Bad balance is a common cause of dangerous falls, especially among older adults. Falls send more than 2 million adults to the emergency room every year and often result in lengthy rehab stays. Preventing falls is a priority for staying healthy and preventing painful broken bones as you age. Easy strength and balance exercises that… read on >
Stomach cramps typically refer to abdominal pain or discomfort between your chest and groin. Causes range from constipation to food intolerance, says the Icahn School of Medicine at Mount Sinai. To help ease mild stomach cramps at home, Mount Sinai suggests: Sip water or other clear fluids. Only drink sports drinks in small amounts. Avoid… read on >
A white Christmas is everyone’s wish, but navigating the snow and cold can land some folks in the ER during the holidays. Luckily, the American College of Emergency Physicians (ACEP) has some helpful hints on having a safe and happy holiday. “Cold weather months put many people at greater risk of avoidable injuries,” said Dr.… read on >
There’s one type of green Christmas that’s likely to bring joy to gift-givers and recipients alike, a new Canadian study suggests. That’s one based on green consumerism — a push to buy gifts produced in ways that protect the natural environment. For this study, researchers at Concordia University in Montreal asked volunteers how a number… read on >
You suddenly break out in a rash or your throat gets scratchy. You assume you’re allergic to something … maybe pollen or a detergent. But could you be allergic to something in your food or medicine, and how could you tell? The medical community disagrees as to whether additives in food or even medications —… read on >
The bones that form your spine are cushioned by round discs. A herniated disc is a disc that has been pushed out of place, says the American Association of Neurological Surgeons. The group mentions warning signs of a herniated disc: Low backache. Numbness or weakness in parts of the body. A sharp, electric shock-like pain… read on >
The holidays are peak buying time, and perhaps the worst time of the year for people who simply can’t control their urge to shop. Now, research shows that the ease of online purchasing could be making things worse for people with so-called “buying-shopping disorder” (BSD). BSD is still debated as a stand-alone diagnosis, and hasn’t… read on >
Microbes that live in a child’s upper airway could be linked to severe asthma attacks, new research suggests. For parents, it’s an all-too familiar scene: A child’s seemingly harmless cough quickly escalates to wheezing, gasping and an urgent need for emergency treatment. Asthma is the leading chronic disease in kids and third-most common cause of… read on >
Few Americans survive cardiac arrest when it happens outside a hospital, but if more people knew how to recognize it and do CPR the odds might be better, a new study finds. Only about 8% of those who suffer a cardiac arrest — a sudden stoppage of the heart — survive. Simply knowing what to… read on >
Heartburn. Millions of people suffer from it. But what exactly is it and, most important, could it actually be something serious? Heartburn got its name from the burning sensation you get when acid that rises up from the stomach burns the esophagus, which is located behind the heart. If you have persistent symptoms, you may… read on >
