Fewer than 14 percent of American adults smoked cigarettes in 2017, the lowest level seen since data collection started in 1965, government health officials reported Tuesday. “Certainly, it is fantastic that the U.S. smoking rates continue to drop,” said Dr. Adam Lackey, chief of thoracic surgery at Staten Island University Hospital. “I suspect education is… read on >
Not getting enough sleep? It’s probably hurting your health. The U.S. National Institute of Neurological Disorders and Stroke suggests how to improve your sleep: Go to bed and wake up at the same time every day, even on weekends. Exercise for at least 20 minutes a day. But don’t exercise just before bedtime. Avoid nicotine,… read on >
It is important to protect your eyes from sun-related ultraviolet damage. The U.S. Environmental Protection Agency suggests how: Choose sunglasses that block at least 99 percent of both UV-A and UV-B rays. Wear sunglasses every day, even when it’s cloudy. Wear a wide-brimmed hat to block UV rays from affecting your eyes from the sides… read on >
Using the psychiatric drug lithium early in pregnancy may raise the risk of birth defects — but not as much as previously thought, a large new study suggests. Researchers found that women who used lithium during the first trimester were more likely to have a baby with a birth defect, compared to pregnant women who… read on >
Exercise is a known stress buster, and different disciplines relax and tone you in a variety of ways. So, you can pick and choose from many types of exercise to go beyond physical fitness to better mental health. Exercise’s mind-body boosts: Improves your mood by releasing natural feel-good chemicals. Decreases tension in your muscles. Leads… read on >
Most U.S. pediatricians say spanking is a bad way to discipline children. “In the past couple of decades, a tremendous amount of research has come out that shows hitting children is counterproductive and leads to more harm than good,” said Catherine Taylor, author of a new survey on the subject. “I hope that pediatricians will… read on >
It’s a parent’s worst nightmare: While spending a fun-filled family day at an amusement park, you suddenly lose sight of your child. As terrifying as that can be, a new survey finds that many American parents don’t talk with their child about what to do if the youngster becomes lost in that setting. One in… read on >
Most kids don’t get enough sleep, and that may put them on a path to future heart trouble, a new study finds. Young teens who slept less than seven hours a night tended to have more body fat, elevated blood pressure and less healthy cholesterol levels — all bad for the heart, researchers say. Heart… read on >
Just because you’ve returned home from a trip abroad doesn’t mean you can’t get sick, the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention says. Here are the agency’s suggestions for what to do when you get back home: Visit your doctor if you are not feeling well after a trip. Be sure to tell your doctor… read on >
Teething is a normal part of an infant’s life, but it doesn’t come without some pain and discomfort. The U.S. Food and Drug Administration cautions against applying medication directly to the gums. Products such as the numbing agent benzocaine may not be effective and may be dangerous, the agency says. Instead, the FDA suggests: Gently… read on >
