Mosquito bites may be more than just an itchy annoyance — they also can transmit deadly germs that cause diseases such as Zika, West Nile or dengue, the U.S. National Institutes of Health warns. Mosquito-borne illnesses kill about 725,000 people worldwide each year, the agency says. Here are the NIH’s suggestions for avoiding mosquito bites:… read on >
TUESDAY, Aug. 7, 2018Dialysis patients waiting for kidney transplants might safely accept an organ from a donor infected with hepatitis C virus (HCV), a new study finds. Using hepatitis C-infected kidneys would expand the organ pool and save lives, said lead researcher Dr. Peter Reese. He’s an associate professor of medicine at the University of… read on >
Photo-editing tools that make people look more perfect online than in real life may be a health threat, medical experts warn. The tidal wave of altered photos on social media is changing perceptions of beauty. And that can trigger a preoccupation with appearance that leads to risky efforts to hide perceived flaws, researchers suggest. Those… read on >
Emergency treatment rarely allows you much time to consider your options. But what about care that can be done on your timetable? There are many tools available to help you understand the pros and cons of nearly any procedure and — through an open discussion with your health-care provider — determine what’s best for you.… read on >
“Put your listening ears on!” frustrated parents often say. But some kids aren’t deliberately tuning out Mom and Dad — they really can’t hear them. If you suspect your child has a hearing problem, get it checked out, experts advise. Even minor hearing loss can affect a child’s ability to learn and also lead to… read on >
You eagerly await baby’s first words and delight at his growing vocabulary. But that excitement may cause you to miss speech problems that should be corrected quickly. According to the American Speech-Language-Hearing Association (ASHA), many parents don’t know common warning signs of speech problems or that they’re easier to correct before age 4. At 12… read on >
Acne tends to form on the face, neck, back, chest and shoulders. The U.S. National Institute of Arthritis and Musculoskeletal and Skin Diseases says although acne isn’t usually a serious health concern, it can be embarrassing and lead to permanent scars. The agency also says: Doctors don’t know a surefire way to prevent acne, but… read on >
Ace hitters like Barry Bonds and Derek Jeter probably can confirm this: Baseball players with faster hand-eye coordination are better batters, a new study finds. This is especially true when it comes to measures of “plate discipline,” like drawing walks and swinging at pitches in the strike zone, researchers said. “Batters with better eye-hand visual… read on >
When you’re having a barbecue or picnic, be sure you don’t invite foodborne illnesses caused by salmonella bacteria. Each year in the United States, salmonella causes about 1.2 million illnesses and 23,000 hospitalizations, according to the U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. Salmonella contamination can occur in many foods, including melons, cucumbers, chicken, eggs,… read on >
You might not think much about it when turning on a light in your home, but faulty wiring and electrical products can lead to fire, injury and even death. That’s why it’s important to check for and fix potential problems before they happen. The U.S. Consumer Product Safety Commission suggests taking time to go room-by-room… read on >
