Despite decades of warnings about the hazards of baby walkers, thousands of toddlers still end up in hospital emergency rooms with walker-related injuries, new research shows. The study reported that more than 230,000 children younger than 15 months old were treated in emergency rooms between 1990 and 2014. More than 10,000 of those youngsters ended…  read on >

New research suggests there is no perfume a man loves more than the scent of a fertile woman. Researchers in Switzerland determined that women who are the “fittest” for reproduction have a distinctive scent that makes them particularly appealing to men. “Women with high estrogen and low progesterone levels are most attractive to men in…  read on >

There’s disappointing news for seniors: A new trial shows that taking daily low-dose aspirin doesn’t prolong healthy, independent living in otherwise healthy people aged 70 and older. Aspirin has long been recommended for middle-aged folks with a history of heart disease, to prevent future heart attacks or strokes. Researchers had hoped that aspirin’s specific effects…  read on >

As Florence unleashes her full fury on the Carolinas, residents who stayed put need to know that flooding will be even more dangerous than the high winds of this hurricane. Making landfall near Wrightsville Beach, N.C., around 7 a.m. Friday, the category 1 hurricane was pounding the historic town of New Bern, which sits just…  read on >

Could that morning cup of joe bring a health boost to people battling kidney disease? According to new research involving nearly 5,000 people with chronic kidney disease, a hike in daily caffeine intake appeared to lower their odds of an early death. The benefit remained “even after considering other important factors such as age, gender,…  read on >

Many children are picky eaters, making every meal a challenge. But for some, the problem goes deeper than not liking vegetables or whole-wheat bread. According to a study in the journal Pediatrics, more than one in five kids between the ages of 2 and 6 are considered “selective eaters.” Most of them are moderately picky,…  read on >

High doses of folic acid do not protect pregnant women against a sometimes deadly complication called preeclampsia, a large trial suggests. The finding frustrates the search for an effective way to prevent preeclampsia, or dangerously high blood pressure in pregnancy, in women who are at high risk for it. “We thought we had something that…  read on >

Everyone has back pain at some point, whether due to poor posture, heavy lifting, a spinal condition present a birth, or an exercise-related injury. While other triggers for back pain may not be as easy to prevent, poor posture is a relatively easy fix. Harvard Medical School suggests how: By imagining good posture, you can…  read on >

Optimism and a sense of purpose can improve your heart health, new research suggests. Psychological well-being has cardiovascular benefits because people with a positive outlook are more inclined to lead a healthy lifestyle, the researchers concluded. Upbeat people are more likely to eat well, engage in physical activity, maintain social connections and avoid negative behaviors,…  read on >

Adults have spent a lifetime hearing about or experiencing natural disasters such as Hurricane Florence, which is targeting the Carolinas this week. But how to explain to kids the dangers of these events, without unduly scaring them? The key, said child psychiatrist Dr. Victor Fornari, is to lead by example. “Parents need to remain calm…  read on >