The Affordable Care Act might have done more than provide more Americans with health insurance: New research suggests accompanying expansions in Medicaid may be linked to higher numbers of low-income people having jobs or going to school. That’s what happened after Michigan expanded its Medicaid under new rules from the Affordable Care Act. Researchers surveyed…  read on >

Despite spending far more on health care than other wealthy nations, the United States has the lowest life expectancy and the highest suicide rate, new research shows. For the study, researchers at The Commonwealth Fund compared the United States with 10 other high-income nations in the Organization for Economic Cooperation and Development (OECD) — Australia,…  read on >

Whether you’re stopping at a casual fast-food place or sitting down to eat in a full-service restaurant, eating out is an easy way to fill up when you’re hungry. But those meals may not deliver much nutritional value, a new study suggests. The researchers found that 70% of fast-food meals consumed in the United States…  read on >

Students have better focus in class if teachers praise them for being good rather than scolding them for being bad, according to a new study. Researchers spent three years observing more than 2,500 students in 19 elementary schools across Missouri, Tennessee and Utah. The children came from 151 classes from kindergarten through grade 6. The…  read on >

Before you throw any leftovers away, heed new research that suggests the choice could hit you right in your pocketbook. It turns out that almost one-third of food in American households goes to waste, costing each household thousands of dollars a year, researchers report. “Our findings are consistent with previous studies, which have shown that…  read on >

Swearing is a common behavior for adolescents, says the American Academy of Pediatrics. Children and teens often use profanity to impress friends and shock parents. To help manage swearing your child’s swearing, the academy suggests: Establish a rule that there is no swearing allowed in the house. Do not respond to a child’s profanity with…  read on >

While working out might boost your health and mood, it also might cause your skin to break out. But don’t kick your New Year’s resolutions to the curb just yet, because dermatologists say that exercise-induced acne can be prevented. Experts from the American Academy of Dermatology explained that hitting the gym can cause oil, dirt…  read on >

An immune system that’s not functioning normally may lead to lung cancer in patients who don’t smoke, a new study suggests. “A strong immune system helps to keep inflammation under control and chronic inflammation is known to promote cancer,” said co-author Rayjean Hung. “Our research suggests that it’s underlying dysfunction of immune regulation that can…  read on >

This flu season is hitting children particularly hard, but new research shows that a flu shot is still well worth it for these youngest patients. Getting vaccinated halved the risk of hospitalization for flu-related complications among young kids, scientists found. The researchers analyzed vaccination data from more than 3,700 children, ages 6 months to 8…  read on >