President Barack Obama, with US Surgeon General Dr. Vivek Murthy, left, speaks at Howard University in Washington, Tuesday, April 7, 2015. Obama visited the university's medical center to discuss the impact of climate change on public health and steps his administration is taking to reduce the health impacts of climate change on communities. (AP Photo/Pablo Martinez Monsivais) President Obama zeroed in on the public health impacts of climate change this week, first with a Presidential Proclamation naming April 6-12, 2015,...

(DAVID GENNARD, THE UNIVERSITY OF MANCHESTER) It's well known that is one of the top ways to ensure a healthy circadian rhythm, and in turn, a stable mood, and possibly much more. The importance of morning light to our health is also one of the reasons why spring's switch to daylight-saving time can be particularly . (The other being we're meant to adapt to seasonal shifts in light timing gradually, rather than a full hour all at once.) Now, a...

As the seasons shift toward summer, insect-carried diseases such as West Nile and Lyme become among the top . Just recently, the state of California announced that . The Golden State recorded the second-highest number of human cases of West Nile virus in 2014, 801. (In 2005, the state reported 880 cases.) But in 2014, 561of the recorded cases were neuroinvasive, the most serious form of the disease, which can be deadly. All told, 31 individuals died, the highest number...

“Spring is the time of plans and projects,” Leo Tolstoy wrote in Anna Karenina. This sentiment is why, perhaps, New Year’s resolutions should start once spring’s sunshine hits, instead of during the darkest, dreariest days of winter. The changing season is the perfect time to begin new healthy habits, or to recommit yourself to goals that have fallen off. As spring comes with its own set of health challenges, it’s also a good time to learn new-to-you hacks to help...

The , such as Hawaii and Colorado,often boast climates favorable for physical activity and outdoor exercise, not to mention stunning natural environments. "The naturalenvironmentand year-round outdoor weather can both be helpful characteristics [for health]," Dan Witters, research director at thetold weather.com earlier this year. Where you live can also impact your health through things such as seasonal air pollution patterns and spring and fall allergies. To help individuals and communities leaders understand what matters for health at the local level,...

Hot weather in the months prior to West Nile season, which begins in earnest in June, is correlated with a statistically more-severe season, scientists from the and the U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention found in a new study. Previously, hot summers have been linked to West Nile cases in humans regionally, but this study is the first to assess the entire United States, lead author Micah Hahn, Ph.D., told weather.com. “As expected we found that when it's warmer...

Why cold weather makes so many health conditions worse might come down to DNA, according to new research. (Photo by Scott Olson/Getty Images) Why winter adds “ouch” to some health conditions, such as rheumatoid arthritis, might come down to our DNA. Gene expression shifts seasonally, changing the way our immune system might react to stressors, such as inflammation, that silent-but-painful bodily process that contributes arthritis, heart disease and a host of other ills, . (MORE: ) The seasons also affect...

Photo Credit: Thinkstock Summer is the perfect time to take a dip in the lake, but swimmers may think twice this summer as a dangerous hazard lurks in murky waters. In 2014, a norovirus in Oregon and was connected to a lake near Portland, the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention said. Although it is not clear, Discovery News reported, officials believe the infection may have spread or had diarrhea in the lake and others ingested contaminated water. (MORE: )...

When the weather turns warmer, cyclists start to hit the road for transportation, exercise or leisure time. In fact, biking is now so hot throughout the warmer months of the year, the National House Travel Survey found that the number of trips made on bikes , growing from 1.7 million to more than 4 billion. Plus, as the League of American Bicyclists highlights through its new #WhyIRide campaign, it's a transportation option that's better for the environment (not to mention...

Teller Lake in Colorado shows effects of drought in this 2012 image. (Courtesy of the National Center for Atmospheric Research (NCAR)) U.S. residents could see four to six times more days of extreme heat by 2070, compared to hot days in the past century, researchers from the (NCAR) and the City University of New York say in a new paper. Exposure to hot days is not all about climate change, however. Population shift plays a significant part. “On a national...

Warm, sunny dayscan boost your mood and even your cognitive abilities. You feel happier the more time you take to linger outside on nice spring days, before it gets too hot, . Year-round, how safe you feel spending time outside, exercising or engaging in other leisure activities, is directly related to how positive you feel about the city you live in, according to the Gallup-Healthways Well-Being Index. The organization recently released a list of the . Count down to number...

Hot weather takes the heat in public health spheres, but cold might actually hold the title as the deadliest weather pattern, . Researchers found moderately cold temperatures — as opposed to sub-zero freezes or record heat waves — to be , with 6.66 percent of deaths studied associated with moderate cold weather patterns while less than 1 percent were associated with extreme cold, and just 0.42 percent with heat. Lead author Dr. Antonio Gasparrini, of theLondon School of Hygiene &...