Top 10 most-Googled health questions

By Suzy Cohen
Posted on September 16, 2024

Navigating health information online can be overwhelming. This article explores the answers to the most-Googled health questions asked during 2023 and 2024. Are you curious to know what everyone is asking “Dr. Google?” In no particular order, let’s find out. How can I lower my blood pressure? Lowering blood pressure involves dietary changes, regular exercise, stress management,... READ MORE

Smartphone use at night imperils sleep

By Albert Stumm
Posted on September 12, 2024

Like many of us, Jessica Peoples has heard the warnings about excessive screen time at night. Still, she estimates spending 30 to 60 minutes on her phone before going to sleep, mostly scrolling through social media. “Recently, I’ve been trying to limit the amount,” said Peoples, a discrimination investigator with the state of New Jersey. “I do notice that how much time I spend... READ MORE

Causes and treatment of night blindness

By Matthew Solan
Posted on September 12, 2024

Animals renowned for their outstanding night vision include owls, cats and even the dung beetle. But humans? Not so much. Over time, many people suffer from night blindness, also known as nyctalopia. This condition makes seeing in dim or dark settings difficult because your eyes cannot adjust to changes in brightness or detect light. Night blindness is especially problematic and... READ MORE

Ankle swelling and shortness of breath

By Howard LeWine, M.D.
Posted on September 11, 2024

Q: I tend to get ankle swelling on hot days. But now it seems more constant. What might cause the change? A: Lower leg and foot swelling is most often the result of an abnormal fluid buildup. Doctors call it edema. Because fluid flows downhill, it pools in the lowest parts of your body. Excess fluid retention can be triggered by many things, including summer heat, eating too much... READ MORE

Facing age-related macular degeneration

By Jim Miller
Posted on September 10, 2024

Dear Savvy Senior, Is macular degeneration hereditary? My mother lost much of her vision from it before she died, and now at age 65, I’m concerned I may get it too. What can you tell me? —Brown-Eyed Betty Dear Betty, Unfortunately, having a parent or sibling with macular degeneration does indeed increase your risk of getting it by three to four times. But the good news is... READ MORE

Yes, you can reduce some food’s calories

By Matthew Kadey
Posted on September 09, 2024

Calorie counts are everywhere: stamped on packaged foods, plastered on restaurant menu boards, and accompanying recipes in magazines. They’re inescapable. And many of us pay a great deal of attention to these numbers in the name of calorie-controlled eating. In recent years, however, scientific studies have cast doubt on the way calories in some foods are measured and how we typically... READ MORE

NIA study seeks way to prevent diabetes

By Margaret Foster
Posted on September 06, 2024

Strawberries, raspberries and nuts are delicious. Can they also prevent diabetes? The National Institute on Aging needs your help to determine whether a nutritional supplement can help regulate blood sugar — and perhaps stave off type 2 diabetes. When we eat foods like pomegranates, berries, walnuts and pecans, our bodies produce something called urolithin A. It’s also sold in... READ MORE

There are benefits to couples sleeping separately

By Leanne Italie
Posted on August 27, 2024

Michael Solender and his wife have been together for 42 years. They slept in the same bed for the first 10, taking to separate rooms after that. Their sleep separation was due to his developing chronic and heavy snoring that eventually led to a diagnosis of sleep apnea and his use of a CPAP machine. After the machine eliminated his snoring, they continue to sleep apart in their... READ MORE

Why food may not taste like it used to

By UHN staff, Environmental Nutrition
Posted on August 27, 2024

We know that as we age, eyesight and hearing may decline, but did you know that taste and smell can as well? We start out with thousands of taste buds, not only on the tongue, but in the throat and on the roof of the mouth. Some taste buds are sensitive to sweet, others to sour, salty, bitter, and more. When taste buds are damaged (like from scalding coffee), they are able to regenerate... READ MORE

What cognitive tests can and can’t show

By Lauran Neergaard
Posted on August 15, 2024

It was the new chant in Washington politics last month: “Get a cognitive test!” Political opponents, armchair pundits and even nervous supporters demanded that President Joe Biden undergo such testing after his dismal debate performance — even though his physician said he gets, and passes, an annual neurologic exam. Former President Donald Trump, who’s only a few years... READ MORE