New research confirms that breast-feeding for two to four months of a newborn’s life can significantly reduce the risk of sudden infant death syndrome (SIDS). But the study also found moms don’t need to breast-feed exclusively to reap that benefit. Even partial breast-feeding will do, the 20-region study found. “What is, perhaps, surprising is that… read on >
The tiny thyroid gland could have a big impact on heart health, new research suggests. Middle-aged and older adults with an elevated thyroid hormone may be at higher risk of heart disease and death, researchers found. In the new Dutch study, high and even high-normal levels of a hormone called free thyroxine (FT4) doubled the… read on >
If your taste buds lean toward spicy, you might be doing your heart a favor, new research suggests. Spicy foods may increase salt sensitivity, thereby dampening the desire to consume heart-harming salty food, researchers in China say. “High salt intake increases blood pressure and contributes to cardiovascular disease,” said study author Dr. Zhiming Zhu. “Thus,… read on >
Too much could lead to skin cancer read on >
Keep your child safer read on >
To cut calories, you may be tempted to cut out carbs in the form of grains. But that could be a mistake — for a variety of reasons. The answer is to choose the right kind of grains — whole grains rather than refined or over-processed white bread, rice and pasta. A whole grain contains… read on > read on >
A leading group of U.S. pediatricians is encouraging parents to donate to public cord blood banks after the birth of their children. The past decade has seen an increase in the use of umbilical cord blood for stem cell transplants that can save children with fatal or debilitating diseases, the American Academy of Pediatrics says… read on >
Kids may encounter some scary surprises on Halloween, but they shouldn’t get injured while they go trick-or-treating. However, U.S. emergency departments reported more than 700,000 Halloween-related injuries involving children and teens between 2007 and 2016. In many cases, kids are sustaining head or hand injuries, according to the National Electronic Injury Surveillance System. “It’s essential… read on >
High school students who use electronic cigarettes are more likely to start smoking regular cigarettes, a new Canadian study finds. “Youth may be trying e-cigarettes before smoking because they are easier to access: until recently, youth could legally purchase e-cigarettes without nicotine, whereas regular cigarettes cannot be sold to young people under 18 years of… read on >
Currently, people at average risk of colon cancer are told to start screening for the disease at age 50. But a new study raises the question of whether earlier screening could be better. Looking at more than 6,000 patients who underwent colonoscopies, French researchers found the rate of abnormal colon growths started to rise sharply… read on >
