The U.S. Food and Drug Administration has approved emergency use of a new Ebola fingerstick test, which includes a reader that makes it possible to obtain results outside a laboratory. The DPP Ebola Antigen System makes obtaining test results possible in remote areas with limited lab resources, such as those in African nations affected by… read on >
All Food:
FDA Will Ban Many Flavored E-Cigarettes
The U.S. Food and Drug Administration will soon announce a ban on sales of most flavored electronic cigarettes in retail stores and gas stations across the United States, according to media reports. It’s all part of the FDA’s efforts to reduce teens’ use of flavored e-cigarettes, long thought to be especially alluring to young people… read on >
Another Weight Loss Tip: A Quick Fridge and Pantry Remodel
Eating healthier requires a mindset change. But it also helps to make changes in your home environment to encourage a new and better way of approaching food — starting in the kitchen. First, do a deep dive into your fridge. You want to rearrange shelves and drawers to make healthier foods easier to find. This… read on >
Smoking, Diabetes May Be Especially Risky for Women’s Hearts
Smoking, diabetes, high blood pressure: all bad for the heart, but perhaps worse for women’s hearts than men’s, new research shows. Looking at data on 472,000 Britons ages 40 to 69, researchers found that all three of these heart disease risk factors increased the odds of heart attack for both sexes. But the rise in… read on >
Kratom Use in Pregnancy Spurs Withdrawal Symptoms in Newborns
Although the herbal supplement kratom is still legal and widely available, its opioid-like effects have caused significant withdrawal symptoms in at least two newborns in the United States and that should raise concerns, researchers say. A case study of a baby boy exposed to kratom during his mother’s pregnancy — only the second American case… read on >
A Single Energy Drink Might Harm Blood Vessels: Study
Caffeine-laden energy drinks are popular, but they might make your blood vessels less efficient, a small study suggests. These drinks — sold as Monster and Red Bull, to name two — have been linked to heart, nerve and stomach problems, researchers say. “A lot of young kids use energy drinks when they exercise, a time… read on >
Instant-Soup Burns Send Almost 10,000 Kids to ERs Each Year
Many kids love a quick bowl of instant soup or tasty noodles, but these fast foods cause almost 10,000 scald burns in children each year in the United States, a new study estimates. What’s more, researchers found that two out of every 10 scald burns that send kids to the ER are caused by microwavable… read on >
Obesity May Harm Kids’ Academics, Coping Skills
Obese kids may have extra difficulty with schoolwork and coping under stress, a preliminary study suggests. In a survey of nearly 23,000 parents, researchers found that kids who were obese were less likely to show certain indicators of “flourishing,” versus their normal-weight peers. That meant less engagement in schoolwork and learning, and more difficulty coping… read on >
Many U.S. Parents Share Leftover Antibiotics: Survey
An “alarming” number of American parents save unused antibiotics and give them to family members and other people, a new study finds. This type of misuse helps fuel antibiotic resistance, the study authors said. Their report is scheduled for presentation Monday in Orlando, Fla., at the national conference of the American Academy of Pediatrics (AAP).… read on >
Keeping Track of Healthy Calories
Even when eating nutritiously, healthy aging depends on moderating the number of calories you take in. Surprisingly, studies show that if you follow a healthy diet, but eat more than an average number of calories, you won’t fare any better in terms of healthy aging than people who follow the traditional Western diet. You want… read on >