Trust Your Gut One of your most powerful tools is your own observation. Most of us have a sense for when a situation is dangerous. If your instinct or intuition tells you it’s serious, call 911 or go to the nearest emergency room. It’s always better to err on the side of caution when it comes to your health. Chest Pain If you have chest pain or pressure that lasts more than a couple of minutes, or if it comes back, it’s time to call 911. You shouldn’t try to drive yourself or

Anybody can leave an online rating and review after a doctor’s appointment. They can provide honest overviews of a person’s experience with a medical professional, which can be helpful if you’re trying to decide on the right doctor for you. However, it is important to take certain factors into consideration when looking at online reviews, such as the authenticity of the feedback. Read on to learn more about what online doctor ratings mean, red flags to look out for, and more.

An eyelid twitch or contraction is a repetitive and involuntary spasm of the eyelid muscles. Eyelid twitches typically occur in unpredictable periods lasting between a few seconds and hours. Chronic twitching could last for a few days or weeks. Most twitches are painless, harmless, and will resolve without medical intervention. In rare cases, eyelid spasms may be an early warning sign of a chronic movement disorder, especially if other facial tics or uncontrollable movements

Cardiac arrhythmias can produce a range of symptoms—from very mild, like lightheadedness, to life-threatening, including cardiac arrest. These can be divided into a “classic” group of symptoms that are highly (though not exclusively) indicative of cardiac arrhythmia and an “other” group of symptoms that are just as likely to be caused by an arrhythmia as something else. But many times, much to patients' surprise, cardiac arrhythmias may not produce any symptoms at all. This i

High cholesterol can raise blood pressure because it contributes to plaque build-up in your arteries (atherosclerosis). High blood pressure can occur as a result of your heart having to work harder to pump blood. How High Cholesterol Influences High Blood Pressure High cholesterol influences blood pressure by causing changes in your arteries. When LDL (bad cholesterol) builds up in your bloodstream, it forms into plaque that thickens the inner vessel walls, causing your arter

Two of the most popular healthy breakfast options are eggs and oatmeal — with good reason. Both provide filling protein along with plenty of other necessary vitamins and minerals. But is one better for you than the other? "Eggs and oatmeal can both be healthy breakfast options, but they offer very different benefits," says Natalie Rizzo, registered dietitian and TODAY nutrition editor. While eggs are packed with filling protein and nutrients like choline, "oatmeal delivers f

All fruits are nutritious, but some have extra superpowers thanks to flavanols. These natural plant compounds are found in many fruits, tea and cocoa, says Patricia Bannan, a registered dietitian in Los Angeles. “They act as antioxidants, which means they help protect our cells from everyday stress. Think of them as tiny helpers in plant foods that support overall health,” Bannan tells TODAY.com. “Flavanols support blood vessel health, which can help with healthy circulation

More data is emerging supporting a sharp decline in the number of young adults identifying as transgender or non-binary. Last week, Fox News Digital reported on data shared by Eric Kaufman , a professor of politics at the University of Buckingham, showing that the share of college students identifying as anything other than male or female has been cut in half in just two years. Now, Jean Twenge, professor of psychology at San Diego State University, has identified additional

A West Virginia judge ruled on Wednesday that parents can use religious beliefs to opt out of school vaccine requirements for their children. Raleigh County Circuit Judge Michael Froble on Wednesday issued a permanent injunction, saying children of families who object to the state's compulsory vaccination law on religious grounds will be permitted to attend school and participate in extracurricular sports. Froble found that a state policy prohibiting parents from seeking reli

For as long as the human race has lived on this planet, meat has been a part of our diets . And although there are more vegetarians and vegans nowadays, Americans continue to consume high volumes of meat. As Ipsos reported in 2021, 89% of Americans include meat as part of their diets. The National Institutes of Health (NIH) said in 2021 that between 63% and 74% of people eat red or processed meat every day. And interestingly, just 12% of Americans eat half the nation’s b

Living with chronic pain and other debilitating symptoms of arthritis is tough. Even if you're working with an amazing healthcare provider and have a tailor-made and effective treatment plan, it sometimes can be easy to fall off track and develop bad habits or a negative attitude. These are all problems you can overcome though. Here are ten ways to do that. Stop Thinking Your Arthritis Will Go Away Many forms of arthritis are chronic diseases, meaning they can't be cured. As

Early signs of dementia include cognitive symptoms and changes in behavior, mood, and personality. The symptoms can be subtle at first and later progress so that people may not be able to take care of themselves. Symptoms may indicate early dementia if they are out of character, persistent, and getting worse. It's important to see a healthcare provider if you have concerns about dementia to get a correct diagnosis. 1. Memory Loss It's common for people to forget things, espec

It’s normal to have moments of feeling down or stressed. Sometimes the reason is obvious. (You’re running late. Foul weather ruined a planned outing.) Other times, the culprit is a mystery. Either way, what you want is to turn the day around — fast.    The good news is that there are many simple things you can do in the moment to boost your mood. Not only will you feel better, your overall health will reap the benefits, too.   Finding meaningful ways to brighten your outlook

Every year, about 29 million adults in the U.S. — or 1 out of 8 — are diagnosed with a sinus infection, also called sinusitis. An estimated one-fifth of all prescribed antibiotics are intended to treat sinusitis. Your sinuses are four pairs of air-filled interconnected cavities located between your eyes and nose. What goes on inside them — a microscopic battle between infection- and inflammation-causing antigens and the body’s defense forces — can have a serious impact on you

Diabetes is a condition where the body either doesn’t produce insulin ( type 1 ) or doesn’t use insulin properly ( type 2 ). Both types result in too much glucose, or sugar, in the blood. Insulin is a hormone made in the pancreas. It regulates the amount of glucose in the blood, and allows your body to use sugar from carbohydrates for energy. Without insulin, sugar can’t get into your cells and it accumulates in the bloodstream. About 1.2 million Americans are diagnosed w

Tinnitus is the medical term for “ringing in the ears,” or the perception of sounds without an external noise or source of the sounds. According to the American Academy of Otolaryngology-Head and Neck Surgery, more than 50 million people in the United States have experienced tinnitus. If you have tinnitus, you may hear more than just ringing. People commonly report hearing sounds like : buzzing roaring clicking whistling hissing music whooshing throbbing Tinnitus is not a co

If you’ve decided that you want to lose some weight, weighing yourself regularly may help you check your progress. Find out what you need to know when it comes to regular weigh-ins, including when and how often. How Often to Weigh In Studies show that within two years of weight loss, people generally gain two-thirds of the weight back that they worked hard to lose.  But if you weigh yourself regularly, research suggests, you'll be more successful in losing weight and keeping

Pick the Right Dish There’s no denying that Mexican food is delicious. But many of the entrees are made with oil, lard, and salt -- and loaded with cheese and sour cream. You can get more than a day’s worth of calories, saturated fat, or sodium in a single meal. A closer look shows there are plenty of healthy dishes to help you steer clear of a dietary disaster. Worst: Deluxe Burrito When it comes to burritos, size matters. In restaurants, this dish often offers up several se

Certain ultraprocessed foods, or UPFs, are contributing to worldwide obesity, chronic health conditions and premature death, yet the food industry continues to aggressively market new and existing products in this category for massive profits, according to an unprecedented three-part series authored by 43 global experts in nutrition and supported by the United Nations Children’s Fund, or UNICEF, and the World Health Organization. More than 50% of the $2.9 trillion paid to sha

You fall asleep at an appropriate hour, giving yourself enough time to rest before a big day ahead — only to be jolted awake by racing thoughts: Was your friend secretly offended by your joke? Are your kids safe when they’re at school? Will international conflict and political division ever end? Will you lose your job to artificial intelligence? The more your mental hamster wheel turns, falling back to sleep seems further out of reach. “Waking up in the middle of the night wi

Antibiotics are widely known to disrupt gut health by killing “good” as well as “bad” bacteria in the digestive tract.  Now scientists are also exploring if other common drugs can interfere with the trillions of microbes that constitute the gut microbiome — leading to changes that linger long after you stop taking the medication.  “This has been a hidden problem,” says Martin J. Blaser, MD, director of the Center for Advanced Biotechnology and Medicine at Rutgers University i

Many individuals are delaying investigations into potential cancer symptoms, a new survey suggests, often due to difficulties securing GP appointments or underestimating the seriousness of their health concerns. Research by Cancer Research UK, polling 6,844 individuals across the UK via YouGov, found that 53 per cent anticipated trouble booking a GP slot, 47 per cent actually encountered issues, 44 per cent assumed symptoms were not serious, and 43 per cent believed they coul

Two large studies have put a spotlight on potential health risks of the COVID vaccine — but some experts urge caution when interpreting the findings. Recent research has linked the vaccine to a higher risk of kidney injury, as well as certain respiratory infections. A Korean study published in the International Journal of Infectious Diseases looked at how infectious diseases changed during and after the COVID-19 pandemic, as well as the impact of vaccines. "While influenza-li

The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention has updated its website with a new stance on the potential link between vaccines and autism. The new wording on the CDC’s site now states, "The claim 'vaccines do not cause autism' is not an evidence-based claim because studies have not ruled out the possibility that infant vaccines cause autism." It also adds, "Studies supporting a link have been ignored by health authorities." The agency noted that the statement "vaccines do no