Want to keep your unused medicines out of the hands of others? You can safely dispose of dangerous expired and unwanted prescription drugs on Take Back Day, this Saturday, April 28. Americans are in the midst of an epidemic of opioid drug abuse, and “medicines that languish in home cabinets are highly susceptible to diversion,… read on >
Hit-and-run deaths in the United States reached a record high in 2016, a new report shows. “Hit-and-run crashes in the United States are trending in the wrong direction,” said David Yang, executive director of the AAA Foundation for Traffic Safety. “Our analysis shows that hit-and-run crashes are a growing traffic safety challenge and the AAA… read on >
If you need an emergency operation, you’re in safer hands with an older surgeon, new research suggests. “These findings provide evidence of a learning curve in surgical practice that has a meaningful impact on patients’ outcomes,” said lead researcher Dr. Yusuke Tsugawa. He’s with the UCLA David Geffen School of Medicine’s division of general internal… read on >
Regular exercise can reduce your risk of depression, no matter what your age or where you live, research suggests. In a new study, an international team of researchers analyzed data from 49 studies that included nearly 267,000 people in North America, Europe and Oceania. The study participants did not have any mental illnesses and were… read on >
Bad breath affects more than 40 million Americans, the American Dental Hygienists’ Association says. Routine dental cleanings can help limit buildup of plaque, which can reduce bad breath. The association suggests these additional bad-breath preventives: Rinse your mouth with water after eating. Chew sugarless gum to stimulate flow of saliva — nature’s own cleanser. Snack… read on >
Your cellphone puts the world at your fingertips, but it can wreak havoc with your neck. There’s even a name for the pain you get when looking down at your screen — “text neck” — and it can cause problems along the entire length of your spine. Bending your head forward multiplies the amount of… read on >
People who drink more than the recommended daily limit of alcohol may harbor an unhealthy mix of bacteria in their mouths, a new study suggests. Researchers found that compared with nondrinkers, those who drank relatively heavily had fewer “good” bacteria in their mouths. They were also hosting more “bad” bacteria — including bugs that have… read on >
Heading the ball — not player collisions — may lead to temporary thinking declines in soccer players, a new study finds. “Unintentional head impacts are generally considered the most common cause of diagnosed concussions in soccer, so it’s understandable that current prevention efforts aim at minimizing those collisions,” said study author Dr. Michael Lipton. He… read on >
Leg cramps are a common symptom of pregnancy, often occurring at night. Cramps typically occur only for a short time, but they can be very uncomfortable, the Nemours Foundation says. The Foundation suggests how to ease the pain and reduce the frequency of cramps during pregnancy: Do calf stretches before bed. Make sure not to… read on >
Following an enormous jump in children’s exposures to toxic liquid nicotine from electronic cigarettes, the rate dropped in just one year, new research reveals. But too many young kids are still being exposed to liquid nicotine, experts say. Among cases that ended up in the emergency department, 93 percent had swallowed the substance. The annual… read on >
