People caring for a loved one with Alzheimer’s or other types of dementia should focus on four main safety issues, an expert says. Nearly 6 million Americans have Alzheimer’s disease, according to the Alzheimer’s Association. About 16.1 million Americans provide unpaid care for people with Alzheimer’s or other dementias. “When approaching dementia families, I follow… read on >
The holidays can be a particularly difficult time for people with food allergies. But one health expert suggests that these folks can still enjoy festive gatherings, as long as they take certain precautions. About 5 percent of children and 4 percent of adults in the United States have a food allergy, according to the U.S.… read on >
Nasal irrigation systems, sometimes called neti pots, use a saltwater solution to help tame congested sinuses. The devices, when used properly, can help moisten dried and swollen nasal passages. But if misused or improperly cleaned, they can also lead to infection, the U.S. Food and Drug Administration warns. The FDA suggests using only distilled, sterile… read on >
How quickly children pick up language skills may help predict their IQ in middle age, a new Danish study suggests. The researchers found a significant association between IQ test results at age 50 and the speed at which participants achieved a number of developmental milestones in childhood. “Most studies of the relationship between the speed… read on >
Older heart attack patients who are frail are at increased risk for bleeding when being treated, a new study finds. Researchers analyzed data from more than 129,000 heart attack patients older than 65 who were treated at 775 U.S. hospitals between early 2015 and late 2016. Those who were frail had a 50 percent higher… read on >
When a child gets the flu, it usually doesn’t require professional medical treatment, but the illness can make your child very uncomfortable. Here are suggestions on how to ease the flu’s misery, courtesy of the Nemours Foundation: Make sure your child drinks plenty of liquids. To encourage her to drink, offer her frozen fruit drinks… read on >
Does your teenager’s personality actually predict how long he or she will live? Yes, claims new research that finds high school students who tend to be calm, empathetic and intellectually curious are more likely to still be alive 50 years later than their peers who are less so. The finding does not prove that certain… read on >
Smoking bans in public places might protect more than the lungs of nonsmokers, with new research suggesting a beneficial effect on blood pressure. “We found that nonsmoking adults in the study who lived in areas with smoke-free laws in restaurants, bars or workplaces had lower systolic [top number] blood pressure by the end of the… read on >
The advent of the e-cigarette appears to have spurred a huge drop in tobacco smoking rates among teenagers and young adults, a new study claims. Previous research has argued that vaping could prove to be a gateway drug for smoking, by getting youngsters hooked on nicotine and used to the physical actions associated with smoking.… read on >
Bronchitis is inflammation of the bronchial tubes that carry air into your lungs. When these tubes become infected, they swell and become lined with mucus, making it more difficult to breathe. Symptoms may include cough, sore throat, fever, chest congestion and shortness of breath. The American Academy of Family Physicians describes how to help treat… read on >
