Has your doctor suggested taking fewer naps? Or are you ready to wean a child from napping? The National Sleep Foundation suggests how: Don’t expect to accomplish the deed overnight. Napping isn’t an all-or-nothing proposition. An occasional nap is to be expected. Turn nap time into quiet time. Allow for a period of calm, such… read on >
One in six Americans gets food poisoning each year, the U.S. Food and Drug Administration says. That adds up to 48 million cases annually. The germs behind food poisoning and the symptoms they cause vary. But symptoms frequently include: Abdominal cramps. Diarrhea, which may be watery or bloody. Nausea and vomiting. Loss of appetite. Possible… read on >
While your dog or cat might love the taste of raw meat, a steady diet of it might be a bad idea, a new study warns. Raw meat diets for pets have become increasingly popular, but there is no evidence that they are healthier than typical pet foods, the researchers said. In fact, some studies… read on >
Time is running out for millions of American kids covered by the Children’s Health Insurance Program (CHIP). Stopgap funding for the federal program for these kids will expire Jan. 19. Soon thereafter, states will begin to cut kids’ coverage as the money runs dry, experts say. Nearly 1.7 million children on CHIP in 20 states… read on >
“Nutrition Facts” labels mandated by the U.S. Food and Drug Administration have made it easier to know more about what’s inside packaged foods. But the information isn’t always easy to decipher, especially since the “daily value” percentages are based on a maintenance diet, not a weight-loss one. Start by looking at the number of servings… read on >
A Mediterranean diet may make seniors less likely to become frail and help them maintain their health and independence, new research suggests. Frailty — characterized by weak muscle strength, weight loss and low energy — is common among seniors. Frail seniors are at increased risk for falls, fractures, hospitalization, disability, dementia, nursing home placement and… read on >
Injecting a calcium-based cement into the bones of some people with knee or hip pain could help them avoid joint replacement surgery, Ohio State University doctors say. The calcium phosphate cement flows into the spongy inside portion of the bone, filling in microfractures and other damaged areas, and it hardens in about 10 minutes’ time,… read on >
Potty training can be a difficult experience for parents and children, but with the right plan in place, it doesn’t have to be. The American Academy of Pediatrics offers these suggestions for implementing a successful potty-training plan: Give plenty of praise, affection and treats to encourage your child when he or she uses the potty.… read on >
A healthy brain is necessary for a longer and fuller life. But increasing rates of high blood pressure, diabetes and obesity are threats to maintaining a healthy brain, the American Heart Association warns. In the United States, one of every three adults, or 75 million people, has high blood pressure, the heart association says. Of… read on >
Though healthy eating is good for everyone, those who have genes that put them at high risk for obesity might benefit the most. A new study suggests that even those who carry an inherited predisposition to pack on excess pounds are not destined to become obese. In fact, researchers say it can be avoided over… read on >
