Health and Fitness
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Ask the doctors: Skipped heartbeats normal with a healthy heartAug 07, 2026 9:05 am - It can be unsettling to feel like your heart has skipped a beat, but this type of irregular heartbeat is common. For people in good health with a normal heart, these errant heartbeats are usually harmless.
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Knee pain? Ragged cartilage? Research suggests surgery’s not the best answerAug 07, 2026 8:54 am - Thousands of Americans who undergo a common knee surgery might be making their problems worse rather than better.
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Melatonin vs. magnesium: Which is better for your sleep?
Aug 07, 2026 8:48 am - If you’re having trouble sleeping, studies show that some over-the-counter supplements such as melatonin and magnesium may help. But there are caveats: Neither act as a sedative or can treat sleep disorders such as chronic insomnia.
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New kind of flu shot is on the way as the FDA approves Moderna's mRNA-based vaccine
Aug 06, 2026 7:52 am - The Food and Drug Administration has approved a new kind of flu vaccine for older people, the first made with the same mRNA technology that was key to ending the COVID-19 pandemic, manufacturer Moderna said.
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15 states now linked to iceberg lettuce cyclospora outbreak, CDC says
Aug 05, 2026 4:19 pm - Parasitic illness cases in 15 states have been linked to iceberg lettuce, U.S. health officials said Wednesday. Cyclospora cases have been reported in at least 47 states this year, and investigators have continued to probe how many could be linked to a common contaminated source.
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One Naperville fitness center closing while another plans to open
Aug 05, 2026 12:00 pm - As one fitness chain shuts down in Naperville, another is preparing to open. National gym chain LA Fitness closed its 2780 Fitness Drive facility on Wednesday.
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Suburban hospitals rank tops in Illinois; Northwestern Memorial, Rush among best in nationAug 04, 2026 2:00 pm - Several suburban Northwestern Medicine hospitals have made the list of the best hospitals in Illinois, according to U.S. News and World Report’s “Best Hospitals 2026-27” report. And three Chicago hospitals are among the best in the nation.
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School backpack overload: Heavy bags can strain kids’ bodies
Aug 04, 2026 11:45 am - Backpacks can be fashionable and functional, but they can also be too heavy — weighed down by digital devices, musical instruments, sports equipment and more. Some kids carry home a laptop or tablet and textbooks, too. As families begin back-to-school shopping, here's how to know if your child's backpack is too heavy, and how to lighten their load.
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Michigan reports the first 2 US deaths related to cyclospora
Aug 03, 2026 12:30 pm - Two people have died in the cyclospora outbreak in Michigan in the first confirmed deaths in the U.S. related to the microscopic parasite, state health officials announced Monday.
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‘Much, much more than what’s been reported’: Keep cyclospora on your radar as cases climb in Illinois, expert advisesAug 02, 2026 8:55 am - As cyclosporiasis cases spike in Illinois, medical experts advise residents to avoid certain types of lettuce and take basic precautions. “It’s something that should be on people’s radar,” one doctor says.