If you’re happy and you know it, so will a goat. New research suggests that goats can read people’s facial expressions and prefer those who appear happy. The study included 20 goats that were shown pairs of images of the same person’s face with happy or angry expressions. The goats were more likely to interact… read on >
It’s the dieter’s tug-of-war: the need to lose weight versus the urge to eat high-calorie foods. Scientists say the easy availability of sweets and other treats has made the desire for them stronger over time. Couple that with a sedentary lifestyle that burns fewer and fewer calories, and battling the bulge is that much harder.… read on >
Parents of a child with epilepsy may be preoccupied with keeping the child safe during the school day. The U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention offers these suggestions: Develop an action plan so that teachers and school officials know what to do in the event of a seizure or similar emergency. Contact the Epilepsy… read on >
THURSDAY, Aug. 30, 2018Experiments in mice have shown that an implanted electronic device in the brain can detect — and deliver drugs to stop — impending epileptic seizures. Potentially, a similar device might help people with epilepsy, Parkinson’s disease and brain tumors who have failed standard treatment. So far, the technology is in the very… read on >
Kids should ride in rear-facing car safety seats until they reach the highest height and weight their seat can hold, a leading pediatricians’ group now says. The previous advice from the American Academy of Pediatrics was to stop using a rear-facing seat when a child was 2 years old. “Fortunately, car seat manufacturers have created… read on >
People with sleep apnea have higher chances of developing gout, a new study suggests. Researchers analyzed data on nearly 16,000 people with sleep apnea and more than 63,000 people without apnea who were followed for a median of nearly six years. (Half were followed longer, half for less time.) Overall, 4.9 percent of sleep apnea… read on >
Exposure to toxic metals such as arsenic, lead, copper and cadmium is associated with an increased risk of cardiovascular and heart disease, researchers report. Their analysis of 37 studies that included nearly 350,000 people linked arsenic exposure to a 23 percent increased risk of coronary heart disease and a 30 percent increased risk of cardiovascular… read on >
Low back pain is a common health complaint. And if it sidelines you for too long, it can lead to weight gain, a loss in your fitness level and keep you from doing things you love. But not moving isn’t the answer — specific exercises can help you get back to everyday activities. If you’re… read on >
A sty is a swollen, painful bump that forms on the edge of the eyelid. Although it causes some discomfort, it typically isn’t serious and is easy to treat. A sty can produce discharge, tearing, crusting on the eyelid and a scratchy feeling in the eye. A sty usually goes away in seven-to-10 days with… read on >
Teens who drink or smoke already have stiffening arteries, and the risk is highest for those who are both heavy smokers and heavy drinkers, a new study reports. Arterial stiffening is a sign of blood vessel damage that increases the chances for heart attack and stroke later in life. The good news is that teens… read on >
