Research-based articles on weight management, joint health, gut health, and natural wellness to help you make informed health decisions.
Vaseline, the familiar blue-jar petroleum jelly that has sat in medicine cabinets for over 150 years, is one of the most studied and safest moisturizers available. The short answer is no — Vaseline is not bad for your skin for most people. It is a highly effective occlusive agent that prevents water loss, helping dry … Read more
When you get an ultrasound of your abdomen, the doctor or technician looks at how your liver appears on the screen. The term “echotexture” describes how the liver reflects sound waves back to the ultrasound machine. A normal liver has a smooth, uniform appearance with fine, low-level echoes that look consistent throughout the organ. When … Read more
Alcohol leaves your blood at a fairly predictable rate, but the exact detection window depends on the test being used. In most people, alcohol is eliminated from the blood at a rate of about 0.015% blood alcohol concentration (BAC) per hour. A breathalyzer can detect alcohol for up to 24 hours after heavy drinking, while … Read more
Blood type matters most when you need a transfusion. If you receive the wrong type, your immune system can attack the donated blood. That is why matching blood types is so important. But one blood type stands out because it can safely receive red blood cells from any other type. That type is AB positive. … Read more
Yes, you can usually drink coffee before an abdominal ultrasound, but it depends on the specific organ being examined. If your ultrasound targets the gallbladder, pancreas, or liver, your doctor will likely ask you to fast for 6 to 8 hours beforehand. That means no coffee, no food, and often only small sips of water. … Read more
Corynebacterium striatum is a bacterium that commonly lives on human skin and in the nose and throat without causing harm. It becomes a pathogen when it enters a part of the body where it does not belong, such as the bloodstream, lungs, or heart valves, and causes an infection. This shift typically happens in people … Read more
Seeing your toddler tug at their ear and cry in pain is distressing. Ear infections are one of the most common reasons parents bring young children to the doctor. The good news is that most ear infections resolve on their own, and your main job at home is to manage the pain and keep your … Read more
Swimmer’s ear is an infection of the ear canal, the tube that runs from the outer ear to the eardrum. It is usually caused by water staying in the ear after swimming, which creates a moist environment where bacteria can grow. The pain is often intense because the canal is tight and the skin there … Read more
A chest X-ray is one of the most common imaging tests ordered in medicine, but it cannot see a blood clot. X-rays show bones, air, and dense tissues like the heart and major vessels. They do not show the inside of blood vessels, which is where clots form. If you are wondering whether an X-ray … Read more
Finding your first grey hairs in your 30s or even 20s can feel alarming, especially when you see peers with full color well into their 50s. The short answer is that some cases of premature greying can be reversed if they are caused by a specific, correctable deficiency, but most cases are driven by genetics … Read more