The type of high school teens attend may determine whether they’ll try marijuana and other illegal drugs, a new study suggests. “We concluded that schools play an important role in influencing adolescent behavior,” said study first author Dr. Rebecca Dudovitz, an assistant professor at the University of California, Los Angeles School of Medicine. “Investing in… read on >
For weeks, Donna Greene got the brush-off when she asked the pharmacist about getting her second dose of Shingrix, the sought-after but scarce new shingles vaccine. Check back next week. Check in two weeks. We just don’t know, she was told at last. Finally, in mid-October, Greene got lucky. “My husband’s friend … said he… read on >
Deciding to have weight-loss surgery is tough enough, but then you have to choose between several procedures — each with different risks and potential weight loss. So how do you decide which one is best for you? New research that compares three types of weight-loss surgery in more than 46,000 patients may help. The three… read on >
Unhealthy gums can be swollen, red and painful. Common triggers for this condition include improper dental care, malnutrition, poorly fitted dentures or side effects of certain medications. The U.S. National Library of Medicine suggests ways to help prevent swollen gums: Eat a balanced diet that includes a variety of fruits and vegetables. Avoid foods that… read on >
Germs are everywhere, and there’s no getting around them. So what can you do to avoid getting sick? Frequent hand washing is an excellent start, the U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention says. The CDC says you should always wash your hands: Before, during and after preparing food. Before eating food. Before and after… read on >
Diabetes is a formidable foe that can tax the bodies and the spirits of people diagnosed with the blood sugar disease. But a plant-based diet may help boost the physical and the mental health of unhappy people with type 2 diabetes, a new evidence review reports. Diabetics who switched to a plant-based diet tended to… read on >
Rules for new drivers instituted in Massachusetts back in 2007 have led to fewer car crashes, including fewer deadly crashes, among drivers in their teens. And most of the rules are ones that Moms and Dads can set no matter what state you live in. The Massachusetts “graduated driver licensing program” requires 16- and 17-year-olds… read on >
Giving trace amounts of wheat to children with wheat allergy shows promise in treating the allergy, according to new research. The researchers started with 46 wheat-allergic children, average age about 9 years, and gave them trace amounts of wheat. The researchers gradually increased the amount, to desensitize the children to wheat. This process is called… read on >
Despite evidence to the contrary, four in 10 Americans believe alternative therapies can cure cancer, a new survey finds. Research shows that cancer death rates are much higher among patients who use only alternative therapies than among those who receive standard cancer treatments, according to the American Society of Clinical Oncology (ASCO). The group’s second… read on >
When you’re taking your blood pressure at home, a reading of 130 over 80 or above should be considered high, researchers report. A reading of 120 over 80 is considered in the normal range. “Most guidelines have recommended out-of-office monitoring for diagnosis of hypertension, but the normal limits of home blood pressure have not been… read on >
