A sty is a swollen, painful bump that forms on the edge of the eyelid. Although it causes some discomfort, it typically isn’t serious and is easy to treat. A sty can produce discharge, tearing, crusting on the eyelid and a scratchy feeling in the eye. A sty usually goes away in seven-to-10 days with… read on >
Limiting online access used to be the main parenting strategy to protect kids from internet hazards like cyberbullying and sexual predators. But research suggests that teaching them how to avoid these risks in the first place is a smarter and safer approach. Thanks to photo- and video-sharing apps, much of a teen’s and even a… read on >
Teens who drink or smoke already have stiffening arteries, and the risk is highest for those who are both heavy smokers and heavy drinkers, a new study reports. Arterial stiffening is a sign of blood vessel damage that increases the chances for heart attack and stroke later in life. The good news is that teens… read on >
Teen boys who drink may raise their risk for aggressive prostate cancer decades later, a preliminary study suggests. Compared to non-drinkers, men who reported having at least one alcoholic drink a day between ages 15 and 19 had more than triple the odds of developing aggressive prostate cancer in adulthood, the researchers said. The study… read on >
The inviting blue waves of a swimming pool can be deadly for a curious youngster. Drowning is the leading cause of unintentional injury-related death among children ages 1 to 4, the American Academy of Pediatrics says, citing U.S. government statistics. The academy offers these pool-fencing suggestions: The fence should be at least four feet high… read on >
Your child’s backpack may be incredibly handy and reflect a personal sense of style. It should also be functional and help protect your child’s back, the Nemours Foundation says. If a backpack is poorly worn or too heavy, it can strain muscles and joints and cause back pain. Doctors recommend that kids keep backpacks filled… read on >
Autism spectrum disorder — or ASD — is a developmental disability now diagnosed in about one in 37 boys and one in 151 girls in the United States. Researchers are learning more about why differences in the brain develop and result in autism spectrum disorder, which includes autism and Asperger’s syndrome. Both environmental factors and… read on >
City birds age faster than their country cousins and traffic noise may be the reason why, a new study suggests. The research focused on telomeres — caps on the ends of chromosomes that protect genes from damage. Shortening of telomeres indicates faster aging. At 120 days of age, Zebra finches that were exposed to traffic… read on >
When it comes to sleep, people seem to have different needs. But how much sleep is best for your heart? A new analysis of 11 studies that included a total of more than 1 million adults without heart disease suggests the sweet spot is six to eight hours a night. The studies were published within… read on >
Depression, anxiety or other forms of mental distress may significantly boost the risk of heart disease among older adults, new research from Australia suggests. The finding is from a four-year study that tracked psychological distress among nearly 222,000 seemingly healthy men and women, aged 45 years and older, with no prior history of heart disease.… read on >
