In cities, the chances of being bitten by mosquitoes varies according to neighborhood income — and middle-class residents may be at greatest risk. That’s the upshot of a study done in Baltimore, where researchers spent two years analyzing DNA from mosquitoes’ stomachs. They found that in low-income neighborhoods, rats were the preferred “blood meal” for… read on >
Something like this has happened to most of us: You wake up, wide awake, only to discover that it’s 3 a.m. Suddenly your mind fills with worry about how hard tomorrow will be if you don’t get more sleep. The problem is, you toss and turn and can’t get back to sleep. What to do?… read on >
Forget what a hot chili pepper can do to your stomach: A new case report suggests that eating some of the hottest ones may give you a headache that can send you to the emergency room. A young man was taking part in a hot chili pepper eating contest and ate a particularly potent type… read on >
As spring approaches and the weather warms, you should be thinking about window safety and how to prevent falls and fire hazards. The National Safety Council suggests: Never paint or nail a window shut. Do not install an air conditioner in a window that may be needed for escape during a fire. All window guards,… read on >
If you aren’t getting enough sleep, you’ll probably feel very tired during the day. And you may not feel alert and refreshed when you wake up. While everyone has a sleepless night now and then, chronic lack of sleep can lead to a host of medical problems and should be discussed with your doctor, the… read on >
People struggling with COPD might find some relief in an ancient art. The centuries-old practice of tai chi appears to boost the exercise capabilities and the quality of life of those with chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD), a study from Chinese and British researchers suggests. COPD is a chronic, debilitating and largely incurable form of… read on >
Parents who read to their infants and toddlers may help them develop skills that pay big dividends when they start school, a new study suggests. Specifically, reading aloud and pretend play may offset disruptive behaviors — such as hyperactivity and aggression — and improve attention, researchers found. “When you read with your child, it’s really… read on >
Staying physically fit can help ward off heart trouble, even if your genetics put you at higher risk for clogged arteries, a new, large study suggests. The researchers looked at nearly 500,000 middle-aged and older adults and found those with higher fitness levels were less likely to develop heart disease over six years. And that… read on >
Young baseball pitchers are at risk for overuse injuries, but there are ways to reduce that risk, a sports medicine expert says. “Pitching year-round, inadequate rest between seasons and pitching in multiple leagues all have been linked to an increase in elbow and arm injuries,” said Dr. Eric Makhni. He’s a physician and surgeon at… read on >
When it comes to lowering high blood pressure, exercising is pretty much the last thing people want to do, a new survey shows. Much more preferable was popping a pill or sipping a cup of tea every day, the poll of 1,400 people found. The Yale researchers asked what treatment or intervention appealed the most,… read on >
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