Adults should maintain oral health to keep teeth strong and healthy for a lifetime, says the U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. The CDC encourages them to: Brush teeth thoroughly with fluoride toothpaste. Remove dental plaque with floss. Visit the dentist on a regular basis. Do not use tobacco and limit alcohol. Source: HealthDay
Before taking an antidepressant, it’s important to take a few factors into consideration, says the American Academy of Family Physicians. The academy suggests: Talk to your doctor about different antidepressant options. Inform your doctor of other medicines, vitamins and supplements you take. Understand that you should not stop taking an antidepressant without speaking with your… read on >
Adults aren’t the only ones susceptible to urinary tract infections, or UTIs. They can occur in kids, even infants, if bacteria get into the urinary tract, often from the bowel. Any child can get a UTI. But some kids are more prone than others, and girls get them more often than boys. A UTI doesn’t… read on >
Obliques are the muscles that run along the sides of your torso, from the lower eight ribs to the front of the hip bone. They contract when you rotate your torso, so a great way to develop them is with an exercise called the Russian twist. Lie flat on the floor in a spot where… read on >
Opioid abuse-related job losses have cost U.S. federal and state governments tens of billions of dollars in lost tax revenue, a new study claims. Penn State researchers analyzed data from the U.S. National Survey on Drug Use and Health along with estimates of declines in the U.S. labor force due to the opioid epidemic. Between… read on >
Mistaken beliefs about sleep are common and pose a significant health threat, a new study warns. Among these myths: some people only need five hours of sleep; snoring is harmless; a drink before bedtime helps you fall asleep. “Sleep is a vital part of life that affects our productivity, mood, and general health and well-being,”… read on >
Learning you have a cancer that looks imminently terminal is tough news to swallow. And new research indicates that when given just one month to live, a significant number of patients still opt for aggressive and often costly interventions, despite little evidence to suggest they’ll help. A study of just over 100,000 patients in the… read on >
Nosebleeds often occur from a leaky blood vessel in the nose, says Harvard Medical School. Here’s a description of a pinching technique to relieve a nosebleed: Nod your head forward. Place your thumb on one side of your nose and your forefinger on the other. Pinch your thumb and forefinger together. Hold. If the bleeding… read on >
Signs of dyslexia can appear in a child’s earliest years. For parents and teachers, looking for signs in preschoolers can help for early intervention, says the Yale Center for Dyslexia and Creativity. Preschoolers with dyslexia may: Have trouble learning nursery rhymes. Show difficulty learning the alphabet. Mispronounce familiar words. Have trouble recognizing rhyming patterns. Have… read on >
Could quitting tobacco involve something as simple as a pleasant scent? New research suggests it’s possible. U.S. smoking rates have fallen over the past 50 years, but about 40 million Americans still smoke, according to the U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. At least half of adult smokers report trying to quit in the… read on >
