Cathy Nelson

3 weeks ago | health.com | Cathy Nelson |Jenna Anderson |Nick Blackmer

In the study, people lost an average of 6 hours of quality sleep a month from snoozing. Giselleflissak / Getty ImagesNew research suggests that the habit of snoozing your alarm in the morning is widespread. Snoozing won’t help you wake up and can actually make you lose out on deep sleep, experts warned. Instead, set your alarm at the latest possible wake-up time, move the alarm away from your bed, and take steps to improve your sleep quality overall.

1 month ago | health.com | Cathy Nelson |Julia Landwehr |Nick Blackmer

skynesher / Getty ImagesNew research suggests that drinking at least eight alcoholic drinks a week is associated with a greater risk of brain lesions. Over time, heavy drinking can change the brain, damaging blood vessels and shrinking areas that help with decision making, memory, and movement, experts said. The best thing for brain health is to cut back on your alcohol consumption, or stop drinking altogether.

2 months ago | health.com | Cathy Nelson |Julia Landwehr |Nick Blackmer

ArtistGNDphotography / Getty ImagesCarbon monoxide poisoning has made headlines in recent months, with multiple incidents of travelers dying while on vacation. The toxic gas is odorless and colorless, and can leak from boilers, pool or water heaters, gas grills, and other appliances. There are no widespread regulations in the U.S. or in many other countries requiring carbon monoxide detectors in hotels, so experts recommend you travel with your own alarm.

Dec 30, 2024 | health.com | Cathy Nelson

In a new survey, 40% of adults over 50 said an age cutoff for routine colorectal cancer screenings at 75 years old was “somewhat” or “very” unacceptable. Experts set this guideline because at age 75, the benefits of colorectal cancer screenings do not outweigh the risks. You can still get screened past age 75, and experts advise talking to your healthcare provider about the best recommendation for you. Many older adults think they should still receive colon cancer screenings past the age of 75.

Nov 25, 2024 | health.com | Cathy Nelson

fcafotodigital / Getty ImagesZucchini may seem harmless, but a recent case study of a patient with cramps, vomitting, diarrhea, and liver damage after eating zucchini shows the dangers of cucurbitacin poisoning. Cucurbitacin poisoning is a rare but potentially fatal condition caused by consuming a high level of cucurbitacins, a toxic compound that can form in plants in the gourd family.