Tracy Vitulli of Freehold was running the bases during a softball game years ago when he suddenly couldn’t catch his breath – and then couldn’t get out of bed for several days. A longtime smoker, Tracy learned he had emphysema and chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD), two conditions that [...]
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. [...]
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 [...]
Throughout life, our knees help us in ways we don’t even think about, from our initial first steps to riding a bike, lifting a child or tending a garden – and they do it all while bearing the weight of our bodies. Yet over time, the protective cartilage that [...]
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 [...]
