Croup tends to occur between 3 months and 5 years of age, the American Academy of Pediatrics says. Most common in autumn and winter, it causes swelling of the voice box and windpipe. This leads to a bark-like cough. Most instances of croup resolve on their own, but occasionally it can lead to complications that… read on >
Students who use electronic cigarettes by the time they start ninth grade are more likely to start smoking traditional cigarettes and use other tobacco products within a year, according to a new study by the National Institutes of Health published in the Journal of the American Medical Association. The study looked at 222 9th graders… read on >
Robots work on assembly lines and assist doctors in the operating room. They manage inventory in warehouses and vacuum floors in homes. And one day soon, they could help care for Alzheimer’s patients. Several teams of scientists from around the world are investigating ways in which robots might help manage the daily living tasks of… read on >
Student athletes who specialize in one sport year-round could lose out in academics and other fields, a new study finds. “Today’s students have so many responsibilities and when you add specializing in a sport — with participation in school and club teams, practices, tournaments and lots of travel — there just aren’t enough hours in… read on >
People believed to have a penicillin allergy are often prescribed much stronger antibiotics that can raise their risk for dangerous infections, a new study suggests. But testing folks to make sure they really are allergic to penicillin could lower that danger, the researchers added. “We know that more than 95 percent of patients with an… read on >
People who party hard in their 20s could wind up paying for it later with a higher risk of heart disease, a new study suggests. Young adults who binge drink are more likely to have heart risk factors such as high blood pressure, elevated cholesterol levels and higher blood sugar levels, researchers found. “They are… read on >
Has that week-old yogurt really gone bad? Did the chicken you bought just three days ago already spoil? Your smartphone might one day be able to tell you, new research suggests. A group of scientists is developing a portable, inexpensive and easy-to-use electronic tag to send wireless alerts to smartphones when a telltale gas is… read on >
The actual number of opioid overdose deaths in several U.S. states is likely far higher than death certificates suggest, a new study says. Incomplete reporting of overdose deaths can hamper efforts to fight the nation’s opioid epidemic, according to the University of Pittsburgh researchers. They said that as many as 70,000 opioid overdose deaths were… read on >
Slow down and savor your ice cream sundae or smoothie — it’s the best way to prevent the dreaded head pain commonly known as “brain freeze.” “When you consume cold foods or drinks too fast, it cools down the carotid artery located just behind your jawline. Doing that chills the blood going to your brain,”… read on >
Using an artificial pancreas can help hospitalized patients with type 2 diabetes maintain good blood sugar control, a new study suggests. That’s important because when diabetes isn’t managed well, high blood sugar levels can lengthen hospital stays and increase the risk of complications and even death, the researchers said. The artificial pancreas — an automated… read on >
