Childproofing a home is important even after your little one reaches toddlerhood. KidsHealth.org offers these suggestions to make your home safer for kids of all ages: Keep guns locked in a sturdy cabinet. Keepcoin lithium (“button”) batteries out of a child’s reach. They may be deadly if swallowed. Keep choking hazards,poisonous substances, hot and sharp… read on >
If you don’t have to drive while it’s snowing, don’t. But if you must be on the road, the National Weather Service suggests: Slow down. Roads may be slippery, even if they do not look wet. Clean all snow and ice off your car before starting a trip. Let someone know where you are going… read on >
The majority of children growing up in America today will be obese by age 35, a new computer analysis predicts. The study’s lead author, Zachary Ward, described the forecast as “sobering.” But, he added, “It should not be surprising that we are heading in this direction. We are already approaching this level of adult obesity… read on >
Even if he’s a good boy, don’t put bone treats in your dog’s stocking this holiday season because they can pose a serious health risk to your pooch, the U.S. Food and Drug Administration warns. The FDA said it has received reports of 68 pet illnesses and 15 deaths caused by bone treats. The reports… read on >
Strength training needs to be part of every exercise plan, but you don’t have to join a health club to reap its benefits. You can create a state-of-the-art home gym, but an inexpensive approach will work just as well. First, pick out a 10-by-10-foot space where you can exercise without tripping over or bumping into… read on >
They may temporarily ease pain, but new research suggests that steroid injections to arthritic hips may exacerbate bone trouble over the longer term. These injections have long been used “for diagnostic and therapeutic purposes for various joint conditions,” noted Dr. Crispin Ong, an orthopedic surgeon who was not involved with the study but reviewed the… read on >
Former professional football players are at increased risk for an enlarged aorta, which can lead to a life-threatening bulge in the artery, a new study reports. The aorta, the largest artery in the body, carries blood from the heart to the rest of the body. The short part of the aorta is called the ascending… read on >
Many older Americans take multiple medications — but only about one-third ever discuss possible interactions between drugs, a new poll finds. This could endanger their health, researchers said. “Interactions between drugs, and other substances, can put older people at a real risk of everything from low blood sugar to kidney damage and accidents caused by… read on >
A new treatment that aims electrical pulses at irritated nerves around the spinal cord appears effective at relieving chronic lower back pain and sciatica, a preliminary study suggests. The minimally invasive procedure, called image-guided pulsed radiofrequency, eased lingering pain in 80 percent of 10 patients after a single 10-minute treatment. Ninety percent were able to… read on >
Women may have a variety of bladder problems as they age. But many don’t seek help because they are embarrassed or believe their symptoms are a normal part of aging. Womenshealth.gov identifies these women’s symptoms that may indicate a bladder problem: Needing to go to the bathroom eight or more times per day. Getting up… read on >
