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“You’ll encounter this classic move — or a modified version of it — in a variety of workouts, such as high-intensity interval training (HIIT), CrossFit, circuit training, or as part of a strength training workouts,” says Amanda Capritto, an ACE-certified personal trainer and a CrossFit level 1 trainer based in Miami. Here’s what you need to know about why push-ups can deliver so much bang for your exercise buck, and how to incorporate them into your exercise routine, no matter your fitness level....

“Flexibility is the amount of stretch that a given muscle allows,” explains Bryant Walrod, MD, a family and sports medicine physician at the Ohio State University Wexner Medical Center in Columbus. Every muscle in our bodies is made up of long strands of muscle fibers, or cells, bunched together into progressively larger groups and ultimately wrapped in connective tissue called fascia. Our muscles, by design, contract (which allows you to do things like move or carry an object or push open a door) and also stretch, he explains....

A person is considered to be constipated if they: Have fewer than three bowel movements a weekHave to strain to pass stoolAre unable to completely empty your bowels Not being able to “go” is common. About 52 million people, or nearly 16 percent of the American population, suffer from constipation, according to the National Institute of Diabetes and Digestive and Kidney Diseases (NIDDK). “Anyone can develop constipation. Most often it’s because they aren’t drinking enough fluids or eating enough dietary fiber, or they’re taking certain medications,” says Justin L....

“Ninety percent of cases of infectious mononucleosis are caused by Epstein-Barr virus,” says Stan Deresinski, MD, a clinical professor in medicine at Stanford University in California, who specializes in infectious diseases. “The range and severity of the signs and symptoms can be variable. And some infections with EBV are asymptomatic, particularly during childhood.” Sharing drinks or foodSharing eating utensils, cups, or toothbrushesKissingHaving mouth contact with toys that have been drooled on by other children...

Lighter natural skin colorSkin that burns, freckles, reddens easily, or becomes painful in the sunBlue or green eyesBlond or red hairCertain types of moles or a large number of molesA family or personal history of skin cancerOlder age Dawn Holman, MPH, a behavioral scientist in epidemiology and applied research at the CDC, stresses that even though risk factors are higher in people with fair skin, people with all skin types are susceptible to skin cancer and can benefit from sun protection and staying alert to changes in their skin....

This finding is novel because researchers used a method known as Mendelian randomization (MR). MR uses genetic variants to determine whether an observational association between a risk factor and an outcome signals an actual cause-and-effect relationship, according to an article published in November 2017 in the JAMA Guide to Statistics and Methods. RELATED: Too Little (or Too Much) Sleep Linked to Earlier Death in People With Diabetes Modern Life May Be Disrupting Sleep, Contributing to More Diabetes Cases “We are continuing to see the prevalence of diabetes rise so much, says Diana Isaacs, PharmD, CDCES, of Cleveland Clinic in Ohio, who was not involved in the new research....

The Pfizer-BioNTech and Moderna COVID-19 vaccines changed the game forever through their use of messenger RNA (mRNA), a molecule found in every cell in the human body. Researchers are exploring the potential of mRNA-based vaccines not only to fight the flu but also to prevent a swath of illnesses, from HIV to liver disease. “The development and implementation of the mRNA vaccines for COVID-19 is the culmination of 40 years of research from thousands of labs around the world; it’s one of the most impressive human endeavors ever,” says Jeff Coller, PhD, Bloomberg distinguished professor of RNA biology and therapeutics at the biochemistry, cellular, and molecular biology graduate program at the Johns Hopkins University School of Medicine in Baltimore....

The implication is that the natural products are inherently safer and purer than the so-called “unnatural” versions, which have been used for decades. But are natural deodorants really better for you than regular old Speed Stick? Here’s what experts and scientific evidence suggest. The Difference Between Natural Deodorant and Conventional Deodorant Before comparing natural and conventional deodorants, it’s worth pointing out that there are actually two different types of products within the deodorant category: deodorants and antiperspirants....

What’s the Definition of Kombucha Exactly? First, a little background on what it is: “Kombucha is a fermented drink made with tea, sugar, and bacteria and yeast cultures,” explains Mandy Enright, RDN, who is based in Sea Girt, New Jersey. She adds that a common misnomer is that kombucha is a mushroom, which isn’t the case. The drink is made when bacteria and yeast are added to sugar and tea and then allowed to ferment....

Even though eating snacks after dinner has long been linked to an increased risk of obesity, less is known about exactly why consuming food too close to bedtime might cause people to gain weight. For the new study, scientists set up a lab experiment to see how changing when people ate — but not what they ate — might impact three factors that can play a role in body weight and the risk of obesity: food cravings and appetite, the ability to burn calories, and the molecular composition of fat tissue....

Lichen planus is classified as an autoimmune disease. Autoimmune diseases occur when the body’s defense system, made up of white blood cells that usually fight off infections, attack normal parts of the body. Lichen planus of the skin usually causes red, itchy bumps, and as the bumps heal they may leave brown spots behind. Allergic-type reactions to some blood pressure, heart, and arthritis medications can cause lichen planus. In these cases, once the medication is stopped, lichen planus goes away....

Brewing tea with valerian is the oldest known way that humans have benefited from the relaxing properties of this root. In fact, there are records of valerian tea being prescribed for insomnia from before the year 100 in Greece, according to the National Institutes of Health (NIH). (1) Valerian tea may not be the most convenient form of this herbal remedy, since it requires a fairly long steeping time to achieve the strength needed to have its desired effect....

Skin Aging and Psoriasis With age, skin loses its elasticity and becomes thinner and drier, increasing the appearance of wrinkles. Beyond genetics, the number one factor impacting skin aging is sun damage. Skin that’s been chronically damaged by the sun may also be harder to treat during psoriasis flares. While medical-grade ultraviolet (UV) B treatment can help psoriasis by targeting skin inflammation, tanning beds and chronic exposure to natural sunlight expose skin to a more powerful, full-spectrum UV light that damages skin and increases the risk of premature skin aging and cancer....

By ninth grade, Dave weighed just 60 pounds, and her mother had become her primary caretaker. “I didn’t have any real social interaction with anyone except my mom or the hospital staff,” Dave says. Dave’s health improved after she had J-pouch surgery — a procedure where a person’s colon and rectum are removed and an internal pouch is constructed with the end of the small intestine — but at the end of high school, she found herself confronting another hurdle: turning 18....

What to Consider as Marijuana Becomes More Acceptable, More Available The growing body of research about the medical uses of marijuana can make it possible to overlook the real risks that can also be associated with the drug. How marijuana should be regulated and used has strong advocates on both sides; it can be hard to find unbiased information about the benefits and risks. The Truth About Using Marijuana, CBD, and Your Health It’s important to have balanced discussions about marijuana and not just hear the two extreme points of view, says J....

“Meditation dates back thousands of years across many different cultures, and often shares elements with spirituality,” says Jillian Cohen, MD, an integrative medicine expert at Weill Cornell Medicine in New York City. “In modern times, meditation is used often as an effective means of managing stress, anxiety, insomnia, and pain, among other chronic conditions.” Some of the earliest evidence of meditation includes wall art from the Indus Valley that dates back to between 5,000 and 3,500 B....

There is a relationship between PTSD and migraine and headache, according to Natalia Murinova, MD, the director of the UW Medicine Headache Center and an associate professor of neurology at UW Medicine in Seattle. “If you have PTSD, you’re likely to have headaches, but the majority of people with headaches don’t have PTSD,” Dr. Murinova explains. Still, a study published in the journal Headache found that the frequency of PTSD in people with either episodic or chronic migraine is higher than the historically reported prevalence of PTSD in the general population....

Such symptoms depend on whether autonomic, sensory, or motor nerves — or a combination of them — are involved. Autonomic nerve damage can affect bodily functions or blood pressure, or create gastrointestinal symptoms. Damage to sensory nerves can affect sensations and sense of balance, while damage to motor nerves can affect movement and reflexes. When both sensory and motor nerves are involved, the condition is known as sensorimotor polyneuropathy. (3) This lack of feeling increases the likelihood of injury to the affected areas, explains Matthew Villani, DPM, of HCA Florida Lake Monroe Hospital in Sanford, Florida....

One of the earliest indicators that a diabetic may be experiencing hypoglycemia in sleep is chronic night sweats, as well as waking up with painful headaches. For those whose night sweats and morning headaches do not self-resolve within a few days, it may be wise to try a quick test. Set your alarm for the middle of the night – say 2 a.m. for a person who’s in bed by 11 p....

The U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) is currently investigating an outbreak of listeria that has hospitalized five people so far; those sickened were in California, Georgia, Massachusetts, Michigan, New Jersey, and Texas. Laboratory data and interviews (four people reported eating Brie or Camembert cheese) indicate the cheeses may be the source of the outbreak, according to the FDA statement. During an inspection of the company’s Michigan facility, health officials tested 120 samples, both of the products and the company’s facilities....