(Thinkstock/Stockbyte) Long summer days can feel amazing. But for some people, endless rays of sunlight can be seriously disruptive to their sleep cycle, and their overall health. Take Alaskans, Scandinavians or far north Canadians, for example. In those parts of the world, exceptionally lengthy stretches of summer sun keep people up at all hours. In the lower 48, it's a particular problem for people who don't like hot weather (and might have summer seasonal affective disorder), or those who...

Every year, the Gallup-Healthways Well-Being Index ranks the 50 states by obesity rate. Click through to find out how your state ranks this year. (Thinkstock/Stockbye) The Southeastern United States has long been the heaviest area of the country, with more residents overweight or obese than anywhere else. New research from the University of Texas at Austin might help explain why: the weather. Where it's just too hot and humid to get outside for months of the year, residents are less...

Summer might be here, but your beach body isn't. Unfortunately, a quick look around your home shows that you're not alone, and it's not necessarily because your significant other packed on a few pounds this winter, too. For many homes in America, even our pets lack that picturesque physique. In fact,over half of the pet populationin the United States is considered overweight, according to the Association for Pet Obesity Prevention. That's not as many as the 69 percent of American...

Today, eating bugs is a common practice in many parts of the world for their sustainable protein. But thousands of years ago, entomophagy, as the practice is known, had a different purpose, researchers at Washington University in St. Louis report in a new study. Early hominids, including humans and other primates, used insects as a "fallback food" during times when other nutrition sources were scarce. The foraging, searching, tool use and problem solving required to track down these nutritious critters...

((Thinkstock)) Next year’s flu season should be less painful for children ages 2 to 8. The Advisory Committee on Immunization Practices has officially recommended that these children should receive the nasal spray flu vaccine, rather than the flu shot. (MORE: The 25 Worst U.S. Cities for the Flu) The panel of immunization experts, which advises the U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, reviewed available studies that showed the nasal spray vaccine was more effective than the shot for preventing...

Just like people, pets get sunburns too. In some cases, pets can even get skin cancer from too much exposure to the sun. There's nothing worse than forgetting sunscreen and finding yourself red and in pain. Your pet would certainly agree. While domestic animals don't burn as easily as humans, they can suffer from sunburns. Dogs and cats that have short hair, thin coats of hair or pale skin are at greater risk. Just like people, they can also develop...

Swimming Pools (Thinkstock) Winter is typically thought to be the season of germs, what with cold and flu season. But warm weather is rife with stomach-turning germydangers as well. Swimming pools are one nasty example. Swimmers are likely to carry more than just suntan lotion into the water with them, according to a report from the U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention released last year. An incredible 58 percent of pool filters the CDC surveyed contained E. coli, a...

Here's What You Need to Know ((Thinkstock/Stockbyte)) You get flu shots before winter starts. You’re all caught up on your vaccinations. And you boost your immune system with seasonal superfoods. You think you’re impervious to any and all diseases, except you still get sick. Different diseases and conditions strike in such unique ways that it’s impossible to be fully protected from all of them. Even if you follow your doctor’s health guidelines flawlessly, health problems can still find you. Mayo...

To Tan or Not to Tan? The weather is getting warmer and another Jersey Shore spinoff show is in the works. This can only mean one thing: It’s time to work on your tan. Of course, if you’re among the one million Americans who frequent tanning salons each day, the winter probably didn’t stop you from reaching that ideal level of tan. But with so many Americans seeking indoor tanning solutions to their pale skin problems, researchers and dermatologists continue...

Melanoma (Thinkstock/Jupiterimages) Summer is skin cancer season. If you have a family history of melanoma, or lighter skin, you probably know you should slather on sunscreen, and get checked for the disease by a dermatologist. But there are signs of skin cancer that can't be caught during a routine skin scan. Some require a closer look — all the way to the back of your eyes. During a routine eye exam, as long as your eyes are dilated, your eye...

How to Stay Safe this Summer ((Thinkstock/Jupiterimages)) Many Americans still feel that euphoria that only the beginning of summer can bring. The weather is likely the nicest it’s been in months where you live, and you’re eager to get outside and seize the day. But in your rush to escape the four walls that have held you back for months, you forget one thing: Despite its warm embrace, the summer sun isn’t always your friend. “[If you’re not safe] you...

(Thinkstock/Digital Vision) "There ain't no cure for the summertime blues," croons country singer Alan Jackson. To some, this might seem silly — who could feel bummed when the days are long, and the weather is warm? But some people do experience summer seasonal affective disorder. Or just feel a little bit blue becauseit feels like everyone else is having the best summer ever. If that sounds like you, take heart: There are a few ways to zap the summer bad...