Forget skeletons: Search your family’s closet for tumors instead. Having a first-degree relative like a parent or sibling with cancer roughly doubles your own risk of that disease, according to Noralane M. Lindor, M.D., medical geneticist at the Mayo Clinic. Read the full article for Men’s Health.
Men’s Health
6 Ways Your Health Suffers When You Stop Working Out
Just as a good training program builds you up, falling off the workout wagon can have the opposite effect—sometimes almost immediately. Experts call this phenomenon “detraining,” and its consequences can weigh even heavier than the gut you see in the mirror. Fortunately, the condition is fully reversible, as long as you get your butt back to the gym. Read the full article for Men’s Health.
9 Places Where Mold Is Hiding in Your Home
This winter, your nagging in-laws and slob of a second cousin may not be the only visitors overstaying their welcome at your place. You could be hosting a whole houseful of festering fungi—think mold, mildew, and yeast—that surreptitiously check in to your kitchen, bathroom, bedroom, and basement. And those gross guests can worsen asthma and increase your risk of lung infections. It’s time to clear out the sporehouse. You’ll breathe a lot easier. Read the full article in Men’s Health.
Thar She Blows
Every July, you see colorful explosions. They’re usually a few hundred feet up in the air and elicit oohs and aahs. But if you’re unlucky, they can also erupt in the toilet and prompt prayers for a quick death. Summer is the season for barbecues, pool parties, and camping trips–all settings that can light the fuse of gastrointestinal fireworks. Read the full article in Men’s Health (pdf)–and listen to my interview about it on Men’s Health Live here (mp3).
The Most Dangerous Drug and Food Combinations
Bacon and chocolate. Chili and peanut butter. Some unlikely combinations end up working well together. But when it comes to diet and drugs, the wrong pairing can unwittingly turn into a recipe for disaster. Read the full article in Men’s Health.
Walking? Stop Reading This
“BRB—headed to ER.” That’s the message more than 6,000 pedestrians each year would send if they could, finds a new analysis of national emergency-department visits by University of Buffalo physicians. Read the full article in Men’s Health.News Every Skin Cancer Survivor Must Know
Lightning doesn’t strike twice—but cancer can. People who survive a skin cancer other than melanoma face a higher risk of 29 other cancers later on, finds new research from the University of Melbourne. Read the full article in Men’s Health.
30 Ways To Save Your Heart
We’ve collected a whole slew of simple, effective strategies for safeguarding your heart health. You don’t have to adopt all of these lifesavers, but give each one a try to see if you can stick with it for the long haul. Who knows? You just might dodge a bullet. Read the full article in Men’s Health.Are E-Cigarettes Dangerous?
Voters and legislators kicked cigarettes out of most bars and restaurants years ago. But now they’re back in a different form: Electronic cigarettes—smokeless cartridges that release nicotine vapors—are popping up in public places. Several cities and states—including North Dakota, New Jersey, and Utah—have explicitly banned their use indoors, but many haven’t. And while the dangers of secondhand smoke are well documented—and you know to keep your distance from smoke—how hazardous is the vapor from e-cigs? Read the full article in Men’s Health.3 Ways to Outsmart Father Time—Starting Now!
Old brains do learn new tricks. Trying different things, working out, and making social connections can alter neural structures even when you’re older, improving your memory and health as a result, according to research presented at the American Association for the Advancement of Science conference in Chicago this past weekend. But don’t wait until you reach your golden years. Read the full article in Men’s Health.