Relief for a runny or stuffy nose, watery eyes or post-nasal drip is just a rinse away, say experts at the University of Michigan Health System. Nasal irrigation - rinsing the nose and nasal passages with a solution, typically salt water – is a cheap and easy way for the millions of people who suffer with spring allergies and nasal congestion to alleviate symptoms.

Recent studies show that a growing number of high school and college students are turning to stimulants like ADHD drugs and energy drinks to help them through their stress — particularly during exam time. U-M experts say that misuse of stimulants can lead to serious health consequences, and encourage parents to take steps toward preventing their children from overusing stimulants.

Video games like Wii Sports and Dance Dance Revolution can play an important role in getting kids off the couch and involved in physical activity. But U-M fitness experts say they are not a replacement for traditional exercise, and burn few calories.

While spring break trips can be fun for families, they can also be stressful — especially when it comes to dealing with unexpected health issues. To help alleviate some stress, a U-M pediatrician encourages parents to prepare for health situations before they take off on their next family getaway, and offers tips for what to pack should your child get sick while traveling.

A new nationally representative study led by the University of Michigan shows a downward trend in the rate of “cognitive impairment” – the umbrella term for everything from significant memory loss to dementia and Alzheimer’s disease – among people aged 70 and older. While the reasons for this decline aren’t yet fully known, the authors say it may be linked to the fact that today’s seniors are more likely to have had more formal education, better economic status, and better care for risk factors such as high blood pressure, high cholesterol and smoking that can jeopardize their brains.

A new study from U-M C.S. Mott Children’s Hospital finds that using risk factors – including a woman’s sexual history - to target specific populations for HPV vaccination is not effective, and would exclude as many as 80 percent of women who could benefit the most from the vaccine.

What you eat can have huge impact on your heart health. That’s why it’s important to read labels before putting food in your grocery cart. To help, U-M nutrition experts offer tips on what to look for on food packages to ensure you’re buying heart-healthy items.

Millions of kids today may face heart disease in the future, especially if heart disease runs in the family. But University of Michigan Cardiovascular Center experts say parents can act now to change their children’s diet and exercise regime to put them on a better path to a healthy heart.

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