Shhhhh. Preterm infants can benefit from quiet times in hospital neonatal intensive care units (NICUs), a new study says. High noise levels are known to harm health, and infants in NICUs are especially vulnerable, so some NICUs have created quiet times to limit potentially dangerous noise levels, according to the Acoustical Society of America. “Although… read on >
Transgender women on gender-confirming hormone therapy have increased odds of breast cancer, but the overall risk is low and not as high as it is for the general female population, a new study finds. Trans women are those who were declared male at birth but identify as female. Previous research has shown that hormone replacement… read on >
Here’s another health danger climate change will deliver in the coming years: New research warns that back-to-back heat waves that go on for days will become more common as the planet warms. The elderly and the poor will be the least prepared to weather this threat, the investigators noted. But hospital ERs and emergency service… read on >
(HealthDay News) — Glucosamine has long been used as a supplement to help ease the joint pain of arthritis, but new research suggests its anti-inflammatory properties might also lower heart disease risk. The finding stems from a lifestyle survey involving more than 466,000 British men and women. None had been diagnosed with heart disease when… read on >
“Charley horse” is another name for a muscle spasm or cramp of the leg. When a muscle cramps, it contracts involuntarily and does not relax. To treat a charley horse, MedlinePlus suggests: Stop activity. Try stretching and massaging the muscle. Use heat to relax the muscle initially, then ice after. If the muscle is still… read on >
Each year, about 18 million adults in the United States report problems with their voice, says the National Institute on Deafness and Other Communication Disorders. From singers to teachers, many people use their voice for work. To prevent chronic voice problems, the agency suggests: Don’t abuse drugs. Drink plenty of water. Limit medications that dry… read on >
There’s nothing quite like the smell and taste of warm blueberry muffins. But when you buy them from a local bakery or your favorite coffee shop, they can clock in at 500 calories or more. Making your own is well worth the time, because you can shave off 300 calories a pop. This recipe uses… read on >
Could you — or your teenage daughter — have an iron deficiency and not know it? If you’re getting enough sleep, but still feel tired, running low on iron could be the problem. Iron is our most common nutrient shortfall. A serious deficiency can lead to anemia. That’s when you have fewer red blood cells… read on >
As the United States struggles with a painkiller-abuse epidemic, researchers have found that it’s the quantity of opioids prescribed after orthopedic surgery, not the type of opioid, that corresponds with long-term use. “One of the frequent myths we encounter among clinicians is that some types of opioids, such as hydromorphone, are more dangerous than others,”… read on >
The pain Sara Langill felt in her right hip didn’t concern her much, until she felt a lump as she massaged tendons near her hip flexors following a soccer game. “I felt this thing that felt like a rubbery grape,” recalls Langill, 33. Thinking it might be a hernia, she went to the doctor. Within… read on >
