Having a four-legged friend around the house could make us happier, healthier and help us live longer. Research shows having a pet can lower blood pressure, cholesterol and triglycerides. A cat, dog or other pet can also combat feelings of loneliness and depression. But Fido and Fluffy also harbor germs that could make us sick,… read on >
When a parent works full time, it can be difficult to balance responsibilities at work and at home. The American Academy of Pediatrics suggests how to ease the pressure of feeling overworked: Try to relax during the day, even if for a few minutes of meditation, a short walk or a brief period of silence.… read on >
Basketball provides a great full-body workout. But there are steps you should take to reduce your risk of knee, ankle and foot injuries, an orthopedic specialist says. In 2016, more than 60,500 people were treated for basketball-related foot injuries in U.S. emergency departments, doctors’ offices and clinics. More than 355,000 sought help for basketball-related ankle… read on >
Learning how to do a skin self-exam could save your life. “Skin cancer is one of the few cancers you can see with the naked eye,” said Dr. Ali Hendi, an assistant clinical professor of dermatology at Georgetown University Medical Center in Washington, D.C. “Yet sadly, many people don’t know how to be their own… read on >
Lots of things grow in the spring, including your risk of severe allergic reactions and asthma attacks. So people need to take preventive measures and know when to seek medical care, an emergency physician says. “Spring tends to bring more people to the emergency department,” Dr. Paul Kivela, president of the American College of Emergency… read on >
Endometriosis is a painful condition affecting many women, yet often years pass before it’s diagnosed. Tissue that normally lines the inside of the uterus starts growing outside it, often affecting the ovaries, the bowel or tissue lining your pelvis. Cysts or scar tissue can form. Beyond intense physical pain, endometriosis can affect everything from your… read on >
The deadliest form of black lung disease is on the rise among American coal miners, a new study finds. Increases in cases of progressive massive fibrosis (PMF) are occurring despite measures to control coal dust that were put into place decades ago. The finding stems from an analysis of U.S. Department of Labor data on… read on >
Outdoor enthusiasts: Here’s a bit of good tick-fighting news just in time for Memorial Day weekend and the unofficial start of summer. A new U.S. government study confirms that insecticide-treated clothes marketed for preventing tick-borne ills do, in fact, thwart the pests. In lab tests of clothes bought from one manufacturer, researchers found that the… read on >
Are tablets, smartphones and laptops robbing Americans of shut-eye? Absolutely, said researchers who found that the unending entertainments and the light the devices emit are a powerful, slumber-killing combo. The finding comes from a small analysis of nine otherwise healthy adults in their 20s. Their sleep was tracked after five straight nights of unrestricted tablet… read on >
A pressure sore is an area of the body that breaks down because something keeps rubbing or pressing against the skin. A pressure sore can develop if you use a wheelchair or stay in bed for long periods, have a disease that affects blood flow, have fragile skin or are malnourished. The U.S. Library of… read on >
