HB Mag Health Research Team
Mupirocin is a topical antibiotic that works only where you put it. It comes in two forms — a skin ointment and a nasal ointment — and the way you apply each one is different. Getting the application right matters, because mupirocin is absorbed poorly through intact skin and does not travel through the bloodstream … Read more
Running burns calories, and burning more calories than you eat can reduce body fat over time — including fat stored around your belly. But running cannot target belly fat or love handles specifically. Spot reduction is not real. Where your body loses fat first is largely determined by genetics, hormones, and sex, not by which … Read more
If your ball python spends nearly all its time hidden, that is normal behavior for the species — not a sign something is wrong. Ball pythons are crepuscular and nocturnal, meaning they are most active around dawn, dusk, and at night. In the wild they spend the hottest daylight hours inside termite mounds, rodent burrows, … Read more
Acne scars are permanent changes to the skin’s structure, and no cream or home remedy can erase them. The treatments with the strongest evidence are procedures performed in a clinic: fractional laser resurfacing, microneedling, chemical peels, subcision, and injectable fillers. Which one is best depends on the type of scar you have, your skin tone, … Read more
Fluid behind the eardrum usually clears on its own. In most cases, the middle ear drains itself within a few weeks, and no treatment is needed beyond watching and waiting. When fluid lingers for months, causes hearing loss, or keeps coming back, a doctor may recommend treatments that range from a simple nasal spray to … Read more
Bad eyesight usually comes down to one of two things: the shape of your eye doesn’t focus light correctly on the retina, or something inside the eye or the visual pathway is damaged or blocked. The first group is called refractive errors, and it includes nearsightedness, farsightedness, and astigmatism. The second group includes conditions like … Read more
Yes, kombucha almost always contains alcohol — usually a small amount, but sometimes enough to matter. The fermentation process that makes kombucha fizzy and tangy also produces ethanol as a natural byproduct. Most commercial kombucha sold in the United States contains less than 0.5% alcohol by volume (ABV), which is the threshold at which a … Read more
There is no single number that fits everyone. For most healthy adults, a reasonable daily target is 2 to 3 sets of 10 to 15 bodyweight squats, done 3 to 4 days per week. If you are new to squats, start with 1 to 2 sets of 8 to 12 and add reps gradually as … Read more
If you have ever tried to sort out what your health insurance actually covers, you know how confusing the categories can get. Applied Behavior Analysis (ABA) is a therapy most often used for people with autism. Whether it counts as a mental health service depends on who you ask and which system you are dealing … Read more
You walk into a room and forget why. You blank on a name you have known for years. You reread the same paragraph three times. If you are in your 30s, 40s, or 50s, this can be unsettling. Forgetfulness in young adults is usually not an early sign of dementia. More often it reflects sleep … Read more