HB Mag Health Research Team

Bed bugs are drawn to people, not to dirt or clutter. The two things that attract them most are the carbon dioxide you exhale and the warmth of your body. They also follow chemical signals from human skin. A clean home and a messy home are equally at risk, because the bugs are not feeding … Read more

Alkaline phosphatase (ALP) is an enzyme found mainly in your liver, bile ducts, and bones. When a blood test shows high ALP, the right response depends entirely on why it’s high — and in many cases, the most effective way to bring it down is to address the underlying cause rather than the number itself. … Read more

You can stretch your hamstrings while sitting in a chair or on the floor without any special equipment. The chair version works best for people with tight hamstrings or limited mobility, while the floor version gives you more control over intensity. Both are safe for most people when done slowly and without bouncing. The hamstrings … Read more

Constipation is one of the most common digestive complaints in the United States, and most cases have a simple explanation: slow movement through the colon, often combined with too little fiber, too little fluid, or too little physical activity. The most reliable ways to get bowels moving are to increase dietary fiber gradually, drink enough … Read more

Most leukemia cases are not inherited. The great majority of leukemias arise from gene mutations acquired during a person’s lifetime — changes in blood-forming cells that happen after birth and are not passed to children. A smaller share of cases occur in families with an inherited predisposition, and even then, inheritance usually raises risk rather … Read more

Swollen, heavy legs are often caused by fluid buildup, poor circulation, or low-grade inflammation, and the first home steps are simple: elevate your legs above heart level, walk regularly, cut back on salt, and wear compression stockings if your doctor says they are safe for you. These measures help most people with mild, everyday swelling. … Read more

You cannot stretch the iliotibial band, and trying to do so is the wrong goal. The IT band is a thick strip of connective tissue, not a muscle, so it does not lengthen the way a hamstring or calf muscle does. The relief people actually get from “IT band stretches” comes from loosening the muscles … Read more

Labor induction means starting contractions with medical or mechanical methods before your body goes into labor on its own. It is one of the most common procedures in modern obstetrics, and it is done for one reason above all: when continuing the pregnancy poses more risk to you or your baby than delivering does. Induction … Read more