Getting a pet can improve not only your emotional outlook but your physical health as well, the U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention says. The CDC says furry companions have been shown to trigger these health improvements: Decreased blood pressure. Decreased cholesterol. Decreased triglycerides. Reduced feelings of loneliness. Greater exposure to social activities and… read on >
The joyous holidays may end up being a nightmare if a child gets hurt during the festivities. The American Academy of Pediatrics suggests how to keep little ones safe: Clean up immediately after a holiday party. A toddler could choke on leftover food or come in contact with alcohol or tobacco. Keep in mind that… read on >
As challenging as it can be to raise a child with attention deficit hyperactivity disorder (ADHD), new research offers biological evidence that calm, positive parenting may help these kids master their own emotions and behaviors. The study was conducted with parents of preschool children with the developmental disorder. The physiological effects of using compliments and… read on >
Despite safety warnings from drug regulators, some U.S. children are still being given a risky painkiller after having their tonsils removed, a new study finds. At issue is the opioid painkiller codeine. In 2013, the U.S. Food and Drug Administration issued a “black box” warning, advising doctors against prescribing codeine to children to control tonsillectomy… read on >
Don’t want to look old before your time? A new study suggests that heavy drinking and smoking — besides posing serious health risks — make people look older than they actually are. The research tracked more than 11,500 Danish adults, aged 21 to 93, for an average of nearly 12 years. Women consumed, on average,… read on >
Having a father with depression may put teens at a heightened risk for the mental health problem, a new study suggests. Previous research had linked depression in mothers and in their children. But according to the investigators, this is the first study to find such an association between fathers and their children, independent of whether… read on >
States that expanded Medicaid under the Affordable Care Act saw a greater increase in low-income adults who quit smoking than did states that did not expand Medicaid, a new study found. Under the health care act, states that expanded Medicaid had to offer services to help people quit smoking. About 30 percent of low-income adults… read on >
Simple steps can help keep you from being sidelined by a sports injury. First, make it a rule to bookend every workout with a warm-up and a cool-down. The warm-up is meant to increase your heart rate and blood flow to muscles. Start with some light cardio, like brisk walking, for your warm-up. After 3… read on >
The top two medications used to treat opioid addiction appear equally safe and effective, a new study finds. With the United States in the midst of an unprecedented opioid crisis, researchers conducted a head-to-head trial of two leading addiction treatments — naltrexone (Vivitrol) and buprenorphine-naloxone (Suboxone). “The newer drug, naltrexone, was as effective in keeping… read on >
Type 2 diabetes may increase the risk for an aggressive type of breast cancer among black women in the United States, a new study finds. Researchers from Boston University analyzed data from more than 54,000 black women who were cancer-free at the start of the study. During the next 18 years, 914 women were diagnosed… read on >
