Stroke Archive

The convenience, affordability, and flat-out fun of e-bikes and e-scooters are undeniable. But as their popularity grows, the rate of accidents involving e-bikes and e-scooters is climbing. So how do we minimize risks for accidents?

In 2022, the largest known outbreak spread to nearly 100,000 people in more than 100 countries. Now, a new outbreak of mpox has put it back in the news. What should you know - and do - about this latest international health emergency?

In a 2024 study by Harvard researchers, people who reported feeling persistently lonely had a 56% higher risk of experiencing a stroke compared with people who did not report feelings of loneliness.

A variety of factors can make food taste overly salty. These include seasonal or food allergies, medication side effects, gastroesophageal reflux disease (GERD), diabetes, autoimmune conditions, or a chronically dry mouth. People should discuss the problem with their doctor.

The 1,000 Hours Outside challenge can motivate people to spend more time outdoors by trying to accumulate 1,000 hours of outdoor time over a year.

A growing number of people ages 60 and older suffer from knee osteoarthritis. If lifestyle strategies, such as weight loss, physical therapy, exercise, and oral or topical medications don't offer sufficient pain relief, people may benefit from either corticosteroid or hyaluronic acid injections. Injections can provide immediate pain relief, reduce inflammation, and increase mobility. However, they are a temporary treatment that won't cure knee osteoarthritis or change the course of the disease.

Heartburn usually goes away on its own, but sometimes medication is needed to provide relief. For occasional heartburn, people can use over-the-counter antacids that are magnesium-based, aluminum-based, or calcium-based. If heartburn strikes several times a week or symptoms become more severe, a nonprescription H2 blocker can help. Individuals with persistent heartburn may have gastroesophageal reflux disease (GERD) and will probably need a proton-pump inhibitor. These are available in over-the-counter and prescription versions.

A 2024 study suggests that cognitive changes are a more reliable signal than either age or biological signs of Alzheimer's disease to foreshadow an older adult's decision to stop driving.

People with anemia have an abnormally low number of red blood cells. Those are the cells that pick up oxygen from the lungs, deliver oxygen throughout the body, and return to the lungs with a load of carbon dioxide and other gases to be exhaled. Without enough red blood cells, the organs and tissues don't get a sufficient amount of oxygen. That can cause nonspecific symptoms, such as fatigue, headache, or wooziness, which are often attributed to other causes. As a result, anemia often goes undiagnosed.

The combination of drinking alcohol and sleeping while on a plane puts a big strain on the body, especially the cardiovascular system. This is because blood oxygen normally drops slightly when flying high above sea level, sleeping, or consuming alcohol. The more contributors to low blood oxygen there are, the harder the body has to work to compensate by breathing faster and increasing heart rate. There's even more strain if someone has heart or lung disease, which places the person at a higher risk for a heart attack or stroke.