Author: Robert Kroening

Some time ago, I wrote that having the flu makes you much more likely to have a heart attack. Now we know why. We’ve known for a long time that vitamin D is critical for preventing the flu. But new research in obese children is breaking ground in the vitamin’s ability to fight cardiovascular disease….

Gut microbes can prevent severe flu infections in mice, likely by breaking down naturally occurring compounds—called flavonoids—commonly found in foods such as black tea, red wine, and blueberries, new research shows. Flu season is right around the corner. For people over 50, this means a dramatically increased risk of pneumonia, heart attack, and dying. It…

Several weeks ago, I told you that the flu virus can increase your risk of having a heart attack. But that’s not all the virus can cause. There’s growing evidence that the influenza virus can cause Guillain-Barré Syndrome, an illness that causes tingling and numbness in the extremities. Most cases of Guillain-Barré Syndrome are acute,…

Infections happen. You can’t avoid them. Every day your body is bombarded by bacteria, viruses, and other bugs looking for a host. Of course, the stronger your immune system is, the better you’re going to fight off each of those infections. But what happens when your immune system doesn’t work as well as it should?…

Americans are scared of the flu. When they see headlines like this: “A mother got the flu from her children – and was dead two days later,” who can blame them? Then they see stats from the CDC that say twice as many people have had the flu at this point in the year than…

Bill is a 69-year-old who had a noticeable cough. I asked him how long he had suffered with the cough. He said, “Since November.” He isn’t the first one I’ve noticed either. Cynthia ended up in the hospital with pneumonia and the flu. And I even suffered with a cough a few weeks ago. Mine…

When it comes to preventing cardiovascular disease, most doctors are concerned about checking your arteries for plaque, lowering your blood pressure, and watching your cholesterol. But there’s something else they need to check—the health of your kidneys. A large study called the Global Burden of Disease Study has been looking at the impact of various…

It’s common knowledge that honey has wonderful antimicrobial properties. You can’t beat the taste. But every summer, my kids get excited about a particular flower that blooms in our yard. This flower has wonderful nectar that tastes like honey. And studies are showing that it might be just as good at fighting infections as honey….

Dennis died of heart attack, but he thought he just had the flu. The same thing happened to Steve. He went to the pharmacy to pick up some medications for the flu. When he asked the pharmacist what he should get, the pharmacist asked his symptoms and then told Steve to get to the emergency…

It’s no secret that the older we get, the more we struggle with sleep problems. It’s also common knowledge that our muscles get weaker as we get older. So here’s the question: Is it possible the two are connected? A new study out of Texas found that not only are they connected, but one could…