Widely practiced in Asia for thousands of years, acupuncture is one of the key components of traditional Chinese medicine. Yet it’s still viewed with some skepticism in the Western world. And for the squeamish, just the idea of needles can be a turnoff. But, depending on what ails you, it might bear trying. Acupuncture uses… read on >
The very air you breathe may make you vulnerable to developing dementia, a new study suggests. British researchers found that people exposed to higher levels of air pollution had 40 percent higher odds of developing dementia. “We found that older patients across greater London who were living in areas with higher air pollution were more… read on >
A new approach to preventing gout attacks looks promising for people not already helped by existing treatments. Researchers are looking at an anti-inflammatory drug called canakinumab (Ilaris) to treat this painful form of arthritis. Instead of targeting excessively high uric acid levels as existing gout drugs do, the new strategy aims to reduce overall inflammation.… read on >
Many American teens are sleep-deprived, and parents blame their attachment to electronics, new survey results show. Researchers at the University of Michigan conducted a national poll of more than 1,000 parents with at least one child between 13 and 18 years old. “This poll suggests that sleep problems are common among teens and parents believe… read on >
Attention-deficit hyperactivity disorder (ADHD) makes it difficult for a person — most often a child — to pay attention and stay focused. A child with ADHD can be a more impulsive, which can lead to issues with learning and maintaining friendships. If your child is diagnosed with ADHD, he or she may have difficulty organizing… read on >
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 >
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 >
