Holidays, and all of the chocolate goodies that come with the celebrations, can be particularly dangerous for dogs, researchers warn. Chocolate contains a stimulant called theobromine, which is similar to caffeine. In dogs, it can cause vomiting, increased heart rate, agitation and seizures. In their study, British researchers discovered that dogs were over four times… read on >
The hustle and bustle of the holiday season often demands spending too much time on your feet. The American Podiatric Medical Association suggests these remedies: Moisturizefeet daily to help avoid dry, cracked and irritated skin. Raise, point and curl your toes throughout the day. Get a foot rub, which is a great way to release… read on >
As time gets tight for holiday gift-buying, you might have an urge to grab whatever’s still on the shelf. But when it comes to toys, keep safety in mind, health experts say. The first step is to check the age recommendation on the toy’s label. “Parents often think their child will ‘grow into’ a toy,… read on >
Faced with hectic holiday schedules, parents often ask family and friends to pitch in and babysit their children. But many parents fail to provide critical information about what to do in an emergency, a new survey finds. Less than half of parents with children aged 5 and under posted emergency contact information, such as parents’… read on >
Colorful lights and candles can make the holidays sparkle, but child safety should be a priority when decking the halls or trimming a tree, a leading pediatricians’ group says. Christmas trees adorn many homes during the holidays but they can pose fire and other safety hazards if certain precautions aren’t taken, the American Academy of… read on >
All-nighters are a favorite pastime for many college kids who cram for exams at the last minute. But the resulting lack of sleep is anything but healthy, the National Sleep Foundation says. The foundation says doing an all-nighter may: Make you forgetful. Lead to weight gain. Affect your mood. Affect your circadian rhythm, the 24-hour… read on >
Carefully targeted deep brain stimulation might one day enhance long-term memory, a small study suggests. The experiment involved just 14 epilepsy patients, all of whom had undergone an invasive procedure to insert electrodes deep within their brains as a means of identifying the source of future seizures. Taking advantage of the opportunity, the researchers asked… read on >
It’s safe for people with an egg allergy to get a flu shot, says a leading U.S. allergists’ group. Doctors no longer need to question patients about egg allergy before giving the vaccine, according to an updated guideline from the American College of Allergy, Asthma and Immunology. “When someone gets a flu shot, health care… read on >
Medical science has failed to prove that any treatment, therapy or brain exercise can help prevent dementias such as Alzheimer’s disease, an extensive new review has concluded. No medications, over-the-counter remedies or brain training programs have been proven in solid clinical trials to ward off dementia, researchers with the Minnesota Evidence-Based Practice Center in Minneapolis… read on >
They may be touted as relatively harmless, but rubber and plastic bullets can cause serious injury and death, and should not be used when riots occur, researchers say. These types of bullets — widely used by police, military and security forces to disperse crowds — are meant to incapacitate people by causing pain or injury.… read on >
