Taking a “new mothers” class and asking nurses to help with baby basics during your hospital stay can help prepare you for time at home, says the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services. Before discharge, the agency recommends that you know how to: Handle a newborn and support your baby’s neck. Change your baby’s… read on >
Your pulse, or heart rate, is the number of times your heart beats per minute, says the American Heart Association. Your heart rate can be determined at your wrist, inside your elbow, on the side of your neck or at the top of your foot. For an accurate reading, place your finger on your pulse… read on >
Mothers who smoke during pregnancy put their infants at increased risk of fractures in their first year of life, researchers warn. The study looked at more than 1.6 million people who were born in Sweden between 1983 and 2000, and followed for an average of 21 years. Over that time, nearly 378,000 fractures were recorded.… read on >
When a child has strep throat, an antibiotic like penicillin usually has them back at school 24 hours later. But a new study warns that strains of bacteria that cause strep throat and “flesh-eating disease” appear close to becoming resistant to penicillin and other antibiotics known as beta-lactams. “If this germ becomes truly resistant to… read on >
The coronavirus that has rapidly infected nearly 6,000 people in China is spreading across the globe, with five cases confirmed in the United States. The death toll in China so far has topped 130. Here’s what else you should know about the new coronavirus, called 2019-nCoV, which originated in the city of Wuhan: “This is… read on >
The dreaded coronavirus in China has many reaching for face masks across the globe. But while mandatory in Wuhan, China, where the virus originated, a face mask is of little use, practically speaking, some experts say. “A surgical mask might provide some protection, but it’s going to be very modest,” said Dr. William Schaffner, a… read on >
As the number of coronavirus cases shot to 7,700 in China on Thursday, almost 200 American evacuees remain at a California military base while health officials monitor them for any signs of possible infection. Meanwhile, countries around the world took steps to cut the risk of the virus spreading to their citizens, and World Health… read on >
Nearly half of all opioid doses and more than a quarter of all opioid prescriptions in the United States come from 1% of health care providers, a new study says. The authors said this suggests that efforts to reduce overuse of prescription opioid painkillers should not focus on strict limits for all doctors but on… read on >
Keratosis pilaris, sometimes called chicken skin, is a condition that causes small rough bumps, says the American Academy of Dermatology. Though the condition is generally harmless, some people opt for treatment. To treat chicken skin, the academy suggests: Apply a moisturizer with urea or lactic acid after a shower or bath. Using a loofah or… read on >
About one in five American adults fails to get enough sleep, says the American Academy of Sleep Medicine. It has a variety of causes, including long work hours and certain medical problems. To help cope with sleep deprivation, the academy suggests: Sleep extra hours prior to a known period of sleep loss. Take a 30-minute… read on >
