Eating a nutritionally balanced high-quality diet may lower a cancer patient’s risk of dying by as much as 65 percent, new research suggests. The finding that total diet, rather than specific nutritional components, can affect a cancer patient’s prognosis “was particularly surprising to us,” said the study’s lead author, Ashish Deshmukh. Total diet, he explained,… read on >
The effects of neighborhood violence can seep into schools and lead to lower grades, even among students who have no direct exposure to the violence, a new study reveals. For the study, researchers analyzed data from students who attended Chicago public schools between 2002 and 2010. The researchers found that in schools where large numbers… read on >
Service dogs may help reduce levels of the stress hormone cortisol in military veterans who have post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD), a new study finds. For the study, researchers compared a group of veterans with PTSD who had a service dog to a group of veterans on the waitlist to receive one. “Our previous research suggests… read on >
Acne isn’t reserved for teens, and breakouts can persist into adulthood. But there’s another common skin condition — rosacea — that causes a different type of blemish, strikes in the adult years, and won’t respond to typical acne products. The first telltale sign of rosacea is the tendency to blush or flush easily. You might… read on >
Folks who can’t get back to work after a heart attack have a greater risk of depression and financial hardship than those who return to their jobs, a new study finds. There were more than 9,000 patients in the study, and about half were working before their heart attack. The researchers reported that 90 percent… read on >
When the weather warms, we tend to spend more time outside with six-legged creatures that feast on our blood. The U.S. Food and Drug Administration suggests how to prevent bug bites by applying insect repellent: Use only repellent that contains ingredients registered with U.S. Environmental Protection Agency. Spray repellent on clothes or skin, but not… read on >
Most minor burns can be cared for at home without requiring a trip to the emergency room. Each year, more than 500,000 people seek help for minor household burns, the U.S. National Institutes of Health says. The severity of a burn depends on the area it covers and how deep the damage goes. First-degree burns… read on >
Is your kitchen towel making you sick? The answer could be yes if you use the towel for many purposes, have a large family and are not a vegetarian, according to a new study of germs lurking on towels. Forty-nine percent of the kitchen towels collected for the study were laden with bacteria, and the… read on >
For fun and fitness, it’s hard to beat the value of a stability ball. You can do exercises to strengthen muscles, improve balance and increase flexibility. Stability balls come in many sizes. To choose one appropriate for your height, when you sit up straight, your hips and knees should form a right angle. First, work… read on >
More good news for coffee lovers: Having three or more cups of “joe” each day may help ward off serious liver ailments, new research suggests. The 26-year study of more than 14,000 Americans couldn’t prove cause and effect. However, participants who drank three-plus cups of coffee a day were 21 percent less likely to find… read on >
