Brief Morning Exercise Helps Ease Blood Pressure Throughout the Day

WEDNESDAY, Feb. 20, 2019 -- A half-hour of morning exercise can help control blood pressure in overweight and obese people for the entire day, a new study finds.

And for women in particular, adding frequent short breaks from sitting through the day can offer additional benefit, the Australian researchers said.

Head Off the Blues When Your Teen Heads to College

WEDNESDAY, Feb. 20, 2019 -- As excited as you are that your teen's going to college, it's normal to have mixed emotions, such as anxiety, sadness and possibly depression. It's even normal to feel envious that his or her life is just beginning while yours is on the wane.

For most parents, this rush of emotions will pass, but both generations might have to work to ease the transition, especially if your child is also experiencing a mix of joy and apprehension, which often manifests as bickering with mom and dad.

Roasted Root Veggies Make a Hearty Winter Soup

WEDNESDAY, Feb. 20, 2019 -- -- Dense root vegetables such as sweet potatoes and parsnips benefit from roasting. They sweeten as they cook, making for healthy comfort food during cold winter months.

Follow these general steps for any hard vegetables: Start by cutting them into uniform pieces, so they'll roast and brown evenly. (Otherwise, you can end up with either burnt or undercooked pieces.) Next, toss the vegetables in a healthy cooking oil like olive oil, and sprinkle lightly with salt, which helps to bring out their sweetness.

Coming Soon: Battery-Free Pacemakers Powered by the Heart?

WEDNESDAY, Feb. 20, 2019 -- Scientists say they've taken a first step toward creating a pacemaker that runs on the heart's own energy rather than batteries.

Pacemakers are electronic devices implanted to regulate your heartbeat -- usually because of a condition that slows your heart's normal rate. Traditional pacemakers have two parts: a battery-powered pulse generator implanted under the collarbone, and insulated wires that connect it to your heart.

Sleep Apnea Patients Who Are Drowsy During the Day at Risk for Heart Woes

WEDNESDAY, Feb. 20, 2019 -- People who suffer from sleep apnea and are very tired during the day may be more likely to develop heart disease, a new study finds.

Researchers classified people with sleep apnea into four groups based on their symptoms, including those with disturbed sleep, those minimally symptomatic, those moderately sleepy, and those excessively sleepy.

Are Primary Care Doctors Prepared to Discuss Cancer Treatment?

WEDNESDAY, Feb. 20, 2019 -- Many primary care doctors feel ill-equipped to discuss cancer treatment options with patients, according to a new study.

Researchers surveyed 517 primary care doctors who had 1,077 female patients diagnosed with early-stage breast cancer.

Weight-Loss Surgery May Bring a Bedroom Bonus

WEDNESDAY, Feb. 20, 2019 -- Apart from the health benefits that weight-loss surgery can bring, a new study shows it could boost a patient's sex life.

Even better, that boost may often be a lasting one.

High-Fat Diets Do No Favors for Your Gut Bacteria

WEDNESDAY, Feb. 20, 2019 -- Has a high-fat meal ever left you feeling bloated and sluggish? It turns out that a heavier fat diet may keep the many bacteria that live in your digestive system from doing their best, too.

New research found that when people boosted their fat intake to 40 percent of their daily diet for six months, the number of "good" gut bacteria decreased while "unhelpful" bacteria amounts increased.

Acupuncture Could Help Ease Menopausal Symptoms

WEDNESDAY, Feb. 20, 2019 -- Could an ancient Chinese practice come to the rescue for women struggling with menopausal symptoms?

New Danish research suggests that -- for some women at least -- acupuncture might bring relief.

AHA News: Diabetes Remains Dangerous Despite Modern Medicine

WEDNESDAY, Feb. 20, 2019 (American Heart Association News) -- Despite medical advances, having diabetes is still linked to a higher risk of dying from cardiovascular disease, new research shows.

It's long been known that diabetes -- a condition that causes blood sugar to rise -- increases the risk of death from multiple causes. Past research showed people with diabetes are twice as likely to develop and die from cardiovascular diseases, including heart disease, heart failure, heart attack and stroke.