Poor sleep increases your risk of health problems, such as cardiovascular disease, high blood pressure, diabetes, depression and obesity, the U.S. National Institute on Aging says. Poor sleep also has been linked to memory problems and increased risk of falls, the agency adds. You should aim for at least seven hours of quality sleep each… read on >
You need iron to make hemoglobin, the part of each red blood cell that carries oxygen throughout the body. More women than men are iron-deficient, which is common during pregnancy. You have iron-deficiency anemia when your body does not make enough healthy red blood cells or the blood cells do not work properly. This can… read on >
If your child is among the 10 percent of kids with asthma, you want to do everything you can to control it. Start by working with your child’s allergist to identify his or her unique asthma triggers and ways to avoid them. Common asthma triggers include: Secondhand smoke from cigarettes, wood-burning stoves and campfires, Pet… read on >
Sinusitis occurs when the lining of the hollow passages in your cheeks, forehead or below your eyes become inflamed. When swelling persists for more than two weeks, it may signal a sinus infection. The American Rhinologic Association mentions these typical symptoms of sinusitis: Nasal obstruction or congestion. Thick and discolored drainage. Decreased senses of smell… read on >
A persistent cough may transmit an illness and keep you up at night, but there are things you can do to help tame your discomfort, the U.S. National Library of Medicine says. A cough may be triggered by conditions including asthma, allergy, the common cold, a lung infection and sinusitis with postnasal drip. The agency… read on >
Your pet rat could make you very sick by transmitting a virus that’s newly emerged in North America, U.S. health officials warn. Seoul virus is a rat-borne hantavirus that typically causes symptoms that resemble the flu — fever, headache, muscle pain. In rare cases infection can lead to hospitalization with hemorrhagic fever and kidney failure.… read on >
A colonoscopy can save your life by detecting and removing colon cancer, but it might also trigger appendicitis, a new study suggests. Experts aren’t sure exactly why that happens, and, fortunately, it’s rare. And it shouldn’t stop you from getting a colonoscopy, according to lead researcher Dr. Marc Basson. “Having a colonoscopy, or something about… read on >
Many women who develop severe pre-eclampsia during pregnancy have undetected high blood pressure in the year after they give birth, a Dutch study contends. Pre-eclampsia, which is the development of high blood pressure and elevated protein in the urine during pregnancy, occurs in 3 to 5 percent of pregnancies in developed nations. Left untreated, it… read on >
X-rays have led to countless improvements in diagnosing and treating broken bones and other conditions. But they’re not without risks. Although the U.S. Food and Drug Administration says such risks are “small when compared to the benefits that [X-rays] can provide,” the agency says efforts should be made to prevent unneeded exposure to ionizing radiation.… read on >
Scarlet fever, also known as scarlatina, is a bacterial infection caused by “group a” streptococcus. There is no vaccine, and the disease is typically treated with a round of antibiotics. Possible symptoms to watch for are a red rash, fever, sore throat, redness in the underarms and groin, a whiteish tongue, swollen glands and body… read on >
