After suffering through a cold, many people still have a persistent cough — but why? According to Dr. Jonathan Parsons, director of the Asthma Center at Ohio State University Wexner Medical Center, here are some reasons for a continuing cough: Coughing is protective. It removes irritants from the lungs and protects the airway. The cough might be due to an upper respiratory tract infection. Even after the infection is gone, you may still have some inflammation in the lungs. Coughing can be worse at night. “For some patients, their cough is so severe that it disrupts their sleep to the point where they aren’t getting any sleep at all, which impacts their ability to function during the day. In that situation, you might consider taking a cough suppressant with codeine to blunt the cough reflex and assist with sleep,” Parsons said in a center news release. A cough that lasts more than three weeks may be a chronic condition. If you’re still coughing and feeling sick after three weeks, then you should see a doctor. Causes of a chronic cough include: Uncontrolled allergies, Uncontrolled asthma, Side effects of medicine, Acid reflux. Persistent cough might be a symptom of a serious illness. “If you’re coughing up blood, spiking fevers or have significant shortness of breath associated with the cough, you need to be evaluated quickly. You…  read on >

One of your New Year’s resolutions should be to be good to your skin, and dermatologists have 10 ways to help. “All the stresses and excesses of the holidays can leave your skin in bad shape, which makes you feel low, too,” said Dr. Megan Rogge, an assistant professor of dermatology the University of Texas Health Science Center at Houston. “At the start of a new year, we all want to look great,” she added in a university news release. “The good news is that with a little extra time and effort, or sometimes just breaking bad habits, you can change your skin condition for the better.” Here’s how: Chill out: Stress can cause many skin problems and make some worse. So try to relax. “Acne, psoriasis, eczema, and certain types of hair loss all get worse when you’re feeling stressed. Unfortunately, these are the four most common complaints of my patients,” Rogge said. Yoga or meditation can help you decompress, but even simple breathing exercises can make a difference, she said.” Give your diet a makeover: A healthy diet not only helps control weight, it also will make your skin look better. Dr. Rajani Katta, a clinical professor of dermatology at UT, urges her patients “to eat more foods rich in antioxidants, especially fruits, vegetables, herbs and spices, since they’ve been shown to help…  read on >

Being in tune with the present moment — called mindfulness — can relieve stress and make you an actor rather than a reactor, a wellness expert says. Focusing on what’s happening right now allows people to notice things they might otherwise miss, said Dr. Timothy Riley. He is an assistant professor in the family and community medicine department at Penn State Health. That might sound simple enough. But being engaged in the present moment, on purpose and non-judgmentally, can be a challenge, he said. “Being aware of physical sensations, thoughts and emotions — both pleasant and unpleasant — can help us choose how to respond, rather than simply react,” Riley said in a Penn State news release. Each individual’s upbringing and genes have programmed how they approach situations, he explained. A person’s automatic reactions can be spot on — or not. “You walk by Starbucks, see a cookie and you have an emotional response,” he said. “You want the cookie. Then may come guilt for wanting a cookie.” If you’re mindful, you see the cookie, are aware of your emotional response, and you can let it be without judgment, Riley added. “It puts you in this observer stance where we can witness what is happening without getting wrapped up in it,” he said. “It gives you a bit of space.” That moment can help you…  read on >

Dry, itchy eyes are a common problem in the winter and low humidity is a major reason, one ophthalmologist says. “On average, the humidity drops in the winter with the colder weather,” said Marissa Locy, an instructor in the department of ophthalmology at the University of Alabama at Birmingham. “In addition, most people turn on the heat in their homes or offices to combat the cold. So, what you end up having is lower humidity outside, and even lower humidity inside, making for warm, dry conditions where moisture can evaporate from the eye faster than normal,” she explained in a university news release. If you spend time in heated locations, use a humidifier to add some moisture back into the air. Drink lots of fluids. Keeping your body hydrated will help maintain moisture in your eyes. Don’t blow heat directly onto your face, because this can dry up moisture in your eyes. In your car, direct heat vents towards your lower body. When outdoors, wear eye protection or a hat with a visor to keep particles and wind from getting into your eyes. If you wear contact lenses, be sure to keep them clean. In cold weather, your eyes could dry even more with contacts. Always wearing clean contacts reduces the risk of infection and itching, Locy said. And talk to your doctor. Occasional bouts…  read on >