The waning effectiveness of a flawed whooping cough vaccine is the main culprit in recent outbreaks of the highly contagious bacterial infection, a new study reports. More than four out of five confirmed whooping cough (pertussis) cases strike children who are fully vaccinated, the study authors said. That’s because the vaccine for whooping cough loses… read on >
Eight of every 10 American households buys sodas and other sugary drinks each week, adding up to 2,000 calories per household per week, new research shows. To put that in perspective, 2,000 calories is equal to the recommended average caloric intake for an adult for an entire day. With the obesity epidemic continuing for Americans… read on >
Motion sickness can happen when you are in a car, boat, plane or amusement park ride. People with motion sickness may have nausea, vomiting, dizziness or headache among many other symptoms, says the Icahn School of Medicine at Mount Sinai. To help prevent motion sickness, Mount Sinai suggests: Do not read while in a moving… read on >
The kind of foods you eat, and even the order in which you eat them can affect your odds of developing type 2 diabetes, three new studies suggest. The studies — being presented to the American Society for Nutrition — found: Switching to a mostly plant-based diet (but one that could still include meat and… read on >
Juicing nutrient-rich green vegetables like kale, broccoli and spinach gives you a brew of many vitamins and minerals, all in just one cup. But green juices can have an overpowering flavor, so many people want to cut their “bite” with the natural sweetness of fruit and/or a bit of sweetener, such as plant-based stevia or… read on >
Exercise is important for all kids, because it boosts their overall health and wards off excess weight. But it holds added benefit for teens: According to a study in The Journal of Pediatrics, it improves their attention, which can help them do better in school. The greatest payoff came from about an hour a day… read on >
Though rare, some children are born with an extra finger, a condition known as polydactyly. Now, for the first time, a team of researchers set out to see whether having this extra appendage is somehow beneficial. The answer is yes. The bottom line: Having an additional finger significantly boosts a person’s ability to manipulate objects,… read on >
Got a stuffy nose? If you vape, that might be why. Research in animals suggests vaping makes it harder to clear your nose of mucus, a new study reports. Experiments in sheep showed electronic cigarette vapor can cause a condition called mucociliary dysfunction, which makes it harder to move mucus or phlegm. Sheep were chosen… read on >
Large meals, carbonated beverages and excitement are some of the many triggers for hiccups, says Mayo Clinic. In most cases, a bout of hiccups will last only a few minutes. To get rid of hiccups, Mayo Clinic suggests: Gargle with ice water. Hold your breath. Sip cold water. For chronic hiccups, lifestyle changes such as… read on >
When you think of effective cardio exercise, the activities most likely to come to mind are aerobics classes, running, swimming and cycling. But racquet sports like tennis may hold even greater benefits, according to research published in the British Journal of Sports Medicine. And, as a bonus, they could also be more fun, making it… read on >
