Breast changes in men are common. Sometimes it’s fat. Sometimes it’s breast tissue growth. Rarely, it’s cancer. A concern male patients bring up in my office — sometimes joking, sometimes with embarrassment — is “man boobs.” For some men, chest enlargement is simply fat. For others, it’s gynecomastia, the medical term for breast tissue growth. In many cases, it’s both fat and tissue growth at the same time. Gynecomastia is more common than many people realize. Research sugges

According to the National Heart, Lung, and Blood Institute , metabolic syndrome is having at least three of these five conditions: abdominal obesity, high blood sugar, high blood pressure, high triglycerides, and low “good cholesterol.” People who have metabolic syndrome can then be at an increased risk for several health problems, like heart failure, type 2 diabetes, and organ damage. A systematic review and meta-analysis published in Nutrients found that not eating breakf

Nuts have long been linked to heart health, and new research continues to explore how they might help protect against heart disease. Researchers wanted to know how regular nut consumption affects heart health over time. Their new study offers a clearer look than earlier research thanks to a larger, more diverse group of participants and a longer follow-up period. Heart disease remains the leading cause of death in the United States. Ischemic heart disease—a type caused by nar

A pit stop at the drive-thru may not be an everyday part of a nutritious diet, but believe it or not, dietitians say fast food doesn’t have to be completely off-limits for health. Sometimes, getting a quick meal is the highest priority for your family. “I know how much convenience matters when it comes to feeding yourself and your kiddos,” says Vanessa Imus, M.S., RDN. “While I wouldn’t recommend fast food for dinner every night, in moderation, it can absolutely fit into a he

Is it a stomachache or something more worrisome? While discomfort in your gastrointestinal (GI) tract — the path that runs through your entire digestive system — can often be temporary and relatively harmless, in some cases it can signal a more serious medical problem.  Bloating, diarrhea, constipation , abdominal pain, heartburn, nausea, vomiting, gas and other common GI symptoms can result from a number of health issues, ranging from stress to GI diseases like ulcerative co

Feeling off but not spiking a fever? That doesn’t necessarily mean you don’t have the flu, COVID or other common illnesses that circulate this time of year. Many of the early warning signs of common infections appear differently in older adults — and some of the symptoms can be surprising.   Much of it has to do with the weakening of the immune system with age, a process known as immunosenescence. This decline blunts the typical response to fighting off infection and the sy

Weightlifting is one of the most important types of exercise as you get older—even if you’re just getting started in your sixth decade. Sure, ideally you’d have started strength training years (maybe decades) ago. But “there's no age limit on the muscle's ability to gain strength or even muscle mass,” says Debra Atkinson, C.S.C.S., founder at Flipping 50 . “With older adults who’ve been previously sedentary it’s just about place and pace. We start at the right place and pro

It’s easy to be tempted by a bag of potato chips at any time of the day. This kind of impulsive snacking often happens even when you’re not really hungry. But excessive snacking can lead to weight gain and obesity. Obesity, in turn, is linked to many health problems¹ such as diabetes, heart disease, high blood pressure and even cancer. Snacking itself is not unhealthy. Healthy snacking can even good for you. All you need to do is make smart choices about what you snack on. Th

Changes in daylight hours and cooler temperatures contribute to various body changes in autumn. If you notice mood changes, energy dips, or generally feeling "off" in the transition from summer to fall, you're not alone. 1. Your Mood Changes Many people experience mood changes as the weather cools and the days become shorter. Less physical activity could be to blame, but other factors may also be at play: Low vitamin D levels: Vitamin D comes primarily from sun exposure. Vit

Cancer is not a single disease, but many related diseases that occur within the body. There is no single cause of cancer. Cancer occurs due to a variety of factors, including some you cannot control, like genetics, and others you can control, like diet and lifestyle. Research shows some foods are associated with a higher risk of certain types of cancers. At least 18% of all cancers and about 16% of cancer deaths in the United States are related to excess body weight, physical

The Truth About Back Pain It might be a sharp stab. It might be a dull ache. Sooner or later, 8 out of 10 of us will have back pain. And b ack pain myths are almost as common. Let's set the record straight about what you may have heard. Myth: Always Sit Up Straight Slouching is bad. But sitting up too straight and still for long periods can also be a strain on your back. Take breaks a few times a day: Lean back in your chair wit h your feet on the floor and let your back cur

Slow Walking If your walking pace slows while you're in your 40s, it may be a sign you're aging faster than is typical. Walking is one of the easiest and best exercises you can do. To start a walking program, begin with 5 minutes a day and build up to 30 minutes. Try to work up to 100 steps a minute. (To track this, count your steps for 10 seconds and multiply by six.) To make it easier, wear supportive walking shoes and walk with a buddy. Sun Spots Brown sun spots most often

Calories are a unit of energy that your body needs in order to do anything – move, digest food and even breathe. But is a calorie you eat equal to a calorie you burn? Unfortunately, it’s not as straightforward as you may have been led to believe. Below you’ll find six common calorie myths dispelled by registered dietitians. Myth: All calories are always completely absorbed. When you eat food, your body digests – or breaks down the food — with your teeth and enzymes. Once the

Winter can bring chilly temperatures and harsh weather conditions, making it essential to find effective ways to stay warm. You’ll also want to consider energy and cost-saving methods. Whether you’re indoors or outdoors, here are some practical tips and strategies for staying cozy and comfortable during the colder months. How to dress for warmth Wearing the right clothing can help you retain the heat from your body more effectively and help you keep heating bills low. You’ll

Spring brings warmer weather, blooming flowers, and greener lawns. But for more than 81 million Americans with seasonal allergies, it can also mean itchy throats, watery eyes, and nonstop sneezing. And allergy season is getting longer. Due to shifts in the climate, experts say it now starts 20 days earlier and lasts 10 days longer than it did 30 years ago—with pollen levels rising more than 20%. If you or a loved one are affected, knowing what’s behind those symptoms—and how

As the air turns crisp and the leaves change colors, it’s the perfect time to enjoy fall activities for exercise. The best part? You don’t always need a gym or structured workout to stay active. Everyday seasonal activities can double as fitness, helping you strengthen muscles, boost endurance, and burn calories — all while soaking in the beauty of autumn and getting some fresh air. Here are some of the best fall activities for exercise that combine fun and fitness: 1.Raking

How much do daily habits like diet and exercise affect your risk for cancer? More than you might think. Research has shown that poor diet and not being active are key factors that can increase a person’s cancer risk. The good news is that you can do something about this. Besides quitting smoking, some of the most important things you can do to help reduce your cancer risk are: Get to and stay at a healthy weight throughout life. Be physically active on a regular basis. Follow

With the cost of groceries continuing to creep up , social media posts with the hashtag #strugglemeals are mushrooming. Some accumulate long lists of derisive comments, disavowing a recipe’s qualifications as a struggle meal. The discord lies in the fact that struggle is in the eye of the beholder. For some, it’s time or physical and emotional energy, and the emphasis there is on extremely pared-down recipes that require no planning and little cleanup. Things that come in a

The average time it takes a person to walk one mile typically ranges from 15 to 22 minutes. This estimate is assuming that someone is walking at a moderate pace and on a relatively flat surface. For example, an experienced walker or hiker on a flat trail might complete a mile in under 15 minutes, while someone new to exercise or walking on an incline might take closer to, or even longer than, 22 minutes. Learn the factors at play that affect how fast you can walk a mile — pl

Infection rates from drug-resistant “nightmare bacteria” are on the rise in the U.S.—meaning that it is important to be aware of the risks, causes and how to slow the spread. The surge comes as part of what the World Health Organization (WHO) has dubbed “one of the top global public health and development threats”: antimicrobial resistance (AMR). AMR occurs when bacteria, viruses, fungi and parasites no longer respond to antimicrobial medicines. Antimicrobials include antibio

A growing number of Americans are sustaining serious eye injuries linked to pickleball, prompting ophthalmologists and researchers to call for safety guidelines as the sport’s popularity continues to surge. A new study published in the journal JAMA Ophthalmology analyzed nearly two decades of national emergency department data and found a sharp uptick in pickleball-related eye injuries—many of them severe—largely concentrated among older adults. Experts warn that without man

A new study suggests that quitting smoking – even in middle age or beyond – can slow cognitive decline. While cognitive decline naturally occurs with aging, research suggests that smoking exacerbates it and may increase the risk of dementia. Previous research found that quitting smoking early in life may reduce these effects. Mikaela Bloomberg, an epidemiologist at the University College London and the lead author on the paper published this week, says those who break the hab

There is strong evidence that there is “no safe amount” of processed meat to eat, nutrition experts say in response to a new study on the connection between diet and the risk of major diseases, including cancer, type 2 diabetes and heart disease. The researchers also found elevated risks from the consumption of sugar-sweetened beverages and trans fatty acids. Researchers analyzed data from more than 60 previous studies on the relationship between processed meats, sugar-sweete

If you needed another reason to get your daily steps in, science just handed you one. A new study shows that walking daily can reduce the risk of cognitive decline — especially among those with a genetic predisposition for Alzheimer’s disease. Almost 3,000 participants between the ages of 70 and 79 reported their daily walking habits over the course of 10 years, according to research that will be presented Tuesday at the annual Alzheimer’s Association International Conference