If someone gets a headache or feels a bit under the weather after receiving a COVID-19 vaccine, it’s become common to hear them say something like “Oh, it just means my immune system is really working hard.” On the flip side, when people don’t notice any side effects, they sometimes…
Side Effects You Should Know Before Starting To Intermittent Fast
Harvard Health Publishing reports that over the past few years, intermittent fasting has quickly gained momentum. Thanks to its promises of enhanced health and weight control, it’s easy to see why. The concept is that it’s more achievable to significantly reduce calories for part of the week — or to have…
Side effects mean your COVID-19 vaccine is working. But what if you don’t have a reaction?
As millions now know from personal experience, the COVID-19 vaccines can cause temporary side effects. It’s a good sign, as it suggests your immune system is paying attention, preparing you in case of infection with the coronavirus. But if you don’t experience side effects, does that mean the vaccine did…
The hidden side effects of taking too much vitamin D
Vitamin D is an essential nutrient, and in an ideal world, we would get all that we need from our diet and from soaking up a little sun. But the combination of modern diets and religious use of sunscreen has left many of us with a Vitamin D deficiency. Lacking…
Immunotherapy side effect could be a positive sign for kidney cancer patients
An autoimmune side effect of immune checkpoint inhibitor (ICI) drugs could signal improved control of kidney cancer, according to a new study by researchers in UT Southwestern’s Kidney Cancer Program (KCP). The study, published today in the Journal for ImmunoTherapy of Cancer, may have broad implications for patients being treated…
Nerve cell protection free from side effects
The hormone erythropoietin (Epo) is a well-known doping substance that has a long history of abuse in endurance sports such as cycling. In addition to promoting red blood cell production (erythropoiesis), which improves the oxygen supply, Epo also protects nerve cells from cell death. In order to use this effect…
Gut bacteria ‘fingerprint’ predicts radiotherapy side effects
Scientists have conducted the first clinical study to show a link between types of gut bacteria and radiotherapy-induced gut damage. Taking a ‘fingerprint’ of the mix of bacteria in the gut can indicate how susceptible individual cancer patients are to gut damage as a result of radiotherapy for prostate and…
Mega study confirms pregnant women can reduce risk of stillbirth by sleeping on their side
A New Zealand-led international study published today provides the strongest evidence yet that women can more than halve their risk of stillbirth by going to sleep on either side during the last three months of pregnancy. This mega study (known as individual participant data meta-analysis) has also confirmed the risk…