Health

Brain games, crosswords and math puzzles are often promoted as ways to sharpen memory, but neurologists warn that generic exercises may not address the specific cause of mental fog.Dr. Rhonda Voskuhl, a professor of neurology at UCLA and co-founder of Cleopatra RX in Los Angeles, says brain exercises only work if they target the specific mental function that is slowing down."You can’t just do random cognitive exercises," Voskuhl told Fox […]

When Selena Gomez revealed to her millions of followers that heavy nicotine vaping had noticeably altered her voice, calling the habit "stupid," her confession highlighted a larger issue with the practice.For the singer and actress, the physical toll manifested in her vocal cords. But medical professionals emphasize that her experience is only a visible symptom of a deeper health crisis affecting millions of Americans who use e-cigarettes every day.While often […]

A historic shift in American drinking habits shows Catholic alcohol consumption reaching record lows, though scientific experts caution against attributing the drop strictly to religious or cultural changes.The share of Catholic adults in the United States who report drinking alcohol has fallen to 55%, according to a Gallup report authored by analyst Frank Newport.That marks a decline from the 2002–2004 period, when 79% of Catholics reported consuming alcoholic beverages. Over […]

Philadelphia Eagles quarterback Jalen Hurts' diagnosis of blood clots in both lungs has put blood thinners in the spotlight.Hurts is receiving treatment with the medication and is expected to miss the remainder of the 2026 season, according to the NFL.Even young, physically active people can develop dangerous blood clots, especially when risk factors such as an injury, long travel or recent surgery combine. "Being in shape lowers your risk, but […]

Christina Applegate’s recent revelation that she was misdiagnosed with multiple sclerosis is raising questions about how the disease can be confused with other conditions — even after years of treatment.The actress, 54, shared the news during an Oct. 20 episode of her podcast, "MeSsy," alongside co-host Jamie-Lynn Sigler, saying she was in a complete "state of shock."Applegate was first diagnosed with MS in 2021 after experiencing debilitating symptoms and undergoing […]

A non-surgical procedure that temporarily blocks extra blood vessels in the knee is offering lasting pain relief for people with knee osteoarthritis.In a clinical study of 194 patients, 80% of them reported significant reductions in knee pain that lasted for at least a full year after receiving the treatment.The findings highlight a potential alternative for millions of adults with chronic joint pain who have outgrown pain medications or steroid injections […]

Taking melatonin or Ambien (zolpidem) before surgery may be associated with less pain and a smoother recovery afterward, according to new research.Research presented at the ANESTHESIOLOGY 2026 annual meeting in San Diego on Oct. 18 found that improving sleep before surgery with one of these two sleep aids could ease anxiety while reducing postsurgical pain and opioid use.The researchers analyzed 16 studies of patients who underwent abdominal, gynecologic, orthopedic, urologic, […]

Frequent daytime napping among older adults has been linked to a higher risk of developing dementia, according to a study published in The Journal of Gerontology: Medical Sciences.Researchers from the Johns Hopkins Bloomberg School of Public Health tracked nearly 1,000 adults age 65 and older who showed no signs of memory or thinking problems when the study began in 2013.A decade later, the researchers found that daily rest habits — […]

A growing number of American parents are using cannabis, prompting questions about potential child exposure and safety, according to a new study.Cannabis use increased substantially among parents between 2012 and 2024, with researchers estimating that at least 5.9 million U.S. children were living with a parent who used marijuana on most days in 2024.By 2024, 8% of parents used cannabis on most days, 5.2% used it daily and 6.7% met […]