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Extreme climate events have exposed millions of people to food insecurity, according to the United Nations Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change (IPCC). Key Takeaways The latest IPCC report highlights the link between climate change and food insecurity.The report says there is still time to make changes, such as reducing food waste and improving land management.Community-based organizations such as GrowNYC are findings ways to tackle climate challenges locally and provide sustainable food access....

What is herpangina? Also known as vesicular stomatitis and acute lymphonodular pharyngitis, it is a common childhood infection caused by an enterovirus, most commonly the group A coxsackievirus. It is similar to, but not the same thing as, another illness caused by an enterovirus called hand-foot-and-mouth disease. Herpangina usually causes a sore throat and painful sores (lesions or blisters) inside the back of the mouth and throat. It is common to have multiple lesions, especially in severe cases....

A hiatal hernia is caused by weakness of the muscles of the diaphragm that causes part of the stomach to bulge into the thorax (chest cavity). While it is often unclear what causes a hiatal hernia occurs, there are certain risk factors that make one more likely. For instance, conditions that weaken and/or place excessive pressure on the diaphragm—a thin muscle that separates the chest cavity from the abdominal cavity—can increase the odds of a hernia....

Breast tissue shifts in composition and shape as we age. A premenopausal adult woman’s breasts are made up of fat, tissue, and mammary glands. As menopause approaches, levels of the hormone estrogen drop, and the mammary glands estrogen stimulates are reduced. Shrinking mammary glands can be replaced by fat, which results in softer, less full breasts. In addition, the connective tissue within the breast breaks down and this loss of internal scaffolding can cause breast sag....

There are many health benefits of calcium, such as strengthening bones, but it could be heart-friendly, too. Some studies are finding that calcium lowers cholesterol. Calcium’s ability to lower cholesterol has been known for several years. Calcium supplements have been shown to slightly reduce blood pressure in some studies. Lowering cholesterol levels is the most recent finding, but studies are mixed about whether or not it really works. How Does Calcium Lower Cholesterol?...

Skin cancer is one of the most common types of cancer, with over one million people diagnosed each year. Even though it is so common, you may not know how it can affect your life and what you can do to reduce your risks. May is National Skin Cancer/Melanoma Awareness Month, with campaigns to inform you about the causes, risks, and treatment of skin cancer in its various forms. What should everyone know about skin cancer?...

You’ve probably heard or seen ads or commercials that patients can get their prescription medicines for free or at a low cost. TV personality Montel Williams talks about an organization that helps patients find assistance when they can’t afford the drugs they are prescribed. There is even an orange bus that crosses the country to promote free prescription drug programs. It’s easy to be skeptical. After all, so much of what we know about American health care is driven by a profit motive....

A team of researchers has identified six different “types” of COVID-19, each determined by a cluster of symptoms. Each type is associated with how severe of an illness a patient might experience, as well as who might need respiratory support. Key Takeaways Scientists at King’s College of London and Massachusetts General Hospital are recognizing six different “clusters” of COVID-19 based on patient symptoms.Some of these clusters have a higher likelihood than others of turning into a severe case of COVID-19....

Your head feels congested and full. The pressure behind your eyes makes it hard to concentrate. The pounding in your head and face is relentless. The dreaded sinus infection, called sinusitis, appears to affect people living with HIV more than others. While 30 percent of all people suffer a bout of sinusitis at least once each year, people with HIV seem to have it more frequently and with more severe bouts....

Alzheimer’s disease and related dementias affect more than 5 million Americans. One out of eight older adults has Alzheimer’s disease — the sixth leading cause of death in the United States and the only top ten cause of death without an effective treatment or prevention. So who makes up that 5+ million? Women or Men? About 2/3 of the 5 million people with Alzheimer’s are women. According to the Alzheimer’s Association, “16 percent of women age 71 and older have Alzheimer’s disease or other dementias, compared with 11 percent of men....

The viral TikTok trend to preserve uneaten avocados in water is not safe, the Food and Drug Administration (FDA) warned. Key Takeaways Storing avocados in water can encourage bacteria growth and lead to foodborne illnesses.Citrus acid like lemon or lime juice is a better preservative that can be used on the cut surface of avocados.Water infused with fruits or vegetables should be consumed within two hours if they were left at room temperature....

When healthy people consume high levels of saccharin—an artificial sweetener—for two weeks, it does not lead to the development of diabetes, according to a new study. Key Takeaways In one short-term study, healthy people who used saccharin as an artificial-sweetener every day did not experience any negative outcomes.Excessive sugar intake is linked to outcomes like obesity and an increased risk of developing diabetes.While data is mixed regarding the benefits of using artificial sweeteners, adopting habits like drinking water, exercising, and avoiding cigarette smoking can help reduce the risk of developing diabetes....

Hypertension (high blood pressure) is one of the common effects of thyroid cancer. If you have or have had thyroid cancer, there is a lasting risk of developing hypertension even after the cancer is fully treated. The long-term effects of high blood pressure produce a number of health problems over time, including increased strokes, heart attacks, kidney disease, and dementia. Thyroid Cancer and Hypertension All thyroid cancers can increase or decrease the production of your thyroid hormones....

If you or a loved one has high blood pressure, chances are you’ve heard of the DASH diet. DASH stands for Dietary Approaches to Stop Hypertension, so it makes sense that lowering high blood pressure is its main intent. But the DASH diet can do more than just lower blood pressure. Studies have shown that it’s effective for weight loss, preventing and managing diabetes, and lowering high cholesterol levels. What Is the DASH Diet?...

Are you leavin’ on a jet plane? Unfortunately, there are no peanut-free airlines (or airlines free of other allergens, either), so if you have food allergies, do your homework before you book your flight. While no airline can guarantee the complete absence of peanuts or other allergens from a flight, the allergy policy of airlines varies widely between companies. Choose an airline that will accommodate your needs. American Airlines Phone: (800) 433-7300 Allergy Policy: American Airlines does not serve peanuts in-flight, but does serve other nuts, which may contain traces of peanut....

There is no known cure for ankylosing spondylitis, but research is constantly expanding and evolving. It is widely believed among researchers that ankylosing spondylitis develops due to genetic and environmental factors. It is also known that about 40% of people with ankylosing spondylitis have bowel inflammation. Combining many factors complicates the condition making a cure or reversal difficult to find. This article with cover recent advancements in ankylosing spondylitis research and new medications....

You may have heard from your local acupuncturist or your Aunt Millie that acupuncture has been proven to treat hypertension. As it turns out, this is not an outright fabrication, since a few clinical studies have suggested that blood pressure can be temporarily reduced with acupuncture treatment. It is, however, a gross exaggeration. Acupuncture is not an effective long-term strategy for treating hypertension. What Is Acupuncture? “Acupuncture” is a family of procedures derived from Chinese practices that began 2000 years ago, which have been used over this time to treat a variety of medical conditions....

Can you ask your healthcare provider for stronger painkillers if you need them? Absolutely, as it is crucial that you are an active participant in your pain management. Chronic pain, most simply defined, is pain that continues when it should not. One of the key components of managing chronic pain is finding the right painkiller. Questions to Ask Yourself About Your Pain According to the American Chronic Pain Association (ACPA), the best approach to managing pain is for a person to discuss carefully with his or her healthcare provider the potential risks versus benefits of a new medication (or other treatment)....

Being diagnosed with cancer may be one of the most stressful experiences of a person’s life. The journey is often long and filled with unknowns. Joining a cancer support group may help ease some of the stress. A cancer support group provides a place to discuss fears and challenges with others you know who are going through the same thing. These groups also offer education and additional resources. Focus of Support Groups and Communities The goal of most cancer support groups and communities is to provide a place where members can openly discuss their feelings, experiences, and challenges in their cancer journey....

Catastrophic reactions are an overreaction to a seemingly normal, non-threatening situation; they occur at times in people with Alzheimer’s and other types of dementia. The word catastrophic implies that there is a catastrophe or some terrible event that occurred, and that seems to be the way it feels to the person experiencing this type of reaction. Examples: Physical aggression such as hitting, kicking or pulling hair Emotional outbursts such as shouting, screaming or crying uncontrollably When Do Catastrophic Reactions Occur?...