You can thank Benjamin Franklin when your alarm clock blares an hour earlier on Sunday morning. Franklin was the first to propose a form of Daylight Saving Time in 1784, in keeping with his famous aphorism, “Early to bed and early to rise, makes a man healthy, wealthy, and wise.”  The idea wouldn’t become reality […]

In the early 1900s, much of the northern continental United States was known as the “Goiter Belt.” Many people living in this so-called Goiter Belt, which encompassed a region from the Rockies to the Great Lakes Basin to western New York, developed goiters (swollen thyroid glands) because the soil lacked iodine. The human body does

The word quarantine comes from what may have been the only medical advance during the dismal period of the Black Death in Europe. In 1374, three officials were appointed to inspect all ships entering the port of Venice. They turned away all ships that had sick people on board. Three years later, in the Italian

Ever wonder how long you’re contagious when you have the flu?  According to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC), “Most healthy adults may be able to infect others beginning 1 day before symptoms develop and up to 5 to 7 days after becoming sick. Children may pass the virus for longer than 7

Eat more potassium to lower your blood pressure. Most people know that reducing salt intake can lower blood pressure. But if you’re concerned about high blood pressure, it’s equally important to increase your consumption of potassium-rich foods such as yogurt, bananas, strawberries, sweet and white potatoes, and beans. Experts recommend limiting sodium (salt) intake to

Most smokers who choose low-nicotine cigarettes take in just as much of the addictive drug as smokers who choose brands higher in nicotine content. Why? While the average smoker inhales about 1 mg of nicotine per cigarette, that amount may range from 0.5 mg or less to 2.0 mg or more. Smokers unconsciously alter the

Looking for ways to handle holiday stress? Try volunteering. According to the American Psychological Association (APS), volunteering at a local charity is an effective way to reduce holiday stress — and put your own worries in perspective. Offer your services at a soup kitchen or a shelter. If you can volunteer as a family, even

Most people who have gallstones don’t know they have them. Gallstones affect at least 10% of the United States population. One million new cases of gallstones are diagnosed each year. However, most cases of gallstones remain undiagnosed because they never cause symptoms. These  “silent” stones require no treatment. Learn more about gallstones.