Why Is There No Vaccine for the Common Cold?

Vaccinesthat help boost the immune system are an important public health strategy that protects againstinfections. Despite efforts to make a vaccine for thecommon cold, one has yet to be developed. Do We Need a Common Cold Vaccine? J Studios / Getty Images Each year, millions of people in the United States get the common cold. Adults may have about two colds a year, while children tend to have more. While it may be frustrating to have a cold, it rarely leads to serious issues....

April 18, 2025 · 2 min · 255 words · Tricia Russo

Why Is There Pain in My Left Arm, and Does It Signal Something Serious?

This article discusses some of the potential causes of left arm pain, including both cardiac and noncardiac reasons. It could come on suddenly or appear gradually over time. Sometimes, the bone(s) in your arm may look disjointed or out of place. Fly View Productions / Getty Images Herniated Disc Spinal discs act as cushions that separate the individual vertebrae from one another. Peripheral neuropathy refers to pain, numbness, and tingling in the extremities....

April 18, 2025 · 2 min · 382 words · Crystal Love

Why Is Vitamin E Oil Good for Hair? 3 Reasons to Indulge

Vitamin E skin benefitsare well-known. However, some people use vitamin E in their hair. Vladdeep / Getty Images Why Do People Use Vitamin E Oil for Their Hair? Vladdeep / Getty Images There is limited research supportingvitamin Ehair benefits. Even so, people use it for several reasons. Prevent Hair Loss Research on vitamin E forhair lossis conflicting. Research has found that applying oil to your hair enhances lubrication of the hair shaft and prevents breakage....

April 18, 2025 · 2 min · 231 words · Jason Dunn

Why It's Important to Monitor Glucose Levels

Monitoring can help you and your healthcare team understand what affects your blood sugar levels. This information can be used to guide decisions about your diabetes care plan. Having the right care plan in place can help prevent or delay complications of diabetes. Getty Images / PeopleImages Glucose is the main sugar found in the bloodstream. It comes from the foods you eat and from production from stored energy sources in the kidneys and liver....

April 18, 2025 · 4 min · 794 words · Jane Wagner

Why Knee Arthritis Is Likely to Develop After an ACL Tear

Knee ligament injuries can be devastating injuries for a young athlete. Unfortunately, the fact is, that the worst may be yet to come. The success of surgery is generally good, although not perfect. Klaus Vedfelt / Getty Images Most athletes are able to return to sports activities after surgical reconstruction. The condition causes symptoms of pain, swelling, and deformity of the joint. Over time, the condition may worsen to a point that knee replacement may become an option....

April 18, 2025 · 2 min · 337 words · Erika Parker

Why Lean PCOS Often Goes Undiagnosed—and How to Treat It

Lean PCOS is polycystic ovary syndrome in people of normal weight. Delayed Diagnosis PCOSis a condition in which cysts form on the ovaries. This means lean women with PCOS often go undiagnosed for years. Skaman 306 / Getty Images Researchers have compared thecholesterol levels of normal-weight women with PCOSto women without PCOS. How is PCOS diagnosed? Healthcare providers sometimes perform anendometrial biopsyto check for endometrial cancer, which is more common in those with PCOS....

April 18, 2025 · 3 min · 564 words · Travis Hayes

Why Listeria Seems to Be Everywhere Now, According to Food Safety Experts

These headlines might make you anxious about what is safe to eat. But are there actually moreListeria-linked outbreaks and food recalls happening? Why Are We Seeing More Listeria Recalls Lately? Photo Illustration by Michela Buttignol for Verywell Health; Getty Images However, the size of high-profile recalls and the effects of the contamination have been far-reaching. This is far larger than in 2023, when theUSDA listedjust over 78,000 pounds of recalled foods linked toListeriacontamination....

April 18, 2025 · 2 min · 306 words · Mitchell Ramirez

Why Long COVID Patients Are Struggling With Depression

Cesar Valesco entered a 51-day coma due to COVID-19 in March 2020. Over a year later, many of his symptoms remain. He can tolerate his physical symptoms, but its the voice in his head thats unbearable: Youre useless. Photo courtesy of Cesar Valesco Youre no good." There are days that I really feel I’m losing to it. These flashbacks mingle with guilt, which has ballooned in his continued fight with the virus....

April 18, 2025 · 2 min · 218 words · Zoe Tyler

Why Men Snore More Than Women

Snoringsounds like noisy breathing that occurs during sleep. It’s a very common issue. In fact, around 25% of people are habitual snorers. Eva-Katalin / Getty Images Sometimes snoring is harmless, but it can be an indication of a health problem that requires attention. Causes Snoring has many causes, including obesity and anatomical variations affecting the upper airways. During an episode of apnea, the muscles relax so much they cause complete obstruction of the airway....

April 18, 2025 · 1 min · 174 words · Adam Cook

Why Muscle Spasms Hurt and How to Stop Them

The pain associated with a spasm can be severe, causing discomfort and restricting movement. During a spasm, the muscle contracts involuntarily and remains in a state of tension without relaxing. These spasms can be sparked by medications that affect nerve signals or disrupt electrolyte balance in the body. Vadym Petrochenko / Getty Images They are often prescribed for short-term use to manage acute muscle spasms. Summary Understanding the causes, symptoms, and treatments for muscle spasms is essential for managing discomfort....

April 18, 2025 · 1 min · 146 words · Patricia Meyer

Why Non-Starchy Vegetables Are Key to a Healthy Diet

Vegetables, especially non-starchyvegetables, are a healthy and important part of your diet. Theyre packed with vitamins, minerals, disease-fighting antioxidants, and fiber. What Are Starchy and Non-Starchy Vegetables? Bhaskar Dutta / Moment Open / Getty Images Non-starchy vegetables are low in calories andcarbohydrates. There are a lot of options to choose from, including some from each pop in of vegetable. Thats important to keep in mind if you have diabetes or are on alow-carb diet....

April 18, 2025 · 2 min · 302 words · Kyle Cunningham

Why Not Wait Until I'm Sick to Buy Health Insurance?

Health insuranceis expensive, so why not just wait and buy coverage when you need it? Why pay months ofpremiumswhen you might not need to use it? If you get sick in the meantime, youll probably be out of luck. David Lees / Getty Images They usually occur in the fall, for coverage starting January 1. Special enrollment periods are time-limited. Health Insurance Waiting Periods Health insurance coverage doesnt take effect the day you buy it....

April 18, 2025 · 3 min · 595 words · Jacqueline Roberts

Why Obesity Is Linked to Higher Cancer Rates in Young People

Younger generations are more likely to develop obesity than ever before. In 2009, about 33% of adults ages 20 to 44 had obesity. By 2020, that number shot up to 41%. Illustration by Mira Norian for Verywell Health Scientists have long known that obesity raises the risk of developing and dying of cancer in older adults. seems as if cancer incidence is rising for young adults and its primarily driven by diagnoses of obesity-related cancers....

April 18, 2025 · 3 min · 476 words · Ryan Hobbs