Great question, and it varies by age. If you’re under 18 (or caring for someone who is!) you’ll want to consult a chart or article for specifics; we’ll link a few below. Long story short, though, infants should be sleeping nearly around the clock, with 12-16 hours recommended by sleep professionals. Preschoolers should aim for 10-13 hours per night, while elementary and middle school-aged kids should sleep at least 9 hours per night. Teenagers, whose brains are still very much developing, need 8-10 hours per night of sleep, but as much as 70% of teens don’t reach that mark.

Even in adulthood, your sleep duration can have significant impacts on your overall health. Studies have recommended 7-9 hours of sleep per night, a number that often seems impossible given the stresses of everyday life. If you’re having trouble getting enough sleep, experts suggest eating an earlier dinner, practicing a nightly routine, and keeping electronics far from the bed.

Elevated blood pressure, medically known as hypertension, affects as much as half of the American population. It is among the most common conditions suffered by adults but receives little attention. If it progresses, high blood pressure can lead to dizziness, anxiety, dementia, heart attack, kidney disease, stroke, or other crises. Here’s what you can do:

1. Diet and exercise. Being overweight, particularly around the abdomen, can physically compress your kidneys, increasing blood pressure by potentially compressing your vessels. Obesity being one of the strongest risk factors for hypertension, losing weight decreases stress on the heart, with noticeable effects. Exercising in addition to eating healthier increases the heart’s strength while decreasing its workload.

2. Reducing salt intake. Remember the number: 2,300 milligrams of sodium per day or less. Even if you’re otherwise eating healthy, having a high sodium content in your bloodstream encourages the body to retain water, which might increase the volume of your blood and lead to elevated blood pressure.

   3. Sleep well. Studies have conclusively proven that people who sleep more have lower and generally healthier blood pressures. Part of that is because when at rest, our sympathetic nervous system is especially active, playing a part in reducing our heart rate and taking stress off of our bodies.

If you’re concerned about your blood pressure, please reach out to your doctor immediately.

Zits, pimples, blemishes—whatever you call it, acne is one of the most common medical “conditions” affecting humans. Scientifically, acne occurs when hair follicles, or tiny holes in the skin, are blocked by an oily substance known as sebum. Sebum is created by the sebaceous glands, and its main purpose is to ensure that the hair and skin don’t dry out. When these glands are overactive, however, and produce too much sebum, the oily mixture can combine with dead skin cells, plugging the follicle and expanding to create what we see as a pimple. It’s most common on the face, which is the most saturated with sebaceous glands.

Acne can flare up at any time, so don’t feel bad if you’re having a particularly annoying breakout. It simply isn’t possible to control many of the root causes of acne, which include hormonal changes associated with puberty and the menstrual cycle, a genetic predisposition, or certain necessary medications. Don’t fall for the old myth that only “dirty” people get acne—it’s simply not the case.

There are some things you can do to control acne, though. The most important thing is to clean your face with a mild cleanser, and you may have to look around before you find the one that’s right for you. Washing your face often will remove excess oils and dead skin cells, and moisturizing afterwards ensures that your skin remains soft. Avoid using certain makeup products or keeping them in too long, and when you do use makeup, ensure it says “noncomedogenic,” or not causing acne, on the label. And finally, if you’re stressed about a breakout, relax! Stress has been proven to worsen acne, and if you are especially worried, ask your physician or dermatologist. Don’t fret, there is certainly a solution.

It’s a question that’s plagued many weightlifters…will taking steroids help me make bigger gains? Firstly, let’s dive into what anabolic steroids are. The term “anabolic” means “building up,” and anabolic steroids are a chemical that functions like the male hormone testosterone, pushing the body to create more muscle tissue. Anabolic steroid usage is banned by many sports leagues, including the NFL and MLB, but are common among professional bodybuilders.

Trenbolone, commonly known as “tren,” is a particularly powerful anabolic steroid that effectively boosts muscle growth and reduces fat loss. But is it safe? Tren steroids are associated with a variety of negative health impacts, including poor cardiovascular and liver health and increased aggression. It also severely worsens one’s mental health. Indeed, people who use anabolic steroids in the first place die at three times the rate of non-users. Tren is also illegal in the United States without a prescription.

Our answer is therefore no, it’s not a good idea to take tren unless you are prescribed it by a physician or suffer from other conditions. The same applies for most other anabolic steroids, with impacts that can last for the rest of your life.

No, vaccines do not contain microchips. This is a common myth that has been thoroughly debunked. Vaccines are developed to protect against diseases by helping your body build immunity. They do not include any tracking devices or microchips. This misinformation often spreads on social media, but it’s important to rely on credible sources for accurate information about vaccine safety. For more details, reach out to your healthcare provider today.

We had actually never heard this one before! It’s widely known that high-fiber fruits and vegetables are excellent for constipation, but coffee? After doing some research, we found three main reasons why coffee may ease your bowel movements.

1. Both caffeinated and decaffeinated coffee can increase contractions in your colon muscles, although caffeinated may be up to 23% more effective than decaffeinated and 60% more effective than water. This often triggers the urge to poop.

2. Drinking coffee also stimulates the creation of certain gut hormones, including gastrin and cholecystokinin. These chemical compounds are part of the reason colon contractions increase after drinking coffee, and their effect is pronounced in both caffeinated and decaffeinated coffee.

3. It might have to do with the milk and cream you probably put in your coffee, both of which are filled with lactose. Even though as much as 65% of the world is somewhat lactose intolerant (unable to properly break it down), consuming lactose may lead to diarrhea symptoms, which for the constipated can be immediate relief.