Harvard Health Content API

Scientists are studying whether medical detection dogs can sniff out and identify disease in humans, such as cancer, infection, and Parkinson’s disease. Dogs might be useful because their noses have 60 times the number of scent receptors as human noses; that might make dogs able to detect scents given off by bacteria or diseased human cells. But it’s hard to get solid evidence about the accuracy of medical detection dogs. Scientists are also studying whether technology can replicate the same kind of detection.

Some older adults feel cold frequently. This may result from age-related physical changes or an underlying condition. Examples of underlying conditions that might make a person feel cold include anemia, an underactive thyroid, diabetic neuropathy, peripheral artery disease, or Raynaud’s phenomenon. People who experience coldness that interferes with their daily activities or sleep should talk to a doctor about it.

The immune system sometimes launches a chronic inflammatory response in certain joints. That leads to pain, stiffness, and joint damage known as inflammatory arthritis. It’s usually unknown what triggers the conditions. Types of inflammatory arthritis include rheumatoid arthritis, gout, and psoriatic arthritis. Treatments include medications, such as biologic or nonbiologic disease-modifying antirheumatic drugs (DMARDs), and lifestyle habits, such as exercising, avoiding processed foods, reducing stress, not smoking, and getting enough sleep. Wearing a splint or brace on affected joints and seeking physical therapy may also help ease pain.

It’s best to talk to one’s doctor before buying a pain relief gadget. The product may not work, it may cost a lot of money, it might be dangerous, or it might encourage the user to delay medical treatment. Some high-tech pain relief devices may be effective for some people, such as a transcutaneous electrical nerve stimulation (TENS) machine. And some low-tech devices may also help relieve pain, such as foam rollers, handheld massagers, and heat or cold packs.

The glymphatic system is the brain’s “waste management” system. It carries fresh fluid into the brain, mixes the fresh fluid with waste-filled fluid surrounding brain cells, and flushes the mix out of the brain and into the blood.

Among atherosclerosis, obesity, high blood pressure, high cholesterol, and diabetes, which are all related, cholesterol deposits start first.

Although exercise guidelines encourage all types of physical activity, leisure-time activity seems to promote cardiovascular health, while job-related activity does not.

The FDA approved the first liquid-filled aspirin capsule, Vazalore, which will be marketed in standard and low-dose versions.

Even if they aren’t overweight, people with big bellies may face a higher risk of heart disease. Regular physical activity and cutting down on simple sugars are the best ways to shed extra belly fat.

Peaches, nectarines, apricots, peaches, plums, and cherries are considered stone fruits because they all contain large, hard seeds or pits. They’re all decent sources of fiber, vitamins A and C, and potassium.