What’s the truth about the herbal drug kratom? Is it a potentially dangerous opioid that needs to be tightly regulated, as the U.S. Food and Drug Administration has argued in recent months? Or is it a misunderstood natural product that provides people in pain an alternative to opioids, a point of view asserted by a… read on >
Teens who develop a negative body image and act on those feelings may wind up stunting their social, physical and mental growth, the U.S. Office on Women’s Health says. Parents can promote a positive body image among their teens, foremost, by being positive role models, the agency says. That means eating a healthy diet and… read on >
Strength training is an essential part of a complete workout program. But whether you use free weights, machines or resistance bands, keep challenging your muscles by stepping up your routine as you progress. Training with eight to 10 exercises that target all muscle groups should be done two or three times a week. But never… read on >
Optimism can benefit angina patients, according to researchers who suggest doctors can help these folks feel more hopeful. Angina is chest pain that occurs when the heart isn’t getting enough oxygen. The pain can be severe, and it’s a common reason for emergency department visits. Angina can have a major impact on quality of life,… read on >
For people who have both type 2 diabetes and heart failure, new research offers a mixed message on taking a daily low-dose aspirin. The study found the daily pill can reduce the risk for heart failure-related hospitalization and death in people who have both conditions. However, it also found that a daily aspirin raises their… read on >
If people with sleep apnea who’ve been hospitalized for any reason don’t use their breathing treatments when they return home, they’re much more likely to end up back in the hospital. They were 3.5 times more likely to be readmitted for any reason within 30 days, a new study found. And those who didn’t comply… read on >
This year’s flu season is shaping up to be the worst in nearly a decade, experts say. The flu vaccine is the best way to protect yourself. If you do develop symptoms including high fever, severe body aches, headache, extreme fatigue, sore throat, cough, runny nose, vomiting or diarrhea, you probably have the flu, the… read on >
Forging new friendships and maintaining old ones may help slow cognitive decline among seniors, the U.S. National Institute on Aging says. For seven years, researchers at Northwestern University studied a group of so-called “superagers” — people 80 and older who had maintained long-standing friendships. The researchers found that the group collectively had memories of past… read on >
Teaching kids about telling the truth is a critical life lesson. And your approach can determine how motivated your kids are to be honest. Younger children are more likely to tell the truth because they want to please you; older ones understand that it’s the right thing to do. Older kids also are less motivated… read on >
A new study calls for regular monitoring of “moderate” cervical lesions that might point to the potential for cancer later on, rather than immediate treatment. Moderate cervical lesions — formally known as cervical intra-epithelial neoplasia grade 2 (CIN2) — are abnormal cells on the surface of the cervix. CIN is not cervical cancer, but does… read on >
