Rates of childhood obesity in the United States are soaring, and new research suggests child care programs may be part of the problem. Most tots in these programs aren’t getting nearly enough exercise. National guidance for child care programs calls for providing at least two opportunities a day for physical activity, totaling 60 to 90…  read on >  read on >

If you have asthma or allergies, you may be more likely to develop heart disease, and some medications may increase or lower that risk, a new review of clinical trials and lab research shows. “Many people think of asthma as a disease of the lungs, but there’s an important link between asthma and cardiovascular diseases,…  read on >  read on >

Estrogen loss during menopause may worsen women’s pain from a jaw disorder, a new study warns. Temporomandibular disorder (TMD) causes pain in the jaw joint and affects an estimated 4.8% of U.S. adults, or about 12 million people. Some estimates suggest that as many as 15% of U.S. adults have at least one symptom of…  read on >  read on >

Dealing with a crippling shortage of infant formula that has many U.S. parents desperate, the Food and Drug Administration on Monday announced “increased flexibilities” in allowing foreign manufacturers to help boost American supply of the vital product. Also on Monday, the FDA announced that an Abbott Nutrition baby formula manufacturing facility in Michigan that has…  read on >  read on >

A nationwide baby formula shortage continues across the United States, with desperate parents scouring shelves to find nutrition for their infants. Millions of babies rely on formula — the only source of nutrition recommended for infants who aren’t exclusively breastfed. Two prominent pediatricians have advice for parents who are scrambling to find formula, offering a…  read on >  read on >

If heading back into the water this summer has you concerned about flesh-eating bacteria, an expert offers some advice. “Flesh-eating bacteria refers to an infection that spreads so rapidly that the skin and surrounding soft tissue starts to die,” explained Dr. Stacey Rose, an assistant professor of infectious diseases at Baylor College of Medicine, in…  read on >  read on >

A diagnosis of pancreatic cancer may feel like a death sentence because this fast-moving disease is often discovered at a later stage, when it’s harder to treat. Now, a new study offers hope for earlier diagnosis, finding an association between recent gallstone disease and pancreatic ductal adenocarcinoma (PDAC). Patients diagnosed with PDAC were six times…  read on >  read on >