The care received by Robert F. Kennedy after he was shot in the head 50 years ago this month was the best possible at the time, and his injuries were so severe that he’d still have a low chance of survival today, researchers say. The senator was shot on June 5, 1968, after his victory… read on >
New research suggests that a single blood test could confirm type 2 diabetes, saving patients time and health care costs. Currently, it’s recommended that a blood test focused on elevated fasting levels of blood sugar (glucose) or a blood component called glycated hemoglobin (HbA1c) be confirmed with a second blood test at a follow-up visit.… read on >
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 >
