Today’s technology allows us to pop in a pair of earbuds, tune out the world and enjoy our favorite music and podcasts anytime, anywhere. But are earbuds safe? Not always. “Growing evidence suggests a troubling link between earbud use and potential hearing damage, particularly with younger people,” says CentraState [...]
You likely know that smoking – whether vaping or smoking tobacco or marijuana – is detrimental to your health. However, your body benefits quickly and significantly from quitting any type of smoking. The effect of smoking on the body is dose-dependent, meaning the health risks of smoking increase both [...]
Ever wonder why you seem to sleep better when it's cooler outside? It all comes down to how your body regulates temperature. The hypothalamus, a part of your brain that acts like a thermostat, controls your body’s temperature, which fluctuates throughout the day and night. “As part of your [...]
Have fall allergies turned you into a sniffling, sneezing, itchy-eyed mess? You’re not alone. More than 80 million Americans suffer from seasonal allergies, which can range from being a mild nuisance to downright debilitating. “Seasonal, year-round and food allergies are increasing in prevalence and symptom severity,” says CentraState allergist [...]
Apples are a fall favorite for good reason. What’s better than sinking your teeth into a juicy, crisp, satisfying apple? They’re delicious, nutritious and versatile. Nutritional Powerhouse A small apple with skin has 77 calories and provides 3.6 grams of cholesterol-controlling dietary fiber and about half that amount once [...]
With Autumn’s chill comes the season of coughs, sniffles and scratchy throats. Caused by viruses ranging from the flu and COVID-19 to the common cold, such symptoms can leave you mildly run down—or feverish and bedridden. Fortunately, there are ways to lower your and your family’s risk of illness. [...]
For tweens and teens, the feeling of not fitting in can be distressing. Peer pressure and the adverse effects of social media—unrealistic comparisons to other teens and celebrities, fear of missing out and the well-documented addictiveness of social platforms—can compound the problem and undermine a young person’s mental health [...]
Picture yourself at an after-work happy hour sipping a beautifully crafted drink. The cherry on top? It’s alcohol-free. As part of a “sober-curious” movement, more people are taking a closer look at the role alcohol plays in their lives and, in turn, choosing to reduce or eliminate it. And [...]
When Julie McLaughlin suggested that her husband, Mark McLaughlin, MD, join her for a swim class at the CentraState Fitness & Wellness Center, he couldn’t have predicted it would become one of his favorite ways to exercise. “I'm a wrestler and a runner, but these activities come with muscle [...]
Exercise is good for your body, but did you know that those benefits also extend to your brain? “Exercise improves the function of your cardiovascular, respiratory, muscular, skeletal and nervous systems, all of which support your brain's health and ability to do its job,” says CentraState neurosurgeon Mark McLaughlin, [...]
