Forty percent of U.S. parents say they would likely find a new doctor if their child’s primary care provider sees families who refuse childhood vaccines, a nationwide poll finds. And three in 10 say their child’s primary care provider should not treat youngsters whose parents refuse all vaccines. Those are key findings of the latest…  read on >

If you’re satisfied with your life, you probably have emotional well-being. Emotional well-being can be mastered just like any other skill, according to Richard Davidson, founder of the Center for Healthy Minds at the University of Wisconsin-Madison. How? By developing four key traits, said Davidson, a neuroscientist. The first is resilience. Research at the Center…  read on >

Sometimes it’s obvious when older parents need outside help — like when they’re having difficulty managing numerous chronic illnesses or losing mobility and unable to maneuver well even at home. But mental problems may not be as easy to spot. For instance, is Dad’s forgetfulness — his misplacing house keys or missing appointments — normal…  read on >

Painful urination (dysuria) is the pain or discomfort associated with going to the bathroom, says Cleveland Clinic. It doesn’t refer to how often you urinate, although dysuria can be accompanied by frequent urination. Often, dysuria is associated with urinary tract infection. Other causes of painful urination include vaginal infection, inflammation of the urethra, prostate disease,…  read on >

Healthy kids do better in school — something parents need to think about as they prepare for a new academic year. “As a parent and grandparent, I know that back-to-school time is a busy time. Yet, I encourage parents and students to be mindful of some health essentials to add to your to-do lists,” said…  read on >

Your dog bounds heedlessly into a local lake or pond, playfully splashing in the water. But within minutes, your canine companion is staggering, drooling or suffering seizures. Left untreated, the dog will likely die. This fate has befallen a handful of pooches exposed to toxic algae blooms this year, experts say. “Blue-green algae is a…  read on >

Early to bed and early to rise? In its extreme form, this tendency is more common than previously believed, according to a new study. Going to sleep at 8 p.m. and waking up as early as 4 a.m. is called advanced sleep phase. It was believed to be rare, but this study concluded that it…  read on >

Warts surface when skin cells grow faster than normal due to infection from the human papillomavirus (HPV), says Harvard Medical School. About 10 strains of HPV cause skin warts, which can spread by direct contact through breaks in the skin. To get rid of a wart, Harvard suggests trying a salicylic acid treatment: Soak the…  read on >