Berries, nature’s colorful and flavorful jewels, are not just a treat for the taste buds but also a boon for heart health. Numerous studies highlight the role berries play in reducing heart attack risk while promoting overall cardiovascular wellness.
Rich in antioxidants, vitamins, and fiber, berries such as strawberries, blueberries, raspberries, and blackberries are a powerhouse of nutrients. Continue reading
You’ve probably heard that few things in life are certain except death and taxes, but we’d like to add something else to the list: cleaning up in the bathroom.
So, since we have to do it, what’s the best technique? Continue reading
Chemical relaxers used to straighten hair may increase the risk of developing multiple cancers by as much as 166 percent, a new study has found
The Center for Environmental Health (CEH) sent a notice to major retailers Amazon.com, Target and Walmart on Tuesday notifying them that they are in violation for selling shampoos, body soaps and other hygienic products that contain cocamide diethanolamine, or cocamide DEA.
Cocamide DEA is derived from coconut oil and commonly used in shampoos, soaps and lotions as a foam booster, thickening agent and stabilizer.
It is made by reacting coconut oil with a chemical called ethanolamine. Continue reading
A top heart surgeon has revealed the foods and drinks he avoids that are ‘actively poisoning’ you body.
Dr Jeremy London (pictured here), a cardiovascular and thoracic surgeon in Georgia, took to TikTok to share the foods he never eats due to increased risks of heart disease
Dr Jeremy London, a cardiovascular and thoracic surgeon in Georgia, shared the top foods he avoids to lower his risk of cardiovascular disease, America’s number one killer that takes 1 million lives every year.
The disease, which includes coronary artery disease, heart attack and stroke, among others, kills more Americans than cancer and dementia combined, and experts estimate it is on the rise nationwide.
Health authorities expect by 2050, more than 60 percent of Americans will have some form of heart disease. Continue reading
Banner Health’s University Medical Center Phoenix became the first hospital in the United States to successfully perform a new procedure aimed at treating patients with leaky heart valves.
Using a Valcare’s AMEND Ring, Dr. Paul Sorajja completed the procedure, which is aimed to treat mitral regurgitation, according to a Monday news release. Continue reading
Foods from the ‘alkaline’ side include fresh seasonal fruit
Grapefruit for breakfast might have just sabotaged your medication. The green tea you’re sipping could be canceling out the effects of your cancer treatment. The St. John’s wort you take for mood support may be making your birth control ineffective. The foods and supplements we reach for to stay healthy can sometimes do exactly the opposite when mixed with prescription drugs.
While three-quarters of Americans use dietary supplements, and nearly two-thirds are on prescription drugs, millions are unknowingly combining substances that shouldn’t mix.
More than 85 medications can dangerously interact with grapefruit alone. Some interactions weaken your medicine, rendering treatments useless. Others amplify drug effects, turning safe doses into dangerous ones. Continue reading
On December 5, 2025, the CDC’s ACIP committee voted 8-3 to end the automatic Hep B shot for every newborn. For the first time since 1991 hospitals can no longer treat every baby as if they were born to an infected mother.
The new language: Hep B at birth only if mom is positive or status unknown. For the 99%+ of infants born to Hep B-negative mothers, the shot is delayed to at least 2 months with “individual-based decision-making” between parents and doctors. This is a win for medical freedom and common sense.
But make no mistake, this is only the opening salvo in a long and brutal war against an industry that now demands over 70 doses of other vaccines by age 18. Continue reading
2026 Could Bring Higher Health Insurance Costs for Millions of Americans
The costs of at least 350 drugs in the U.S. are expected to rise in 2026, according to a new analysis, despite many of the drugmakers pledging to offer more favorable prices under new Trump administration policies.
New data from the health care research firm 3 Axis Advisors, first reported by Reuters, found that a higher number of drugs would see price increases next year compared with last year, when more than 250 drugs were slated for markups.
President Donald Trump had floated a solution to ease the situation, but severe conservative backlash forced him to go back on his words. The Fox report states that there is a bipartisan plan in talks that seeks a three-year extension of the subsidies. It is similar to the Democrats’ plan, which is up for a vote in the House later this month. However, it would not be wise to pin one’s hopes on that vote… (Continue to full article)
US Drug Prices to Climb Again in 2026, Affecting 350 Branded Medicines
US drug prices are set to rise again in 2026, with drugmakers planning increases on at least 350 branded medicines, according to new data from healthcare research firm 3 Axis Advisors.
The planned hikes will affect vaccines for COVID, RSV, and shingles, as well as major treatments like Pfizer’s cancer drug Ibrance, raising concerns for patients already paying some of the highest drug prices in the world.
The data shows the number of planned price increases is higher than last year.
At the same point in 2025, companies planned hikes on just over 250 drugs. For 2026, the median increase is about 4%, similar to this year, ET reported. These listed prices do not include rebates or discounts that drugmakers later negotiate with insurers or pharmacy benefit managers. The increases come even as President Trump continues to pressure pharmaceutical companies to lower US drug prices to levels closer to those in other wealthy countries.
Americans often pay nearly three times more for prescription medicines than patients in other developed nations… (Continue to full article)
Prescription Auto-Refills Are Switching Quantities Without Approval
If you opened your mail-order pharmacy box this month only to find a 30-day supply of your maintenance meds instead of your usual 90-day bottle, you’ve hit a 2026 “Quantity Limit” wall. Across the country, prescription auto-refills are switching quantities without explicit patient approval, leaving many seniors to manage three times as many shipments. This isn’t a mistake by the pharmacist; it is a direct result of new 2026 insurance quantity limit policies designed to control costs as the new $2,000 Part D out-of-pocket cap goes into full effect. By shortening your supply, insurers can more closely monitor your “adherence” and reduce the financial risk of “wasted” medication that occurs when a patient’s dosage changes mid-quarter.
For those taking pain management or ADHD medications, the auto-refill switching quantities rules are even more stringent. New 2026 controlled substance regulations often cap initial fills at 30 days, even if a doctor writes for 90, to prevent “stockpiling” and diversion. If your state’s law or your pharmacy’s policy has updated its “Safety Edits” for the new year, the pharmacist is legally required to “auto-adjust” your quantity downward to comply with the most restrictive rule. This is part of a broader 2026 push to treat every controlled substance refill with the same scrutiny as a brand-new prescription.
The shift in auto-refills switching quantities is a frustrating “stealth change” that impacts your time, your budget, and your peace of mind. While insurers argue that 30-day fills reduce waste and improve safety, the reality for many seniors is a year filled with more trips to the pharmacy and more paperwork. By understanding the “75% rule” and proactively filing for “Quantity Limit Exceptions,” you can restore your 90-day supply and reduce the stress of your monthly medication management. Don’t let an “auto-adjust” algorithm dictate how you manage your health and your time in the new year… (Continue to full article)
Kiss mah…
AARP Sounds the Alarm on Social Security and Medicare in 2026
As 2026 approaches, millions of Americans preparing for retirement are facing crucial updates to two of the nation’s most important safety-net programs: Social Security and Medicare. Advocacy group AARP, representing over 120 million Americans age 50 and older, has delivered a clear message: benefits are changing, costs are rising, and retirees need to understand what it all means for their financial future.
While Social Security benefits are increasing, Medicare premiums are rising even faster, and for many retirees, that means less net income despite the COLA
The standard monthly premium for Medicare Part B — which covers doctor visits and outpatient care — will jump from $185 in 2025 to $202.90 in 2026, an increase of nearly 10%. The annual deductible for Part B also rises to $283.
These increases can significantly erode the effective value of the Social Security COLA, especially since many beneficiaries have their Medicare premiums deducted directly from their benefit checks… (Continue to full article)
UnitedHealth Boots 1 Million Seniors in a Medicare Shakeup Not Seen in 20 Years
UnitedHealth’s decision to push roughly one million seniors out of its Medicare Advantage products marks a break from the incremental tweaks that usually define this market. For older Americans who built their budgets and care relationships around these plans, the shift is not an abstract business story but a direct hit to how they will access doctors, drugs, and hospitals next year. I see it as the clearest sign in two decades that the balance of power between giant insurers and aging consumers is tilting again, and not in favor of retirees.
When a company the size of UnitedHealth moves, the ripple effects rarely stay contained, and the projected loss of roughly one million Medicare Advantage members is closer to a tidal surge than a wave. Executives have signaled that Medicare Advantage enrollment will shrink by about 1 million people, a figure that reflects both members being pushed out of nonrenewed plans and others walking away from slimmer benefits.
In practical terms, that means hundreds of thousands of households will be forced to re-shop coverage, re-check drug formularies, and re-learn which doctors are in network, all at an age when administrative friction can be as punishing as a medical bill… (Continue to full article)
A new flu variant known as subclade K is on the rise across the country. Although a spike in this particular strain of influenza, referred to by some as a “super flu,” has been recorded, symptoms remain similar to the most common form of flu called influenza A. Doctors say vaccination is the best way to avoid hospitalization or complications for those at risk. Continue reading
Everyday plastic exposures can affect hormones and long-term health, but simple steps can help reduce your risk.
Concerned that her child might bump their head while playing on the floor, a woman in her 30s covered her home with colorful plastic play mats. At times, the two would even take a nap on the mats.
However, after a while, something felt wrong. She began experiencing irregular menstrual cycles and unexplained discomfort. When doctors tested her urine, they found elevated levels of phthalate metabolites, markers of plasticizer exposure. Following her doctor’s advice, she removed the plastic mats from her home, and her menstrual cycle returned to normal. Continue reading
Coffee is many people’s favorite way to start their day. In fact, according to the National Coffee Association, nearly 66% of American adults drink at least one cup of coffee every day. But before you reach for that steaming mug, it’s a good idea to talk about how coffee interacts with certain medications.
Caffeine can provide a temporary energy boost, but it can also change the way some medicines work within your body-sometimes in surprising and even profound ways.
From jitters to how your body absorbs certain drugs, the combination of coffee and medication is something not to be taken lightly. Here are 11 common medications that one must have with caution when paired with that morning brew. Continue reading
The order you eat your food in also matters. Start with the most fibrous foods first, like your leafy greens, then fats and proteins, and end on carbs.
It’s not just sugary sweets and fizzy drinks that can send our blood sugar levels through the roof.
Carbs such as bread, pasta and potatoes, plus some fruits and vegetables, can have the same effect, increasing the risk of a number of serious health issues, an anti-sugar campaigner warns the Daily Mail.
Health coach Steve Bennett, who has just released a new book, Sugar Tolerance, says: ‘Our body is designed to deal with moderate and infrequent sugar spikes. Continue reading
Dr. Jeremy London, a heart surgeon, shared the top four things people should avoid after they turn 40 for heart disease prevention
While heart health is important at any age, it is particularly crucial to maintain your cardiovascular health later in life, as the risk of heart disease increases with age. Continue reading