Without warning, you wake up with a paralyzing stiffness in your calf or foot. Whether you call it a foot or leg cramp (aka “charley horse”), it happens when a muscle gets involuntarily stiff and can’t relax. Here’s what causes these cramps, as well as tips to help prevent them.
Tag: Top Stories for 2015
Gastroparesis: Know the Risk Factors for This Mysterious Stomach Condition
Gastroparesis is rapidly becoming a more common diagnosis. This mysterious illness reduces the ability of the stomach to empty its contents. It can be especially detrimental to people with diabetes. Learn more.
Should I Rinse That First? 8 Food-Prep Do’s and Don’ts
Washing food before you eat it may sound like a good idea, but that’s not always true. I like to give my patients these simple guidelines to follow for food safety. 1. Don’t rinse meat before cooking. Many people mistakenly believe you should wash or rinse raw poultry, beef, pork, lamb or veal before cooking. … Read More
6 Things Your Nails Can Say About Your Health
If you want some clues about your overall health, look down at your fingernails. “Your nails are a very good reflection of your health. Many things can occur in the nails that can signify systemic or skin problems,” says dermatologist Christine Poblete-Lopez, MD. Pay attention to anything on or around your fingernails or toenails that … Read More
Cleveland Clinic is a non-profit academic medical center. Advertising on our site helps support our mission. We do not endorse non-Cleveland Clinic products or services. Policy
Break Your Sugar Addiction in 10 Days (Infographic)
Do you have a sweet tooth? Most of us will overindulge at times. But the more sugar we consume, the more we want, says Mark Hyman, MD. However, the good news is that people can break the sugar addiction in 10 days. Here’s how.
Your Diet and Heart Disease: Rethinking Butter, Beef and Bacon
Is it okay to eat butter now? “It’s not a sin,” says Steven Nissen, MD, chair of Cardiovascular Medicine at Cleveland Clinic. Dr. Nissen and other top cardiologists want you to know that things are changing in our view of diet and heart disease. Indeed, the new federal government-commissioned Scientific Report of the 2015 Dietary … Read More
How You Can Stop Foot and Toenail Fungus In Its Tracks
Foot fungus and fungal toenails are a serious annoyance, but they can also become a serious health problem, especially if you have diabetes or a weak immune system. Learn how to treat them.
Your Guide to Aging, Thinning Hair: 6 Simple Tips
To keep our hair looking good as we age, it needs special attention. Why? The sad story of our hair is that over time, fibers become thinner and begin to drop out — and never regenerate. Pigment cells stop producing as much pigment. Hormones that help stimulate follicle fibers diminish. Then, of course, there’s damage from chemicals … Read More