Category: Health

Dietary supplements linked with severe health events in children, young adults

Tom Patriot

Consumption of dietary supplements sold for weight loss, muscle building, and energy was associated with increased risk for severe medical events in children and young adults compared to consumption of vitamins, according to new research led by Harvard T.H. Chan School of Public Health. The study found that, compared with vitamins, these types of supplements were linked to nearly three times as many severe medical outcomes in young people. “The FDA has issued countless warnings about supplements sold for weight loss, muscle building or sport performance, sexual function, and energy,…

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Here’s Exactly What Salicylic Acid Does to Your Skin

Tom Patriot

In the over-the-counter battle against breakouts, there are a few key players you should know about, and salicylic acid is at the top of that list. Simply speaking, salicylic acid is one of acne’s biggest enemies. You reach for a product within the second you see a zit invading your face. You slather it on a pimple overnight and oftentimes, you wake up in the morning with a pimple that is dried up and much less noticeable. But, what exactly does salicylic acid do, and what are the best ways to reap its benefits?…

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Smartphone relaxation app helps some manage migraine

Tom Patriot

Migraine sufferers who used a smartphone-based relaxation technique at least twice a week experienced on average four fewer headache days per month, a new study shows. Developed in part by researchers at NYU School of Medicine, the app, called RELAXaHEAD, guides patients through progressive muscle relaxation, or PMR. In this form of behavioral therapy, patients alternately relax and tense different muscle groups to reduce stress. The study authors say their work, publishing in the journal Nature Digital Medicine online June 4, is the first to evaluate the clinical effectiveness of an app…

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Bariatric surgery can be safe and effective for adolescents

Tom Patriot

Pediatricians are often reluctant to recommend bariatric surgery for teen-agers, but a Rutgers-led study concludes it is a justifiable treatment for adolescents with persistent extreme obesity if they can maintain a healthy lifestyle afterward. The researchers reviewed studies on bariatric surgery in adolescents and adults in their report in The Journal of Pediatrics. “If we look at obesity as a disease with the real possibility of eventual organ system failure and special health concerns for adolescents, we need to ask whether health care practitioners are doing enough to manage it,” said…

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WHAT YOU SHOULD KNOW ABOUT DEODORANT TYPES, STRAIGHT FROM A DERMATOLOGIST

Tom Patriot

Deodorant is a curious thing. Although most of us use it in our daily regimen, we very rarely deviate from the brand or type we reach for — be that a stick, gel, spray, wipe or even an aluminum-free formula. By not giving it a second thought, however, we may be missing out. We tapped dermatologist Papri Sarkar, MD, of Brookline Dermatology to break down the differences between each deodorant type, so you’ll know if trying something new is right for you. FIRST, HOW IS A DEODORANT DIFFERENT FROM AN ANTIPERSPIRANT? The first key…

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