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When was the last time you asked your doc about an HIV test? If the answer is “never” or even “decades ago,” then now might be the time to make an appointment. A new study from Northwestern University suggets that current federal HIV testing guidelines—which only recommend screening for those at high risk of infection—might be far too conservative. Right now, the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) suggests that those at a low risk of contracting HIV be tested at least once a lifetime....

Vessyl, made by tech company Mark One, has nailed the Apple-ization of design, to be sure. This is the “Internet of things,” made both beautiful and intimate. The liquids we put in our bodies sustain us more so than any other thing we do except breathe. We can go our whole lives without shelter in the right conditions, nearly a month without food, but just a scant 3 days without water....

According to the study, published in Current Biology, researchers from the University of Gothenburg in Switzerland observed 47 healthy individuals and found that they slept an average of 20 minutes less and took 5 minutes longer to fall asleep during the full moon phase. While more research is needed to determine exactly why this is, the study authors suspect that our brains are more reactive when the moon is full, making it harder to calm down and drift off to sleep....

Here’s how to reduce your salt intake: Packaged mixes, canned vegetables and soups, deli meats, and frozen entrees tend to be high in sodium. Choose fresh, whole foods whenever possible. Select “reduced sodium” or “lower sodium” varieties of processed foods when available. Canned vegetables and soups are often available in lower sodium versions, and crackers and pretzels do come in unsalted varieties. Remove the salt shaker from the table. When cooking, automatically cut the amount of salt called for in a recipe by half....

The research: Scientists assessed 24 people exposed to tanning lamps for two, 20-minute sessions. Half of them were covered in foil and not exposed to UVA rays. Those exposed to UVA light had dilated blood vessels, reduced blood pressure, and an increase in NO. The blood pressure drop was small—about two to five points—but noteworthy. What it means: Martin Feelisch, PhD, a professor at the University of Southampton who conducted the research, believes NO gets into the skin and blood through photolysis (the process in which protons break down chemicals), which breaks NO away from its binding partner—which could be a protein or another celluar constituent that sits in the skin—and releases it into the blood....

One look at a dirty belly button is all it takes for you to shudder, jump in the shower, and start scrubbing. “Health providers have removed ‘growths’ from belly buttons that turned out to be a mix of bacteria, dirt, sweat, soap, lotions, and lint,” says Alexandria V. Booth, MD, a board-certified dermatologist with HealthCare Partners medical group. “Talk about an embarrassing doctor’s visit—they go in for what they think is skin cancer and find out it’s just years of dirt....

Bring some earplugs. And no, we’re not talking about using them to tune out cousin Barry. A new report from Loyola University Health System finds that the sounds of summer—such as fireworks and marching bands—can actually damage your hearing. In fact, fireworks have a sound decibel of 150, says Jyoti Bhayani, certified audiologist at Loyola University Health System’s Gottlieb Memorial Hospital, and ear protection is recommended for decibels above 85....

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“The bedroom is a place for intimacy that can and should be separate from the other rooms in your home,” says Ian Kerner, sexuality counselor and founder of goodinbed.com. But creating an oasis for intimacy means more than just changing the sheets. Instead, use these simple tips to prime your place for intimacy. Remove selfish objects By all means, celebrate your achievements, but according to Ann Bingley Gallops, feng shui expert and founder of Open Spaces Feng Shui your bedroom is the one place you shouldn’t display so-called “selfish objects,” such as diplomas, medals, certificates, and even exercise equipment....

Spending 10 minutes doing a tension-taming technique before bedtime was shown to significantly improve the sleep quality in study participants, according to a new study in the journal CHEST. The technique involved different types of simple deep breathing and imagery—whatever participants preferred. The results? The technique lowered the stress levels in 65% of participants. And as any sleepless sufferer knows, stress—and it’s annoying affect on your busy brain—is a common sleep-stealing offender....

“Melatonin is not an insomnia cure,” says Michael Grandner, PhD, a psychiatrist and sleep expert at the University of Pennsylvania. “The tossing and turning in bed, and the inability to turn off your brain—melatonin won’t help with that.” Melatonin is a hormone your body produces naturally. And Grandner says your body’s melatonin production should start to ramp up around the time the sun goes down. Basically, melatonin is like Paul Revere—a messenger that flows through your body and alerts all your cells and systems that sleep is coming....

The newest brand to jump on the bandwagon: Panera Bread. Today, the chain announced an initiative to remove hundreds of artificial additives (including synthetic colors, flavors, sweeteners, and preservatives) from its food by 2016. In the interim, it has posted a condensed version of its “No No List” online so customers can see what they’re eating now that will soon be gone. On the list are no-brainers like caramel color, aspartame, high fructose corn syrup, BHT, and partially hydrogenated oils....

That’s the premise behind The Blood Type Workout, a new fitness program that promises fast, long-lasting results by following the workout plan and diet best suited for your blood type. “The blood type is a powerful genetic fingerprint, and there is a chemical reaction to the food you eat, your workouts, and your blood,” says Joseph Christiano, a naturopathic doctor, author of Blood Types, Body Types, and You, and co-creator of The Blood Type Workout....

“For as long as I can remember I have felt called to heal people in a hands-on way.” From insomnia to infertility to plain old PMS, Jill Blakeway specializes in the intuitive healing of women and children. At The YinOva Center in New York City, which she founded, Jill uses ancient forms of medicine like acupuncture, Chinese herbal medicine and massage to treat all the disorders that ail the modern woman....

According to a new study from the University of Helsinki, the dulcet tones of Brahms, Beethoven, and other classical musicians enhance genes involved in motor behavior, learning and memory, and the release of the happy brain chemical dopamine. “Sound is important in evolution to protect us, and music is also sound,” explains lead researcher Irma Järvelä, MD, PhD, associate professor of medical molecular genetics at the University of Helsinki. Several of the genes that get dialed up in humans are also known to be responsible for song production in songbirds, a link that highlights the possible role of sound perception and production in survival across species....

How can just a few pounds make such a difference? Turns out fat is more than a little extra padding from overindulgence; it actually increases blood levels of hormones, such as estradiol and testosterone, that are linked to an increased risk of breast cancer. “Women who have high levels [of these hormones] have at least twice the risk of getting breast cancer compared with women who have very low levels,” explains study author Anne McTiernan, MD, PhD, director of the Prevention Center at Fred Hutchinson Cancer Research Center....