Diseases & Conditions Archive

A common form of eczema called atopic dermatitis can interfere with daily activities. There are a number of prescription creams available to ease this chronic skin condition, but some are more effective than others, and a recent study compared them.

The increase in obesity and type 2 diabetes among Americans has led to an increase in fatty liver disease. Weight loss and exercise are the mainstays of treatment.

Diabetes is a condition in which both high and low glucose levels are harmful to the body. In older individuals with multiple risk factors for hypoglycemia, the goal should be the best blood sugar control that can be achieved without putting the individual at risk for dangerously low blood sugar.

People who get migraines with aura have a slightly higher risk of heart attack, stroke, or death from cardiovascular disease than people who get migraines without aura or no migraines. But migraines are most common in younger women, whose baseline risk of cardiovascular problems is very low in the first place. Still, those who get migraine with aura should be sure to tell their primary care provider or gynecologist. Taking estrogen-containing birth control pills or hormone therapy may further raise stroke risk in these women.

A 2023 Harvard study found that regularly squeezing a week's worth of exercise (150 minutes) into just one or two days—a "weekend warrior" approach—is linked to the same heart-healthy benefits as daily exercise.

A 2023 analysis of nearly 300 randomized trials found that several types of exercise were effective in lowering resting blood pressure. Exercise types included aerobic exercise, high-intensity interval training, dynamic resistance training, isometric exercise training, and combined training (aerobic exercise plus one of the other types of exercise). People who are over age 50 and have not been exercising much should check with a doctor before beginning a regular exercise program, since some types of exercise may not be right for them.

Excessive drinking can contribute to high blood pressure, obesity, and stroke, while moderate drinking (no more than one drink per day for women and two drinks or fewer per day for men) is linked to a lower risk of heart problems. One possible mechanism might be stress reduction. Brain scans of people who reported light to moderate drinking show less activity in the part of the brain that responds to stress, compared with the scans of people who abstained or drank very little. Stress not only raises blood pressure and heart rate but also triggers inflammation that causes plaque buildup, which contributes to heart attacks.

A 2023 study suggests eating enough of six categories of food common in popular heart-health diets is associated with a lower risk of cardiovascular disease, including heart attacks and strokes. The six groups are fruits, vegetables, legumes, nuts, fish, and dairy products.