Social isolation and feeling very lonely, trapped and hopeless are some of the most common warning signs that someone could be heading toward having suicidal thoughts. Every year, in the U.S. alone, there are more than 40,000 completed suicides and many more partial attempts. Millions of family members, friends, teachers and therapists are left behind…
As the cool breezes and gusty winds of autumn set in, there's no doubt grabbing a pumpkin spice latte at a local coffee chain sounds like a great idea. But maybe you've been warned about the one pumpkin spice latte ingredient you always need to avoid. Or maybe you're already aware that a typical 16-ounce pumpkin spice…
The dangers of NSAIDs are well-known yet often ignored, but now new research is making NSAID use even more questionable. What are NSAIDs? NSAIDs, aka nonsteroidal anti-inflammatory drugs, are one of the most commonly used pain relievers in the world today. In fact, most painkillers on the market today are NSAIDs. They might effectively and temporarily…
Lyme disease symptoms can mimic many other diseases, making a swift diagnosis difficult. That's problematic, as rates of Lyme disease are on the rise. That's why news of an upcoming new test to detect the disease is such a positive development. In October 2018, researchers confirmed they developed a test that will actually detect Lyme DNA,…
Imagine a diet where you can magically slurp on drinks that leave you feeling full, so that you can enjoy a healthy, well-balanced meal later in the day. You'll sneak in a few snacks, lose weight quickly, feel great and you'll never struggle with the scale again. Sounds nice, doesn't it? That's the fantasy that diet…
The terms narcissist and narcissistic personality disorder are thrown around rather loosely today. While a touch of self-centeredness, need for admiration or difficulty being criticized may seem narcissistic, it doesn't necessarily warrant a diagnosis of true narcissistic personality disorder. (And here's an important point to remember: Narcissism is not the same as confidence.) But when…
A potentially lethal superbug in chicken shouldn't be on your mind as you whip up evening dinner, but maybe it should be. A study published in Clinical Infection Diseases finds people are now contracting MRSA from handling and eating chicken at home. Traditionally, MRSA transmission via chicken is more likely to occur in veterinarians or workers on huge…
Never heard of homocysteine before and wondering what causes someone to have elevated homocysteine levels? Homocysteine is a specific type of amino acid that's created in the body during metabolic processes, as opposed to consumed in food. It's produced in the body as a byproduct of methylation, the process of producing an essential protein called…
A fungus may trigger Crohn's disease, a devastating inflammatory bowel disease that often requires heavy-duty drugs, surgery or a combination of both to keep at bay. The new finding, published in the September 2016 edition journal mBio, opens the door to more probiotic-based treatment options that could more gently treat and possibly even cure the digestive disease Crohn's…
With mountains of data suggesting the antibacterial soap chemical triclosan is a toxic ripoff and completely unnecessary for everyday use, the Food and Drug Administration finally announced it's banning the ingredient in consumer hand and body washes. As the FDA bans triclosan and related antibacterial soap chemicals, manufacturers have one year to remove it and 18…
