Category: Health
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Is swimming safe in areas with ‘brain-eating’ amoeba?
The headlines are terrifying, and the story details are even worse as you read about a child who goes for a swim in a lake or river and then falls prey to a “brain-eating amoeba.” The brain infection brought on by Naegleria fowleri, an amoeba that flourishes in warm open waters, can quickly prove fatal,…
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A Gold Medalist Talks Bouncing Back from Defeat
Gold medalist USA swimmer Jessica Hardy hoped to once again bring home a medal at the upcoming games, but ultimately finished 6th in finals while competing against a group of ambitious younger women. Knowing a champion does not always win, she is encouraging other athletes to pick themselves up and continue fighting. Jessica joins us…
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Chad Le Clos Reveals Both Parents Have Cancer
South African Olympic swimming champion Chad le Clos, who beat Michael Phelps in one of the upsets of the 2012 London Games, announced Monday that both his parents are fighting cancer. Le Clos said in a statement that his father Bert, who himself became a global celebrity for his exuberant celebrations and animated interviews in London, has…
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Whole Body Cryotherapy (WBC): A “Cool” Trend that Lacks Evidence, Poses Risks
Your rheumatoid arthritis is flaring up? A trainer at your local gym suggests a safe and easy way to treat it: a three-minute session in a freezing tank, called whole body cryotherapy (WBC). He says not only will WBC help you put an end to rheumatoid arthritis pain better than an ice bath or pack,…
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UMass Swimmer Succeeds With Cystic Fibrosis
UMass swimmer Owen Wright has success in the pool while dealing with cystic fibrosis.
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Will Zika virus overshadow the Rio Olympics?
In Brazil, epicenter of the Zika virus, local authorities and organizers of the upcoming Olympic Games have been striving to assure the world that it’s safe for athletes and tourists. The World Health Organization has issued a series of guidelines for those traveling to Rio, but some worry warnings could stigmatize struggling communities. Special correspondent…
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Cancer Patient Can Now Strike Swimming In The Ocean Off Her Bucket List
Katie Wood was last in the ocean when she was 2. The 21-year-old told a friend she wanted to swim in the ocean as part of her bucket list. An online fundraising effort made it all possible. Kristine Lazar reports.
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Michael Phelps Talks Suicidal Thoughts, 2016 Rio Olympics
It’s been nearly two years since 22-time Olympic medalist Michael Phelps finished a 45-day stint in rehab following his second DUI arrest. Now, with those dark days in his rearview mirror and his fifth and likely final Olympics right around the corner in Rio, the greatest swimmer of all time is opening up to ESPN The Magazine about his past struggles with…
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Closest Thing to a Wonder Drug? Try Exercise
In 2015, the Academy of Medical Royal Colleges put out a report calling exercise a “miracle cure.†This isn’t a conclusion based simply on some cohort or case-control studies. There are many, many randomized controlled trials. A huge meta-analysis examined the effect of exercise therapy on outcomes in people with chronic diseases. Let’s start with musculoskeletal diseases.…