduction was more... READ MORE

Tech may reverse paralysis due to stroke

By Lauran Neergaard
Posted on April 10, 2023

A stroke left Heather Rendulic with little use of her left hand and arm, putting certain everyday tasks like tying shoes or cutting foods out of reach. “I live one-handed in a two-handed world, and you don’t realize how many things you need two hands for until you only have one good one,” the Pittsburgh woman said. So Rendulic volunteered for a first-of-its-kind experiment:... READ MORE

Health Shorts — April 2023

By Lauran Neegaard and Carla K. Johnson
Posted on April 05, 2023

Can’t take statins? Try this new pill Drugs known as statins are the first-choice treatment for high cholesterol, but millions of people who can’t or won’t take those pills because of side effects may have another option. In a major study, a different kind of cholesterol-lowering drug named Nexletol reduced the risk of heart attacks and some other cardiovascular problems in people ... READ MORE

New technologies can keep food fresher

By Dee-Ann Durbin
Posted on March 31, 2023

Hate mealy apples and soggy french fries? Science can help. Restaurants, grocers, farmers and food companies are increasingly turning to chemistry and physics to tackle the problem of food waste. Some are testing spray-on peels or chemically enhanced sachets that can slow the ripening process in fruit. Others are developing digital sensors that can tell — more precisely than a label ... READ MORE

Who should buy new OTC hearing aids?

By Tom Murphy
Posted on March 29, 2023

It’s now a lot easier — and cheaper — for many hard-of-hearing Americans to get help. Hearing aids can now be sold without a prescription from a specialist. Over-the-counter, or OTC, hearing aids started hitting the market in October at prices that can be thousands of dollars lower than prescription hearing aids. About 30 million people in the United States deal with hearing... READ MORE

Turmeric might be beneficial for some

By Katherine Zeratsky, R.D.N.
Posted on March 27, 2023

Dear Mayo Clinic: I am a breast cancer survivor who still suffers from various aches and pains, including arthritis. A friend told me that her arthritis pain improved after she started taking turmeric. Can you tell me more about this supplement? Is it something I can add into my diet to feel better? [Ed. Note: Studies have shown that use of turmeric/curcumin decreases the... READ MORE

A screening former smokers should get

By Young Erben, M.D.
Posted on March 24, 2023

Dear Mayo Clinic: My 70-year-old father-in-law smoked for more than 30 years. I read that men who used to smoke should be screened for an abdominal aortic aneurysm. What does this screening involve? What would be done if he is found to have an aneurysm? A: Several factors can raise the risk of developing an abdominal aortic aneurysm. One of the most significant is tobacco use. In... READ MORE

A simple, more velvety sauce for pasta

By America’s Test Kitchen
Posted on March 22, 2023

The egg yolks in this dish create a velvety sauce that coats each and every piece of pasta. Heat from the pasta cooks the yolks so that they’re safe to eat, but you need to warm them up slowly or else they’ll curdle and turn into scrambled eggs. How to do it? Add hot pasta cooking water to the egg yolks, a little bit at a time. This slowly raises the yolks’ temperature, gently... READ MORE