Working smoke alarms lower a person’s chances of dying in a home fire by half, according to the National Safety Council. These alarms should be tested monthly. In addition, you should have a fire safety plan for your family, the organization stresses, offering these additional suggestions: Practice home fire drills at least twice a year.… read on >
High winds can occur during a thunderstorm, hurricane or other strong weather system. The National Weather Service suggests how to prepare for high winds: Trim tree branches away from your home and powerlines. Secure loose gutters and shutters. Identify an interior room, such as a basement or bathroom, that you can go to. If you… read on >
High doses of vitamin D seem to keep arteries more flexible and pliable, potentially warding off future heart disease, heart attacks and strokes, preliminary research suggests. In just four months, vitamin D supplements reduced arterial stiffness in a group of 70 young black men and women, according to results from a small-scale clinical trial. The… read on >
When is it appropriate to give kids a cellphone? That depends on factors like their maturity level, their ability to follow rules at home and school, and your family’s circumstances, including health and safety issues. For instance, if both parents work outside the home, it’s easier to check in with a child during the day… read on >
Where you live could influence how likely you are to develop heart failure, a new U.S. study suggests. In addition to people’s income and education level, the neighborhood in which they lived helped predict their risk, according to the researchers. People living in the poorest areas were at highest risk for heart failure, the researchers… read on >
Want to make a difference right now? Consider donating some blood. That’s the suggestion of experts from Penn State Health’s Milton S. Hershey Medical Center. Blood bank supplies tend to be low in January because the holidays and the season’s typically inclement weather often keep people from going to a donation site. But, donating blood… read on >
Need to travel for work? Have an important job interview coming up? Consider tucking a shirt from your partner into your bag. Sniffing it just might help you relax. It seems that the scent of a romantic partner can help ease stress, particularly when couples are temporarily separated or away from home, according to new… read on >
In a potential advance for medical research, scientists say they’ve created the first functioning human muscle from skin cells. The breakthrough could lead to better genetic or cell-based therapies, as well as furthering investigations into the causes and treatment of muscular disorders, the Duke University team said. “The prospect of studying rare diseases is especially… read on >
If you feel stressed for a long time, it can have negative effects on your mental and physical well-being. The U.S. Office on Women’s Health identifies these common warning signs of too much stress: Not eating enough, or overeating. Feeling as you have lost control of your life. Forgetfulness. Headaches. Lack of energy. Lack of… read on >
As the opioid epidemic continues to grip the United States, the toll on the littlest victims — the children of addicts — is mounting, new research shows. “There are many negative aspects to the opioid crisis, but its effect on children is arguably one of the worst,” said study author Troy Quast, an associate professor… read on >
