Acquiring an infection during pregnancy is bad for both the pregnant woman and her unborn baby. The American Academy of Pediatrics stresses the importance of making healthy choices and taking extra precautions to prevent infections during pregnancy. The AAP suggests: Wash your hands often, especially when around children. Cook meat until it’s well done. Avoid… read on >
Where better to fight indoor air pollution than at home? The American Lung Association suggests how: Don’t let anyone smoke in your home. Test your home for radon. Keep humidity levels under 50 percent and use a dehumidifier or air conditioner as needed. Clean this equipment regularly. Fix any leaks in the home that could… read on >
Work may be good medicine for the brains of people who suffer mild strokes, a new study out of Israel suggests. The study included 252 working-age adults whose mental functioning was evaluated one and two years after a mild stroke. Those who had jobs before and after their stroke were less likely to experience mental… read on >
Stroke survivors who eat plenty of leafy greens, fish and other healthy foods may help preserve their brain function as time goes on, a preliminary study suggests. Researchers found the benefits among stroke survivors who most closely followed the principles of the so-called “MIND” diet. It pulls together elements from two eating plans known to… read on >
Working toward a healthier environment involves more than separating glass and plastic. Try a new take on the three “R’s” — recycle, reduce and reuse — to save money, energy and natural resources. Start in your pantry. Donate packaged foods you know you’re not going to eat to a local food bank or soup kitchen.… read on >
If you think having just one cigarette a day won’t do any harm, you’re wrong. British researchers say lighting up just once a day was linked to a much higher risk of heart disease and stroke than might be expected. The bottom line: “No safe level of smoking exists for cardiovascular disease,” wrote the team… read on >
Performing CPR can save a life, but it may be difficult to remember exactly what to do during an emergency, the American Red Cross says. Here’s what the agency recommends: Place your hands, one on top of the other, in the middle of the chest. Use your body weight to administer compressions that are at… read on >
Many workplace vehicles have backup alarms, but the alarms don’t prevent backover accidents altogether. The U.S. Occupational Safety and Health Administration (OSHA) suggests how to help prevent backover accidents: Ensure that trained spotters use hand signals to alert drivers about when it’s safe to proceed. Drivers should remain in visual contact with spotters while backing… read on >
While you might think most people would try to change unhealthy behaviors after a major health scare like a stroke, new research suggests most people don’t. They may even pick up worse habits. Fewer than 1 in 100 stroke survivors met all seven heart-health goals identified by the American Heart Association. And just 1 in… read on >
Commuting by car doesn’t just try your patience. An Australian study published in the American Journal of Preventive Medicine found that it can also lead to weight gain, even if you’re active on the weekends. One answer is to turn at least part of your commute into a workout. As cities with municipal bike programs… read on >
