Happy New Year! Like many people, you may be trying to achieve certain goals in 2017.  You’re not alone. Millions of American’s make New Year’s resolutions from trying to save money to volunteering more. In fact, it’s a practice which goes back to Ancient Babylonia and Rome.

The most popular resolutions today are health-related, such as losing weight, eating healthier, getting more exercise and quitting smoking. Here’s one to add to your list: take part in a wellness program.

While muscle pain has many causes—tension, stress, overuse, strains, minor injuries and sprains—a new study says commonly prescribed cholesterol-lowering drugs may also cause our sore muscles.

The study, published by Cleveland Clinic researchers in the American Journal of Cardiology, found that muscle soreness, ranging from mild aches to debilitating pain, is a common side effect of statins.

Every time you see your doctor, there’s a good chance someone takes your blood pressure. Why? Blood pressure readings can help your doctor understand what is going on in your body. For instance, high blood pressure indicates a risk for cardiovascular disease and kidney failure; very low blood pressure might suggest a potential risk of heart failure; and blood pressure that varies between arms often raises a flag for peripheral artery disease.

It’s probably no surprise that older Americans between the ages of 65 and 79 are prescribed more medications than young adults. But did you know the average senior gets 27 prescriptions filled a year —five times more than people 19 to 25 and nearly three times more than those between 26 and 49?

Hepatitis C is a global epidemic. And baby boomers are especially likely to have the disease, according to the University of Michigan Health System. They are five times more likely to have been exposed to the infection than other age groups. In fact, baby boomers comprise 75 percent of adults with hepatitis C.

Hepatitis C is an infectious liver disease. About 170,000 new cases are diagnosed each year. About 3.2 million Americans have the disease. Although most cases are transmitted through contaminated blood, some have been traced to sexual contact.

Experts are predicting a longer, more severe tick season this summer, which may trigger an outbreak of tick-borne illnesses. In particular, researchers are worried about an uptick in Lyme disease and Powassan virus, a rare condition that  can cause brain inflammation. 

Back in the day, all you had to do to get your nutrients was to eat a healthy diet. However, we’re living in an age of fast foods, processed meals and GMOs, which is why primary care physicians have begun recommending supplements to maintain optimal health.

Most of us strive to be the best we can be. Although there are many approaches to self-improvement, the process usually begins with setting goals. Some people focus on new goals whenever the inspiration strikes them; whereas, others wait until the end or beginning of a year to establish New Year’s resolutions. Five of the most common resolutions include exercising more, eating heathier/losing weight, saving money, traveling and volunteering for a cause. And since life changes can be difficult, we would like to share a few tips that may help make achieving your goals a little easier.

You're probably aware of the dangers associated with smoking and second-hand smoke. But so-called third-hand smoke, the chemical residue left behind on surfaces and clothing after smoking tobacco products, may also be a health risk--particularly to children--according to a study published in Tobacco Control. 

Can eating potassium-rich foods like bananas help keep hypertension in check? According to a new study, eating a diet rich in potassium seems to counteract the effect of foods with too much salt on blood pressure.  

Almost 50 percent of American adults have high blood pressure. Hypertension is a leading cause of heart disease and premature death, as it’s well documented that high blood pressure raises the risk for heart attack, stroke, aneurysm, kidney disease, vision issues, metabolic syndrome and dementia.