E-cigarettes produce chemicals that can damage a person’s DNA, the first step on a path that might lead to cancer, a new study reports. The saliva of a small group of e-cigarette users contained increased levels of three DNA-damaging compounds, the researchers said. These chemicals are formaldehyde, acrolein and methylglyoxal. Further, four of the five… read on >
Most American parents would forbid their teen from getting a tattoo due to concerns about possible infection and future job prospects, a nationwide survey finds. The poll of more than 1,000 parents found 78 percent said they would not let their 13- to 18-year-old get inked. About half expressed concern about infection, scarring or transmission… read on >
Sports-medicine research has called into question the value of warm-ups and cool-downs, and cast doubt on whether they really prevent muscle soreness. However, there are still other benefits to these pre- and post-workout steps, and to stretching after both. But it’s important to get the sequence right. A warm-up preps your body for exercise by… read on >
Each day, adults pass about 1.5 quarts of urine through the bladder, the National Institute on Aging says. Keeping your bladder healthy can help prevent infection and incontinence, which tend to become more common as you age, the agency says. It suggests: Drink plenty of fluids, especially water. Most people should drink at least six… read on >
If your child has a food allergy, safety prevention belongs at the top of your back-to-school checklist. “Ensuring that parents and school personnel are all on the same page as far as preventing exposures and treating symptoms is critical to keeping food-allergic children safe,” said Dr. B.J. Lanser, director of the Pediatric Food Allergy Program… read on >
Some simple steps can reduce danger when you venture into the great outdoors, an expert says. “Knowing your limits, not trying to do too much, knowing where you’re going and what you might encounter there and being aware of the environment you’re in are the best ways to avoid problems outdoors,” said Dr. Henderson McGinnis,… read on >
U.S. Navy veteran Lisa Conway was having trouble coping with mobility issues related to two newly diagnosed autoimmune diseases when her therapist suggested equine-assisted therapy. “I rode horses mainly as a youngster and a couple of times as an adult. When my therapist suggested equine therapy, I thought, ‘Are you kidding me? How am I… read on >
FRIDAY, Aug. 17, 2018 (American Heart Association) — The growing population of adults with congenital heart disease could soon begin to see more personalized care, according to new guidelines released Thursday. Diagnosis and follow-up care for people over 17 will be based on more than their heart anatomy. It will expand to include how the… read on >
HIV, the virus that causes AIDS, is typically a manageable infection, but medications that keep the virus at bay don’t work for everyone. Now, researchers have developed a new medication to help them. The U.S. Food and Drug Administration approved the drug — ibalizumab (Trogarzo) — in March. Phase 3 trial results were published in… read on >
For women with advanced breast cancer who carry the BRCA1 and BRCA2 gene mutations, an experimental drug could improve survival, a new study suggests. The BRCA mutations are linked with a greater risk for aggressive breast and ovarian cancer. The drug, talazoparib, works by blocking an enzyme called poly ADP ribose polymerase (PARP), thus preventing… read on >
