In cities, the chances of being bitten by mosquitoes varies according to neighborhood income — and middle-class residents may be at greatest risk. That’s the upshot of a study done in Baltimore, where researchers spent two years analyzing DNA from mosquitoes’ stomachs. They found that in low-income neighborhoods, rats were the preferred “blood meal” for… read on >
The way that Alzheimer’s disease is defined for research should be based on brain changes rather than symptoms. That’s what leading Alzheimer’s scientists are proposing in what could be a major policy change for investigating the brain-robbing illness. “We have to focus on biological or physical targets to zero in on potential treatments for Alzheimer’s,”… read on >
TUESDAY, April, 10, 2018The youngest victims of America’s addiction crisis are not the teenagers tempted by tobacco, pot and pills. Rather, they are tens of thousands of toddlers and preschoolers who are accidentally poisoned when they get into the drug stash of a parent or older sibling, claims a new report from the National Center… read on >
If you aren’t getting enough sleep, you’ll probably feel very tired during the day. And you may not feel alert and refreshed when you wake up. While everyone has a sleepless night now and then, chronic lack of sleep can lead to a host of medical problems and should be discussed with your doctor, the… read on >
As spring approaches and the weather warms, you should be thinking about window safety and how to prevent falls and fire hazards. The National Safety Council suggests: Never paint or nail a window shut. Do not install an air conditioner in a window that may be needed for escape during a fire. All window guards,… read on >
Forget what a hot chili pepper can do to your stomach: A new case report suggests that eating some of the hottest ones may give you a headache that can send you to the emergency room. A young man was taking part in a hot chili pepper eating contest and ate a particularly potent type… read on >
Memo to Mom and Dad: Rein in your screen time. That’s one of the things that kids say they’d like to tell their parents, according to a survey on families’ technology rules and expectations. To better understand the tug of war between parents and children over their electronic gadgets, researchers from the University of Michigan… read on >
People struggling with COPD might find some relief in an ancient art. The centuries-old practice of tai chi appears to boost the exercise capabilities and the quality of life of those with chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD), a study from Chinese and British researchers suggests. COPD is a chronic, debilitating and largely incurable form of… read on >
Staying physically fit can help ward off heart trouble, even if your genetics put you at higher risk for clogged arteries, a new, large study suggests. The researchers looked at nearly 500,000 middle-aged and older adults and found those with higher fitness levels were less likely to develop heart disease over six years. And that… read on >
Parents who read to their infants and toddlers may help them develop skills that pay big dividends when they start school, a new study suggests. Specifically, reading aloud and pretend play may offset disruptive behaviors — such as hyperactivity and aggression — and improve attention, researchers found. “When you read with your child, it’s really… read on >
