Health & Wellness

Frankfurt – November 02, 2026 -- Germany's Standing Committee on Vaccination (STIKO) urges certain groups to get their annual flu shot between October and mid-December, yet vaccination rates remain low among many of them.

Protection takes 10 to 14 days to build

A common cold, often called a "flu-like infection," has nothing to do with real influenza, which is caused by influenza viruses. The annual vaccination is the most important preventive measure. After the shot, the body needs about 10 to 14 days to build sufficient protection.

In recent years, Germany's flu wave has mostly started after the turn of the year. Getting vaccinated before then is best, but a shot in early January can still be worthwhile. According to the source, vaccination remains useful into spring.

Rosemont, Ill. – November 02, 2026 -- A routine of just three products, a gentle cleanser, a moisturizer, and a broad-spectrum sunscreen with SPF 30 or higher, is the core of what the American Academy of Dermatology (AAD) recommends for National Healthy Skin Month this November.

A damaged skin barrier lets germs in and moisture out

The skin barrier is the outermost layer of skin. It is the first line of defense against pollution, environmental damage, inflammation, and infection, and it keeps moisture locked in. When it is compromised, germs can get inside and cause infection. Water loss can leave skin dry, flaking, tight, or rough.

A weakened barrier can also worsen eczema, psoriasis, rosacea, and acne. Warning signs include sensitive, reactive skin with redness, discoloration, burning, or stinging when products are applied.

Murfreesboro – November 02, 2026 -- A former YMCA building at 205 N. Thompson Lane becomes UFC GYM Murfreesboro on Saturday, Nov. 14, with memberships starting at $24.99 a month and a $1 enrollment offer for early sign-ups.

The grand opening runs from 8 a.m. to 5 p.m.

The celebration begins at 8 a.m. with an MMA skills session and meet-and-greet with UFC veteran Jessica Eye. A ribbon-cutting ceremony follows, along with a Vendor Village showcasing local Murfreesboro businesses. The day closes with a 5 p.m. Country Fusion class, a low-impact workout that blends line dancing with fitness.

The 41,015-square-foot club is UFC GYM's second location in Tennessee and the first major brand expansion of UFC in the Murfreesboro community.

Berlin – November 02, 2026 -- Anyone insured in Germany can learn how to use the electronic patient record (ePA) in an online event on December 3, 2026, from 4:00 p.m. to 5:45 p.m.

The digital health agency gematik is hosting the session together with several health insurers. It is aimed at insured people and covers how the ePA works, what benefits it already offers, and which new functions are planned.

The session covers current developments and everyday use

The agenda focuses on recent developments around the ePA and experiences from practice. It also looks at how insured people can use the record in daily life.

Insurers demo their ePA apps in interactive groups

Each participating insurer presents its own ePA app in interactive group sessions. Attendees can ask individual questions during these sessions.

Seven insurers take part

The participating insurers are:

Reno – November 02, 2026 -- Four U.S. Veterans living with PTSD went home with their own purpose-bred Service Dogs after Liberty Dogs held its first graduation ceremony on Friday, Oct. 30, 2026, at its 27-acre campus in Reno, Nevada. The graduates come from the Army, Navy, Air Force and Marines, and the nonprofit says more classes will follow.

Every Veteran gets a dog matched to their life

Each Veteran applied online, then completed interviews and assessments. Liberty Dogs paired each one with a dog by weighing the Veteran's lifestyle, needs, personality and goals against the dog's temperament and skills. The dogs spent months in advanced obedience, public access and task training on campus.

Once matched, each team spent two weeks on campus learning to work together. Housing, meals and around-the-clock support were provided at no cost.

Kempen – November 01, 2026 -- Most people who train need only four supplements: whey protein, creatine monohydrate, vitamin D3 and omega-3. According to a GymBeam guide reviewed by food scientist Petr Loskot, these are the only standard-range products backed by either an approved EU health claim or an International Society of Sports Nutrition (ISSN) position paper. Everything else is fine-tuning.

Each of the four has a defined daily dose

Protein works at 20 to 40 g per portion, and creatine at 3 g daily. Vitamin D3 is set at 1,000 IU daily, and omega-3 (EPA and DHA) at 250 mg combined per day or more. Of several thousand health claims submitted to the European authority, roughly 260 were approved, and the full register is public.

Bonn -- From November 1, 2026, German ice hockey fans can learn a simple dance routine, film themselves and share it online as part of a nationwide Move-Challenge from Deutsche Krebshilfe (German Cancer Aid) and the Deutsche Eishockey Liga (PENNY DEL).

The challenge runs from opening day to World Cancer Day

The campaign starts with a league-wide action matchday on November 1, 2026. It continues until World Cancer Day on February 4, 2027. Players of the league demonstrate the choreography in stadiums and on the online and social media channels of the partners and clubs.

Anyone can join in, whether alone, with friends or family, at a club or at a game. Participants record their own video and post it on social media with the hashtag #Eishockeymaus.

Bolingbrook – November 01, 2026 -- Pain deep in the buttock that runs down the back of the leg does not always point to a herniated disc. A small hip muscle called the piriformis can irritate the sciatic nerve and produce similar symptoms, according to a HelloNation article featuring Dr. Mitch Quill, D.C., a chiropractor in Bolingbrook, Illinois.

The piriformis sits right next to the sciatic nerve

The piriformis is a small muscle deep in the hip that helps rotate the hip and stabilize the pelvis during movement. The sciatic nerve passes close to it. When the muscle becomes tight, inflamed, or irritated, it can press on the nerve and cause pain, tingling, or numbness.

Piriformis syndrome often starts as a deep buttock ache. Pain may travel down the back of the thigh and sometimes reaches the calf.

Rochester – November 01, 2026 -- Fitness expert Joshua Bankes of Rochester, New York, says gradual increases in training demands can help lifters and runners push past a plateau, according to a new HelloNation article.

Early gains slow when a routine never changes

The article explains that early results may fade as the body gets used to a routine. Repeating the same challenge indefinitely can limit further adaptation.

Training stresses muscles, while rest and recovery let them repair and strengthen. Progressive overload means gradually raising demands as the body adjusts to its current workload.

Progress is not always a straight line. Sleep, stress, nutrition, and illness can all affect performance, so a single workout is only part of the larger picture.

New York – October 31, 2026 -- Thirty runners on Team ALF will cover 26.2 miles through New York City's five boroughs in the TCS New York City Marathon on Sunday, November 1, raising funds for people affected by liver disease.

The American Liver Foundation (ALF) is an official member of the race's Charity Program for the 2026 event. All money raised goes toward ALF's mission to support those affected by liver disease. The team mixes novice and advanced runners, and most have a personal connection to liver disease.