Fire Capt. Jay Northup lit the fuse for the intended climax of his backyard fireworks display, a pricey 12-mortar box that would create a wondrous shower of glittering lights over his neighborhood. Three of the 12 tubes went off, and then silence. A dud. “I spent $600 on that, it’s going to work,” recalled Northup,… read on >
Doctors need not fear that sporting a tattoo might drive patients away. That’s the finding of a small, new study that included seven doctors in the emergency department of a trauma center in a large Pennsylvania city who wore either fake body piercings or tattoos, or both, or no body art. The researchers surveyed nearly… read on >
Medicines that protect pets from fleas and ticks may help lower people’s risk of mosquito-borne diseases such as Zika, researchers report. “Insect-borne infectious diseases remain primary causes of severe illnesses and fatalities worldwide, and new approaches to preventing outbreaks of these diseases are critically needed,” said researcher Peter Schultz, chief executive officer of Calibr and… read on >
Working lots of overtime may get you appreciation from the boss, but it might be bad for your health. New research suggests that women who clock 45 or more hours a week have a higher risk of type 2 diabetes than women who log 35 to 40 hours weekly. The study authors aren’t sure why… read on >
Get up off of the couch: Sitting too much may kill you even if you exercise regularly. If you sit for six hours a day or more, your risk of dying early jumps 19 percent, compared with people who sit fewer than three hours, an American Cancer Society study suggests. And, the study authors added,… read on >
Taking time off reduces many workers’ stress and re-energizes them, but those benefits disappear once they’re on the job again, researchers say. Moreover, many people said they’re unable to relax and enjoy their time away from the office at all, according to a new poll of more than 1,500 American adults who work full- or… read on >
More than 2 million people take a blood thinner regularly, the U.S. Agency for Healthcare Research and Quality says. The medication is prescribed to help prevent blood clots. They put you at greater risk of heart attack and stroke. The agency suggests: Always take a blood thinner as directed by your doctor. Never skip a… read on >
During the summer when people trade in their jackets and jeans for flip flops and bathing suits, more skin is exposed to the sun’s harmful UV rays. Dr. Katherine Gordon, assistant professor of dermatology at UT Southwestern Medical Center in Dallas, said summer is the perfect time for people to get in the habit of… read on >
Sticking with one primary care doctor may help you stay healthy and extend your life, according to a new British study. Researchers reviewed 22 studies from nine countries with different cultures and health systems. Of those, 18 concluded that staying with the same doctor over time significantly reduced early deaths, compared with switching doctors. “Currently,… read on >
The National Safety Council has a sobering forecast for this Fourth of July. It estimates that 18,600 people could be seriously injured on U.S. roads and 164 could be killed — nearly 4 percent more than the number of deaths (157) that occurred in 2012, the last time July 4 fell on Wednesday. “Independence Day… read on >
