Dr. Joseph Mercola - Take Control of Your Health

People with long COVID experience persistent fatigue, breathlessness, and brain fog. Research links these effects to fibrin microclots intertwined with neutrophil extracellular traps that obstruct microvessels and impair oxygen delivery SARS-CoV-2 pushes blood into a hypercoagulable state, damaging endothelium, activating platelets, and inflammatory cytokines. This causes clot risk to persist for months, even after mild infections and hospital discharge Long COVID essentially boils down to mitochondrial dysfunction. Management includes proteolytic enzymes to help clear spike protein, while the I-RECOVER protocol guides detoxification, inflammation control, and mitochondrial repair to restore overall function Protecting cardiolipin, the mitochondrial membrane fat, requires limiting easily oxidized linoleic acid (LA) from seed oils, processed foods, nuts, seeds, and grain-fed meats Methylene blue may enhance mitochondrial respiration at low doses. Additionally, correcting copper deficiency and lowering excess iron through blood donation support energy production

A preliminary American Heart Association (AHA) study linked long-term melatonin use to increased heart failure risk, but a closer analysis shows serious flaws, including lack of peer review and failure to account for confounding variables The study found melatonin users had 90% higher heart failure rates, but data mixed together prescription-only countries with over-the-counter markets, misclassifying many actual users as non-users Moreover, the study failed to account for insomnia severity, psychiatric conditions, other medications, and dosing details, making it impossible to determine if melatonin caused the observed outcomes Decades of peer-reviewed research demonstrates melatonin's cardioprotective effects, including reducing blood pressure, protecting heart tissue, and mitigating oxidative damage, contradicting the study's alarming headlines While supplementation is unlikely to pose serious risks, there are natural ways to optimize your melatonin production, such as getting morning sunlight exposure, keeping a consistent sleep schedule, limiting evening blue light, eating earlier, and practicing stress-reduction techniques

A recent study reveals that bedroom ventilation plays an essential role in sleep quality. Carbon dioxide (CO₂) levels need to remain below 1,000 ppm, ideally under 800 ppm, for deeper, uninterrupted sleep Opening windows can help with airflow, but it's not always ideal due to outdoor pollutants, noise, or security risks. In such cases, a ventilation system is a safer and more reliable option Air purifiers filter indoor air but do not introduce fresh air. To maintain optimal air quality, pair filtration systems with proper ventilation rather than relying on one system alone Monitoring CO₂ levels in your bedroom helps ensure proper air exchange. Using a reliable CO₂ meter provides insight into ventilation efficiency and allows adjustments to improve sleep quality To further improve indoor air quality, regularly clean or replace air filters, minimize the use of synthetic air fresheners, scented candles, and harsh cleaning chemicals, opt for natural, nontoxic alternatives, and air out your home safely

Hot flashes occur when the hypothalamus becomes hypersensitive during menopause, triggering rapid blood vessel dilation and sweating. These vasomotor symptoms affect 80% of women and often persist for years A recent randomized clinical trial found that a six-week self-hypnosis program reduced menopausal hot flash frequency and severity by about 53%, with sustained improvements at 12 weeks About 90% of women using self-hypnosis reported noticeable relief, and those who practiced most consistently achieved the strongest reductions in hot flash frequency and daily interference The therapy was especially effective for breast cancer survivors, a group unable to use hormone-based treatments, producing a 64% reduction in symptom severity without adverse effects Beyond hypnosis, evidence also supports cognitive behavioral therapy to reduce how disruptive symptoms feel, relaxation practices to ease stress, and natural progesterone to help rebalance hormones during menopause

Diverticulitis, once considered a disease of aging, is now surging among adults under 50, with younger patients facing more severe and complicated cases than ever before Researchers from UCLA and Vanderbilt University found that early-onset diverticulitis hospitalizations rose sharply from 2005 to 2020, while procedures like abscess drainage more than doubled Younger adults have an 82% lower risk of death compared to older patients, but far higher odds of requiring invasive interventions — proof that the disease is becoming more disruptive, not less Processed foods, seed oils, chronic stress, and disrupted gut bacteria are key drivers of early inflammation in your colon, damaging your intestinal barrier and setting the stage for diverticulitis You can protect your gut by removing seed oils, eating easy-to-digest whole foods, rebuilding beneficial bacteria like Akkermansia, and supporting mitochondrial energy production to restore gut balance and long-term colon health