We all experience worry and anxiety but for some, it can impact overall functioning in a negative way. What’s the difference between anxiety and an anxiety disorder? Productive and unproductive worry? UH psychologist, Dr. Robert Chester, a specialist in anxiety disorders, offers advice about recognizing cognitive distortions or errors in thinking. Overcoming anxiety may be challenging but there are ways to take back control.

Connecting with your baby before and after birth can set the stage for your relationship with your child over the entire course of your lives together. But how much can a parent connect with a newborn, who seems to have almost no ability to communicate aside from crying? Lots, says UH Rainbow pediatrician Ganga Srinivas, MD. Babies often are trying to tell you something, whether turning their face away from you when overstimulated, gazing in the direction of your voice or smacking their lips...

Ninety-five percent of fad diets fail. Many people end up gaining back the weight they lost – and then put on even more pounds. If you’re tired of diets but still want to lose weight or eat more healthfully, you might consider intuitive eating. Sometimes called the mindfulness approach, intuitive eating doesn’t specifically focus on weight loss. It’s about developing a positive relationship with food and losing the guilt many people feel about enjoying food. Even better, a growing body of...

When you think of someone having a heart attack, you probably picture a person in their 50s or 60s. And that is typically the case. But over the last 20 years, more and more people who are younger than age 40 are having heart attacks. From 2006 to 2016, heart attacks for people in this age group have increased by 2 percent every year. What is driving this trend? UH cardiologist Raju Modi, MD, explains, and tells us how we can lower our risks at any age.

Your gut microbiome is like an ecosystem in your body – a community of shared organisms living together. An altered gut microbiome has been potentially linked to medical conditions ranging from type 2 diabetes to cardiovascular disease, autoimmune conditions, inflammatory bowel disease, neurological disorders and even cancer. How do you know the state of your gut health and what can you do to keep it in good shape? Lizzy Traxler, outpatient clinical dietician with the Digestive Health...

Your skin is your body’s largest organ, and it’s fairly simple to take care of. But there are many different types of skin, and each need different kinds of care. Your skin might be oily or dry, tan or burn easily, be dotted with moles or creased with fine lines. It can be tough to know exactly what habits or products will keep your skin at its healthiest – and the signs of trouble to watch for. UH certified nurse practitioner Susan Mayne, CNP, who specializes in dermatology, leads us through...

Vaccines have worked in the same way since they were invented more than 200 years ago: they use a weakened version of the targeted virus to create an immune response that the body remembers. Since COVID-19 appeared, a new kind of vaccine has emerged -- the mRNA vaccine. The mRNA vaccine is a unique delivery system that focuses specifically on the cells that are the targets of an infection. And, as UH infectious disease specialist Robert Salata, MD, explains, researchers are now studying how...

Immunotherapy is a new, groundbreaking approach to treating cancer that harnesses the body’s own natural defenses to fight tumors. Immunotherapy comes in many forms, including checkpoint inhibitors, which shut down a tumor’s ability to be invisible to the body’s immune system; antibodies that can stick to and attack a tumor; and genetically manipulated cells that become “natural killer cells.” Ted Teknos, MD, President and Scientific Director of UH Seidman Cancer Center, explains how these...

Many people choose plant-based alternatives to cow’s milk for themselves or their children because they want or need to avoid dairy. Others believe these non-dairy drinks are healthier than cow’s milk. But a close look at the nutrition profile of these beverages, which include milks made from almonds, soybeans or oats, shows that plant-based milks may not be as healthful as they seem. UH registered dietitian Meghann Featherstun, MS, RD, CSSD, LD, walks us through the most popular non-dairy...

Studies show that some of the most common baby foods manufactured in the United States contain traces of arsenic, lead and mercury. Exposure to these heavy metals can interfere with a child’s brain development and affect  learning, cognition, behavior and attention. While your child’s exposure to heavy metals from baby food is likely small compared to other sources, it’s still important to minimize exposure from all sources -- and that includes food. UH Rainbow pediatrician Aparna Bole, MD,...

For many people of all ages, the past year has been traumatic. Mental health problems have been reported among people hospitalized with COVID-19, while health care workers and others experienced high levels of stress on the job. Many people lost loved ones to the illness or were out of work. And children, who depend on social interaction for learning and development, were restricted to tight family pods. What has been the emotional and mental toll on all of us and how do we begin to heal?...

Pain relievers, cough suppressants, nasal sprays – these and other over-the-counter medicines are supposed to help us feel better when we have minor illnesses. But do these medicines really work? And what safety issues do we need to be aware of when taking these drugs or giving them to our kids? Charita Ray, DO, a family medicine physician at University Hospitals, outlines which medicines you should take and when -- as well as special safety considerations when giving over-the-counter drugs...

If you’re the parent of a child who is serious about sports, you know these young athletes are looking for anything to give them an edge over the competition. Building skills, strength and endurance are all part of the picture. So is eating right. But is there a place in an athlete’s toolkit for special food and beverages specifically aimed at enhancing athletic performance and recovery? We talked with UH pediatric sports medicine specialist Laura Goldberg, MD, to find out.

Research has shown that statins are highly effective in reducing the risk of fatal heart attack and stroke. But some people are reluctant to take these life-saving drugs. They worry about taking medicine every day for the rest of their life or have heard that statins have undesirable side effects. What does science have to say about these concerns and others surrounding statins? We talked to UH interventional cardiologist Ian Neeland, MD, Director of the Center of Cardiovascular Prevention at...

It’s not completely clear how, but scientists think a combination of factors, from genetics to the environment, play a role in children developing allergies to food such as peanuts, milk or shellfish. Many children will outgrow their food allergies. But for those who don’t, physicians have figured out a way to harness the body’s immune response to eliminate allergic reactions to food. Eli Silver, MD, a pediatric allergy and immunology specialist at UH Rainbow Babies & Children’s Hospital,...

The simple human act of kindness has numerous health benefits. It can help you experience fewer aches and pain and lower your blood pressure. It can protect your overall health twice as much as aspirin protects against heart disease. It’s free, widely available and has no side effects. UH Rainbow psychiatrist Marcie Hall, MD, explains the research-backed benefits of kindness – and how you can develop this powerful habit.

X-rays, CT scans, MRIs, ultrasound …. for many people, using technology to see inside the body or treat disease might evoke fears of being exposed to harmful radiation. Donna Plecha, MD, chair of Radiology at University Hospitals Cleveland Medical Center, discusses improvements made in recent years to ease those fears, as well as how radiology plays a vital role in the overall treatment process.

Stem cell therapy is used to treat many different medical conditions, from heart repair to neurological disorders. One exciting new area under study in a clinical trial at University Hospitals is treating cartilage injuries or early arthritis with stem cells. UH orthopedic specialist James Voos, MD, describes the clinical trial -- and how some stem cell treatments outside a hospital setting may not offer a comparable level of quality.

Keeping up on the latest medical research can be a benefit, but the sheer amount of information – and the sometimes contradictory results – can be wearying. How do you know which data  to trust? Afshin Dowlati, MD, Director of UH's Phase I clinical trials program, describes how to separate good-quality, trustworthy information from data that is less reliable.

Chances are, you or someone you know suffers from back pain. Back pain can affect people who are active and those who are sedentary, though for different reasons. So what should you do when back pain strikes? Get a softer – or firmer – mattress? Stand at your computer rather than sit? Hang upside down? Research shows that some of these solutions work while others are a waste of time and money. UH spine specialist A. Paul Gazzillo, MD, sorts through popular back pain remedies and identifies...

Acupuncture is a 5,000-year-old healing practice used to treat such diverse conditions as pain, digestive problems, respiratory disorders, anxiety, depression, headaches and migraines. Is there a place for this ancient approach in modern medicine? Acupuncturist Christine Kaiser, MS, LAc, LCH, FABORM, of the UH Connor Integrative Health Institute, describes two recent studies – one comparing acupuncture to intravenous morphine in the ER, the other on whether acupuncture is more than just a...

Detox diets, regimens and supplements are supposed to rid your body of toxins acquired from food, your lifestyle or the environment. Proponents also say detoxing – or cleansing – can improve your health and promote weight loss. But what does the research say about detoxes and cleanses? And are these methods and supplements safe? UH physician and toxicologist Ryan Marino, MD, provides a science-based perspective.

Not so long ago, vaping – or inhaling vapor from an electronic cigarette – was seen as a healthier alternative to smoking cigarettes made with tobacco. After all, solid research showed that smoking tobacco causes lung disease and cancer. But recent reports have linked serious lung injury – and even deaths – to vaping. UH emergency room physician Benjamin Boswell, DO, explains how e-cigarettes cause illness and why people are coming to the ER after vaping.

Many parents try to limit the time their children spend online gaming or watching videos, especially before bedtime, in the belief that too much screen time is bad for their kids’ mental and physical health.A recent study, however, turns that belief on its head, saying researchers could find no evidence that time on electronic devices has any negative effect on teens’ well-being.Carolyn Ievers-Landis, PhD, a clinical psychologist at UH Rainbow Babies & Children’s, discusses why parents...

As parents, we want to encourage our kids to participate in sports. There are great health advantages to exercising and being active. And, for some kids, there is the chance to play in college or earn scholarships.However, with the increasing pressure on kids and parents to participate in club, travel or year-round teams, burnout and overuse injuries are becoming more common in younger athletes. James Voos, MD, Chairman, Department of Orthopedic Surgery at University Hospitals, gives advice...