The Science of Health Podcast

Chances are, you or someone you know suffers from back pain. Back pain can affect people who are active and those who are sedentary, though for different reasons. So what should you do when back pain strikes? Get a softer – or firmer – mattress? Stand at your computer rather than sit? Hang upside down? Research shows that some of these solutions work while others are a waste of time and money. UH...

Acupuncture is a 5,000-year-old healing practice used to treat such diverse conditions as pain, digestive problems, respiratory disorders, anxiety, depression, headaches and migraines. Is there a place for this ancient approach in modern medicine? Acupuncturist Christine Kaiser, MS, LAc, LCH, FABORM , of the UH Connor Integrative Health Institute, describes two recent studies – one comparing acupu...

Detox diets, regimens and supplements are supposed to rid your body of toxins acquired from food, your lifestyle or the environment. Proponents also say detoxing – or cleansing – can improve your health and promote weight loss. But what does the research say about detoxes and cleanses? And are these methods and supplements safe? UH physician and toxicologist Ryan Marino, MD , provides a science-ba...

Not so long ago, vaping – or inhaling vapor from an electronic cigarette – was seen as a healthier alternative to smoking cigarettes made with tobacco. After all, solid research showed that smoking tobacco causes lung disease and cancer. But recent reports have linked serious lung injury – and even deaths – to vaping. UH emergency room physician Benjamin Boswell, DO , explains how e-cigarettes cau...

Many parents try to limit the time their children spend online gaming or watching videos, especially before bedtime, in the belief that too much screen time is bad for their kids’ mental and physical health. A recent study, however, turns that belief on its head, saying researchers could find no evidence that time on electronic devices has any negative effect on teens’ well-being. Carolyn Ievers-L...

As parents, we want to encourage our kids to participate in sports. There are great health advantages to exercising and being active. And, for some kids, there is the chance to play in college or earn scholarships. However, with the increasing pressure on kids and parents to participate in club, travel or year-round teams, burnout and overuse injuries are becoming more common in younger athletes....

Low energy, fatigue, slack muscle tone, not sleeping well – these symptoms are common to many aging men. Could the cause be low testosterone? Many younger men looking for answers to similar problems are seeking treatment for Low T too. Learn about the risks and benefits of testosterone therapy from University Hospitals urologist Aram Loeb, MD , and why it’s important to see a urologist for this tr...

Many people are trying diets like the keto diet or intermittent fasting to lose weight. These diets aim to put your body in a state of ketosis – when your body’s preferred fuel source changes from carbohydrates to fat. Ketosis, the thinking goes, melts away the body fat. But do diets that focus on ketosis work? UH registered dietitian Meghann Featherstun, MS, RD, CSSD, LD, tells us about these die...

If you could vaccinate your kids against cancer, would you? Although the human papillomavirus (HPV) has been shown to cause cancer, many parents don’t vaccinate their children against HPV, a common infection spread by skin-to-skin contact. The reasons vary: vaccine safety; worries their child will become sexually active; unawareness of HPV’s link to cancer. UH Rainbow Babies & Children’s Hospital...