Liver spots are flat, dark areas of pigment that appear on the skin — often on areas exposed to the sun. The likelihood of getting such spots tends to rise as we age, says MedlinePlus. Common after age 40, the painless spots typically appear on the face, forearms or shoulders. While not dangerous to your…  read on >

Liquid detergent packets or “pods” continue to poison kids years after their makers volunteered to make them safer. Such poisonings fell just 18% between 2015 and 2017, a new study reports. From 2012 to 2017, poison control centers fielded nearly 73,000 calls about poisoning from these pods. That’s about one call every 42 minutes, and…  read on >

Parents, here’s another reason your teenager should get enough sleep: A new study suggests tired teens may be more likely to have unsafe sex. Researchers analyzed data collected from 1,850 teens in Southern California between 2013 and 2017. The participants were 16 in 2013. Teens who consistently did not get enough sleep at any time…  read on >

From climbing on the playground to playing in a soccer game, children are prone to getting minor cuts and wounds to the mouth. Most of these injuries can be handled with simple first aid, says the University of Rochester Medical Center. Although most are easy to care for, mouth injuries can be avoided. To prevent…  read on >

More American women under age 65 have been diagnosed sooner and treated earlier for ovarian cancer since the Affordable Care Act went into effect in 2010, new research shows. And, more women received treatment within 30 days of diagnosis, improving their survival odds, the researchers said. For the study, the investigators analyzed data from the…  read on >

Cutting-edge prostate cancer drugs that help extend life in the toughest cases might also be useful in fighting less aggressive tumors, two new clinical trials suggest. Two drugs that interfere with cancer’s ability to use testosterone for fuel, apalutamide (Erleada) and enzalutamide (Xtandi), are already approved for use against more advanced prostate tumors that don’t…  read on >

Adding a newer drug to standard hormone therapy lengthens the lives of younger women with advanced breast cancer, a new trial has found. The drug, called Kisqali (ribociclib), is already approved for treating such patients — based on earlier results showing it can delay the progression of their cancer. This is the first evidence it…  read on >

From cappuccinos to cold brew, coffee is a morning must for many Americans, but is it healthy and how much is too much? A University of South Australia study suggests a couple of cups to start your day probably won’t hurt — and may even be good for you. But drinking six or more cups…  read on >

Heart failure is a common ailment afflicting older Americans, and many take drugs called diuretics to rid the body of excess fluid buildup that can impede breathing. Now, a team of Brazilian researchers say that, in some cases, it’s safe for patients with stable heart failure to stop taking diuretic drugs. “Patients don’t like using…  read on >