Articles

New research is revealing a surprising link between the bacteria in your belly and how you feel every day — and women may be especially affected.

You've probably heard that the gut and brain are connected. But most people picture that as a one-way street — stress upsets your stomach. Here's what the latest science is showing: it runs the other way, too. The trillions of microbes living in your gut may be actively influencing your mood, anxiety levels, and even your risk of depression. And for women, the connection appears to run especially deep.

Cramps that sideline you every month are a signal worth taking seriously — here's what the science says.

Too many women have been told that severe period pain is just part of being a woman. It is not. While some discomfort during menstruation is common, pain that disrupts your daily life may be pointing to a real medical condition — one that is treatable. Knowing the difference could change everything.

Millions of women with polycystic ovary syndrome are walking around with a blood sugar problem they don't know they have — and it's not their fault it's being missed.

You've been told your hormones are just "a little off." Or maybe you've been handed a birth control prescription and sent on your way. But if you have PCOS, there may be something deeper going on with your metabolism that deserves a much closer look.

Polycystic ovary syndrome, or PCOS, is one of the most common hormonal conditions in women of reproductive age, affecting an estimated 8 to 13 percent of women worldwide, according to the World Health Organization. Yet research published in the Journal of Clinical Endocrinology and Metabolism and supported by the Endocrine Society suggests that a key driver of the condition — insulin resistance — is frequently overlooked, especially in younger women who don't fit the stereotype of who gets blood sugar problems.

Depression in men rarely looks like crying and sadness — and that gap between the stereotype and reality is costing lives.

Most people picture depression as someone who can't get out of bed and cries all day. But for millions of men, it shows up as anger, reckless behavior, or just working longer hours. Knowing what to actually look for could change — or save — someone's life.

A new study finds that one of the most significant health transitions in a woman's life is going largely undocumented by her own doctors.

Most women expect their doctors to track the big stuff—blood pressure, cholesterol, weight. But a growing body of evidence suggests that menopause, a transition that reshapes nearly every system in a woman's body, is barely making it into the medical record. A study published in Menopause: The Journal of The Menopause Society found that menopause status is documented in a strikingly small percentage of patient records, even for women in the age range when it most commonly occurs. Here's what the research found, why it matters for your long-term health, and what you can do about it.

Nearly two-thirds of all Americans living with Alzheimer's are women — and biology may explain more than we once thought.

You might assume that women simply live longer, and that's why more of them develop Alzheimer's. Longevity is part of the story. But researchers are finding that it is only part of it. Emerging science points to hormonal shifts, genetic factors, and brain biology that may put women at meaningfully higher risk — and understanding why could open new doors for prevention.

You've heard of hormone therapy for women — but testosterone rarely comes up. Here's what the science actually says.

When most people think about women's hormone health, estrogen and progesterone get all the attention. Testosterone barely gets a mention. But researchers and clinicians are taking a much closer look at the role this hormone plays in women's health — especially after 40 — and the findings are worth knowing about.

If you or someone you know is taking a GLP-1 medication, there's a new side effect worth watching for — and it may be hiding in plain sight.

Millions of women are now taking GLP-1 receptor agonist drugs like semaglutide (Ozempic, Wegovy) and tirzepatide (Mounjaro, Zepbound) for weight loss or blood sugar control. The benefits are well-documented. But a growing body of reports is flagging a surprising and largely overlooked side effect: significant changes to the nails. Research suggests it may be happening in close to half of users.

Something is shifting in how men think about mental health — and the research backs it up.

For decades, the message men got was simple: push through it. But a growing number of men in their 30s and 40s are quietly rewriting that script — and the data suggests it may be one of the smartest health moves they can make.

High blood pressure used to be considered an older man's problem. New data says that thinking is dangerously out of date.

If you're a man in your 30s or 40s and you haven't had your blood pressure checked lately, this is your wake-up call. Hypertension — long thought of as something that crept up on men in their 60s — is now being diagnosed in younger men at rates that have public health experts paying close attention. Here's what the research shows and what you can do about it today.

Your standard cholesterol test may be missing one of the most important clues about your heart health.

Most men walk out of their annual physical thinking they know where they stand on heart health. You got your cholesterol checked, the numbers looked fine, and your doctor said see you next year. But here's what that routine panel may not be telling you: a growing body of research suggests that a marker called ApoB could be a more precise predictor of cardiovascular risk — and most men have never even heard of it.

The supplement aisle can feel overwhelming — here's what the science actually says about what men need after 40.

Walk into any pharmacy and the men's health supplement section looks like a college chemistry lab. Hundreds of bottles, each promising to boost energy, sharpen your mind, build muscle, or protect your heart. But most men over 40 are either taking too much of the wrong things or skipping the few that genuinely matter. Here's how to cut through the noise.

Cold plunges are all over social media, but does the science back up the buzz—or is this just another wellness trend?

Every guy at the gym seems to be talking about ice baths. Some swear they speed up recovery, boost testosterone, and sharpen the mind. But before you fill your bathtub with ice, it's worth asking: what does the research actually say—and what's still just hype?

Most people don't notice they're losing muscle until it's already affecting how they feel, move, and live — but there's a lot you can do about it.

You might be eating well, staying active, and feeling pretty good. But starting in your 30s, your body quietly begins losing muscle mass — and the process picks up speed after 60. Scientists call it sarcopenia, and it's one of the most underappreciated threats to healthy aging. The good news: it's not inevitable.

It's not just an older man's problem anymore — and the reasons why may surprise you.

Most people assume erectile dysfunction is something that creeps up in your 60s or 70s. But researchers and urologists are seeing a different story unfold, and it starts much earlier. Here's what the science says about why ED is rising in younger men, and what can actually be done about it.