Infants who are given general anesthesia for an hour are unlikely to suffer harm, but the safety of longer and repeated exposure remains unknown, a new study says. Among more than 700 infants in seven countries, the researchers didn’t find any measurable neurodevelopmental or behavioral problems up to the age of 5. “Nearly half the… read on >
Marijuana legalization has been sweeping across the United States, raising concerns that more teens will start toking as pot smoking gains in legitimacy. A new study suggests that’s not the case. Researchers actually found fewer teen marijuana users in states that have adopted medical marijuana laws. States with medical marijuana laws had 1.1 percent fewer… read on >
Being late to school can affect your child’s ability to learn, the American Academy of Pediatrics says. Getting out the door on time in the morning can be difficult, the academy acknowledges, suggesting these ways to get your child to school promptly and avoid absenteeism: Track your child’s attendance on a calendar. Make sure your… read on >
The heel is the largest of 26 bones in the human foot, the American Podiatric Medical Association says. Heel pain is typically caused by heel spurs, plantar fasciitis or achilles tendinitis. The association offers these suggestions to avoid heel pain: Wear shoes that fit well front, back and sides; have shock-absorbent soles, rigid shanks and… read on >
A global study about what men and women want in a mate seems to confirm — to a point — long-established stereotypes. Men still go for looks — in general they said their preference is for a partner who is younger and physically attractive. Women said they’d prefer an older partner who’s ambitious and has… read on >
Everyone has certain personality strengths that make them unique. For instance, you might be the type of person who loves to nurture others or who always tells it like it is and is known for your honesty. Studies on human psychology have found that developing your unique set of strengths can lead to happiness and… read on >
Exposure to high levels of the pesticide DDT increases breast cancer risk — but when the cancer surfaces depends on when women first came in contact with the chemical, researchers say. “What we have learned is that timing really matters,” said lead author Barbara Cohn, from the California-based Public Health Institute. “We know that if… read on >
If you think that sibling rivalry can border on brutality at times, you won’t be surprised by new research from British scientists. They found that children are more likely to be bullied by a sibling if they have more than one, and firstborn children and older brothers are most likely to bully siblings, a new… read on >
Sure, he may snore. She may steal the covers. But if a relationship is solid, your partner will help you sleep better this Valentine’s Day and far into the future, a new study suggests. Good relationships in early adulthood seemed to lead to less disruptive life events, which in turn appeared to lead to better… read on >
Older women, beware: New research warns that drinking a lot of diet sodas or artificially sweetened fruit juices may increase your risk for stroke. In a study that tracked nearly 82,000 postmenopausal women, those who drank two or more diet drinks per day saw their overall stroke risk rise by 23 percent, compared with those… read on >
