Three primary types of thermometers are on the market for consumers. Digital thermometers record body temperature through electric heat sensors. They can be used in the rectum, mouth or under the armpit. However, armpit temperatures are typically least accurate. Digital ear thermometers use infrared scanners to measure the ear canal temperature. Earwax or an abnormal… read on >
A baby’s first fever can be scary for parents. However, most fevers are relatively harmless, says MedlinePlus. When treating your child’s fever, MedlinePlus suggests: Do not bundle up a child, even if the child has the chills. Use acetaminophen or ibuprofen to lower fever. Never give aspirin to children. Bathe your child in lukewarm water.… read on >
Vitamin D is the healthy “sunshine” vitamin, but it can have a dark side, one Canadian man discovered. A team of Toronto physicians reported on the case of a 54-year-old man who developed kidney damage after taking extremely high doses of vitamin D. It’s a cautionary tale for consumers, medical experts say. “Although vitamin D… read on >
Ten infants are known to have died in the Fisher-Price Rock ‘n Play sleeper since 2015, the U.S. Consumer Product Safety Commission (CPSC) warns. In a joint statement with Fisher-Price, the CPSC said it voted to announce that “the health and safety of the public requires immediate notice” of the danger to babies. All of… read on >
Scotland is already seeing a payoff for vaccinating adolescent girls for human papillomavirus (HPV). Since the vaccine became routine about a decade ago, cervical cancer cases in young Scottish women have plummeted, a new study reports. HPV is one of the most common sexually transmitted infections. Vaccination protects against HPV types 16 and 18, which… read on >
Scientists have been cataloging bacteria and fungi inside the International Space Station (ISS), and they say their efforts will should keep astronauts safe and could also have benefits on Earth. The team analyzed samples collected from eight locations on the space station during three flights across 14 months. The samples came from the viewing window,… read on >
Regular brushing and flossing can save your teeth into old age. Could it also save your brain? The bacteria involved in gum disease might play a key role in the development of Alzheimer’s disease, new research suggests. DNA from the bacterium Porphyromonas gingivalis is more often found in the brains of Alzheimer’s patients, said lead… read on >
More than 12 percent of the world’s population has migraines. For some people, migraines are chronic, says the American Migraine Foundation. Chronic migraines are usually diagnosed when a person has 15 or more of these headache days per month. For those with chronic migraines, treatment typically consists of: Medications for the onset of headaches. Preventive… read on >
If you’re over 65 and have a heart attack, your care may be compromised, a new study finds. In fact, you’re less apt than younger patients to receive a timely angioplasty to open blocked arteries. You’re also likely to have more complications and a greater risk of dying, researchers say. “Seniors were less likely to… read on >
Older black American women are much less likely to be treated for heart attack and heart disease than white and Hispanic women, researchers say. “Our study shows that black women still receive less recommended therapy for heart attacks and coronary heart disease than white women, and that improving these racial disparities is still needed,” said… read on >
