Holding your nose and closing your mouth when you feel a sneeze coming on just might lead to serious trouble. The journal BMJ Case Reports includes the story of a 34-year-old man who ruptured his throat after he pinched his nose and clamped his mouth shut in order to ward off a sneeze. He suffered… read on >
Relaxing in a hot sauna may not only feel good — it might affect your heart and blood vessels in ways that are similar to moderate exercise. That’s the finding of a new study that tested the effects of a 30-minute sauna session. The researchers say their results may help explain why people who regularly… read on >
If you are a parent of a young adopted child, it may be time to talk about the child’s birth story. The American Academy of Pediatrics suggests: Be honest, and make your explanation simple and direct. Tell the child that he or she was born to other parents who could not take care of the… read on >
Anti-lock brakes are designed to restore traction to your vehicle’s tires during icy or slick road conditions. They’re meant to help prevent wheels from locking up, but they won’t shorten stopping distance, the University of Iowa says. While anti-lock brakes are deployed, the brake pedal typically will vibrate or push back. That’s completely normal. You… read on >
Do you often feel grumpy at work? Sometimes a small change in your surroundings can have a big effect on your mood. According to a study in the Journal of Experimental Psychology: Applied, having some greenery in your office space can make you both happier and more productive. British and Dutch researchers decided to challenge… read on >
Teens who were severely bullied as children are at increased risk for mental health problems and suicide attempts, a Canadian study finds. The study included data on more than 1,300 children in the province of Quebec, from birth until age 15. About 59 percent of the children reported some bullying in their first years of… read on >
Do you have lingering feelings of self-doubt, insecurity and incompetence, despite evidence that you are skilled and successful? The American Psychological Association calls this “imposter syndrome.” Here are the organization’s suggestions for beating imposter syndrome: If all fingers point to your doing a great job at work, ignore any self-doubt. Stop feeling guilty and celebrate… read on >
Whether you’re training for a marathon or just logging miles, cold-weather running requires some special health and safety precautions, according to a sports medicine expert. That said, it also gives you a chance to get ahead of the competition because people often don’t train once serious cold sets in, Dr. Joshua Blomgren said in a… read on >
Kids who have a good relationship with their grandparents are less likely to become prejudiced against old people, a new study has found. That prejudice, known as ageism, is fairly common in children, even in those as young as 3, according to researchers from the University of Liege in Belgium. However, their study found that… read on >
If you find that your weekly weight loss is slowing down, maybe it’s time to readjust your calorie intake. First, some calorie math. Your calorie baseline is the number of calories you need to maintain your weight. Most diets are based on reducing that number by 1,000 calories a day for a two-pound-a-week loss. But… read on >
