Our skin is our body’s first barrier of defense. It protects us from the elements and keeps potentially harmful disease-causing microbes out while keeping fluids in to prevent dehydration. Skin also helps regulate body temperature through a process called thermoregulation. Near the surface of the skin, small blood vessels called capillaries enlarge when our blood gets too warm to help it cool down.

Have you ever misplaced your glasses? Or walked into a room only to forget why? For years, mild forgetfulness was considered a normal part of aging often triggered by being in a noisy environment, dealing with stress or multitasking.

Methotrexate is an old drug with some seemingly new tricks. For years it has been used to treat rheumatoid arthritis, psoriasis and certain cancers as it can slow the immune response and growth of certain cells. However, methotrexate might be the next go-to remedy for hand osteoarthritis, according to a study published in the journal The Lancet.

You’re at a sports bar and would like to get something somewhat healthy. Your first instinct may be to order a salad, but surprisingly, you might be better off with a burger. Yes, many burgers are high in saturated fat, sodium and preservatives. And some experts consider eating a lot of red meat to be risky heath behavior.

If you’ve been diagnosed with prediabetes, you may feel overwhelmed. Getting a new medical diagnosis is often confusing and scary. You’re probably experiencing a range of emotions as you process this new information. Read on to learn all about prediabetes: what causes it, how to work with your doctor to manage it and how to reverse it.  

Because there are no symptoms associated with the condition, high cholesterol is known as a silent killer.  According to the NIH and the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC), just over a third of U.S. adults — 86 million — have high levels of “bad cholesterol,” or LDL-C, doubling the risk of heart disease and other chronic health conditions. Additionally, 43.8 million people — nearly one in five — have low levels of “good cholesterol,” or HDL-C, which studies show can increase the risk of cardiovascular disease and certain cancers.

Adult obesity rates have steadily increased for over 30 years; 41.9% of Americans are obese according to the Centers for Disease Control (CDC). If you want to lose weight but don’t know where to start, you’re not alone.  

Successfully losing weight ultimately comes down to a formula: calories in, calories out (CICO). In other words, you need to burn more calories than you consume. Though the formula for losing weight is simple, actually shedding the pounds can be anything but easy.  

Nearly half of American adults have hypertension, more commonly known as high blood pressure. If not properly managed, this condition can lead to severe medical complications including heart disease, stroke, and even death.  

Luckily, there are many steps you can take to manage this common condition and lead a full, healthy life. In this guide, we’ll go over the recommended treatments for addressing your high blood pressure.  

Stretching is a component of fitness that can ease pain and improve blood flow, athletic performance and range of motion. Many people also find stretching to be relaxing and a method of stress management.

Ideally, you should stretch regularly – at least two or three times per week. You should stretch the major muscle groups, including calves, thighs, hips, low back, neck and shoulders. However, it’s important to talk to your doctor about stretching before you begin.

Do you wake up stiff and sore? Or do you become achy as the day unfolds? If you answered yes to either of these questions, it’s time to start showing some love to your joints. In truth, you should always treat your joints well, whether you’re in pain or not.