Holiday toys should be age-appropriate and safe, to avoid injury. The American Academy of Pediatrics offers these safety suggestions: Select toys that match the age, abilities, skills and interests of the child. For babies and toddlers, consider toys that build developmental skills. If you are considering a tablet, smartphone or game system, establish rules for… read on >
Coming just days after reports of a gene therapy that pushed the bleeding disorder hemophilia B into remission, new research suggests the same could be true for adults with the “A” form of the disease. That’s significant because, due to the complexities of the gene responsible for hemophilia A, experts had thought it might be… read on >
As a parent, you may worry most about your kids when they aren’t with you. But many of the falls that send a million children to the ER each year happen at home. Plenty of these accidents involve falls from beds, chairs, baby walkers, bouncers, changing tables and high chairs. Some of these injuries are… read on >
Hospital operating rooms produce thousands of tons of greenhouse gases each year, but changing the type of anesthesia used in surgery can help lower those emissions, researchers report. For the study, investigators assessed the carbon footprint of operating rooms at three hospitals: Vancouver General Hospital in Canada; University of Minnesota Medical Center in the United… read on >
Some thiings never change: Scientists say the bacteria circulating in the International Space Station are similar to those in homes on Earth. That’s the conclusion of researchers at the University of California, Davis, who analyzed bacteria collected by astronauts. “So ‘is it gross?’ and ‘will you see microbes from space?’ are probably the two most… read on >
If your pooch responds well to your smiling face, the “love hormone” oxytocin might have something to do with it, new research suggests. Produced naturally by humans and dogs, the hormone “influences what the dog sees and how it experiences the thing it sees,” said study co-author Sanni Somppi. She’s a graduate student at the… read on >
It’s never too late for women to lose weight to lower their breast cancer risk, a new study suggests. Researchers found that a 5 percent or greater weight loss after menopause could lower the odds of breast cancer by about 12 percent. For a 170-pound woman, a 5 percent weight loss would be 8.5 pounds.… read on >
Tooth brushing should begin in infancy to instill lifelong habits and protect teeth throughout adulthood. The American Academy of Pediatrics suggests: Start practicing oral hygiene as soon as your baby is born by wiping baby’s gums with a soft, clean washcloth. Never give your baby a bottle in the crib. Choose healthy solids when introducing… read on >
Norovirus is a highly-contagious germ that triggers vomiting and diarrhea. It tends to lurk in confined areas, such as on cruise ships and in college dorms. Each year in the United States, norovirus causes up to 21 million illnesses, about 70,000 hospitalizations and as many as 800 deaths. The U.S. Centers for Disease Control and… read on >
A family health history can be key to your wellness. Think of it as a family tree all about your health — a record of your close relatives’ medical conditions, lifestyle habits and even where they grew up. A family health history helps you see any increased risk of developing serious health problems, like heart… read on >
