Health and Wellness

Most people understand the health benefits of eating fruits and veggies, but a new study reports that these foods can actually help protect the kidneys of patients with chronic kidney disease. Western diets containing high amounts of animal and grain products can lead to metabolic acidosis, an excessive acid build-up in the body. This is…

Stress levels among those in the Millennial generation, ages 18-33, have hit an all-time high, according to a new survey by the American Psychological Association. On a 10-point scale, the average stress level of Millennials was 5.4, compared to the national average of 4.9 for other ages. And 20 percent of respondents reported experiencing “extreme…

It’s generally understood that highly caffeinated energy drinks — the beverage of choice for many teens — can cause a variety of health problems ranging from dehydration and insomnia to obesity and tachycardia. But now doctors are sounding the alarm about a new teen trend: mixing energy drinks with alcohol. The average cup of coffee…

If you’ve ever had your heart broken emotionally, you know it also hurts physically. And the symptoms now have a medical name: Broken heart syndrome. According to the American Heart Association, broken heart syndrome, also called stress-induced cardiomyopathy or takotsubo cardiomyopathy, is more prevalent among women than men and is the reaction from a surge…

Going for a walk, gardening or taking a bike ride all contribute to a healthy life. Get Active Orlando, a volunteer initiative that promotes physical activity and balanced nutrition, calls these “sneaky exercises,” because these are activities you do as part of daily life but probably don’t consider exercising. Such activities can help you reach…

Shingles is a painful, blistering skin rash brought on by a dormant virus in people who have had chickenpox. It rarely lasts longer than a couple of weeks and almost never returns. Those most likely to develop shingles are over 60 years old, had chickenpox before 1 year of age, and have compromised immune systems. …