Health and Wellness

Heartburn has become such a generic term that you’ll hear people attribute it to everything from a big meal to bad news. But despite the myths and lore, heartburn is a real medical condition worth paying attention to…and it generally has nothing to do with the heart. About 20 percent of Americans suffer from heartburn…

While the importance of drinking water seems obvious, especially during hot Florida summers, a new study by Harvard’s T.H. Chan School of Public Health suggests that most American children and teens fall short when it comes to fluid intake. In fact, the study revealed that 25 percent of kids ages 6 to 19 didn’t drink…

More than 23 million people will set sail on cruise ships this year. And while cruising offers the ultimate in luxury vacations-from five-star dining to around-the-clock entertainment-the ships are also known as “floating petri dishes” due to the close quarters. But with some preplanning and onboard precautions, you can reduce your chances of illness. Regardless…

If you’re like millions of dog and cat owners around the country, you love your pets…but hate the allergies they can trigger. This is a common problem when you consider that 32 percent of U.S. households have dogs and 27 percent have cats. Pet dander–tiny flecks of skin shed by cats, dogs and other household…

If you’ve ever glazed over at all the herbs and supplements on health food store shelves, you’re not alone. As confusing as they may seem, there is a growing body of medical evidence suggesting that some of these therapies are effective when used properly. UCF Health’s new integrative medicine physician, Christopher Smith, M.D., who is…

With the Memorial Day holiday upon us, it’s that time of year to plan outdoor celebrations and activities. However, with more than 3.5 million cases of skin cancer diagnosed annually in the United States (90 percent of which are caused by overexposure to the sun), it’s also time to think about outdoor protection. If you…