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 >
The dilemma is all too familiar: It’s Monday morning, you walk into your office and see that someone has left a big box of donuts in the break room. Then, your co-worker tells you there will be cake later for yet another birthday celebration. One thing’s for sure. You’re not alone. A new federal government… read on >
Some 5 million children in the United States wet the bed, the American Academy of Pediatrics says. Although most kids are potty trained by age 4, bedwetting may still be a problem for about 20 percent of 5-year-olds, 10 percent of 7-year-olds and 5 percent of 10-year-olds, the group says. Most cases seem to be… read on >
Eating fish twice a week reduces your risk of a heart attack or stroke, the American Heart Association says. The AHA recommends eating two 3.5-ounce servings of non-fried fish, or about 3/4 cup of flaked fish, every week. Eating just one serving a week is better than eating none, particularly if it is swapping out… read on >
It’s well-known that Americans consume too much sugar. But that affinity for the sweet stuff starts as early as infancy, with some babies consuming added sugar that exceeds maximum levels recommended for adults, U.S. researchers report. Eating foods with added sugar can influence a child’s food choices later in life. And added sugar has been… read on >
