A blood test may seem like a simple thing, but it can do so much. It can diagnose disease, reveal how well your organs work and whether a course of treatment is effective or not, experts say. Some blood tests require patients to fast before the blood is drawn. It’s crucial that you avoid eating… read on >
Parents of budding teens can breathe a little easier: A new study says adolescent “sexting” is not an epidemic. On the other hand, it’s not disappearing, either, despite campaigns to curb it. “Sexting is perceived as an epidemic because the news highlights extreme cases that involve tragic outcomes, and because it goes against standards of… read on >
Exposure therapy is a psychological treatment developed to help people confront their fears, says the American Psychological Association (APA). When people are fearful of things, they tend to avoid what frightens them. With exposure therapy, psychologists create an environment to expose people to the things they fear. Exposure therapy has been shown to help phobias,… read on >
Many older men take testosterone to boost their sex drive, but new research suggests that postmenopausal women who struggle with a sagging libido might want to follow suit. Applied topically, the hormone appears to increase women’s sexual function and satisfaction, according to a new review of 36 clinical trials involving nearly 8,500 women. Women naturally… read on >
Turns out that the old adage — an apple a day keeps the doctor away — may actually be true. New research suggests that the more plant foods you eat, the lower your risk of type 2 diabetes. People who ate a mostly plant-based diet reduced their risk of diabetes by 23%, the study found.… read on >
The danger that air pollution poses to the hearts and lungs of adults is well-documented, but new research suggests that newborns are also at risk. Infants of mothers who were exposed to high levels of air pollution in the week before giving birth were more likely to end up in the newborn intensive care unit… read on >
A phobia is an anxiety disorder that produces a strong, irrational fear of something that poses little danger, says the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services. Phobias can range from a fear of highway driving to a fear of blood. When people are anxious and extremely self-conscious in social situations, they may have a… read on >
Lots of kids are picky eaters. But when eating habits in young children are extreme, it could be a sign of autism, researchers say. A new study finds atypical eating behaviors — such as hypersensitivity to food textures or pocketing food without swallowing — in 70% of kids with autism. That’s 15 times the rate… read on >
Plastic surgery is no longer the sole domain of women, and men now have even more incentive to try a little nip-and-tuck on their faces: New research suggests they look more attractive and trustworthy to others. The study included 24 men, average age 49 years, who had one or more of the following procedures: upper… read on >
The sugar substitute xylitol may help you lose weight, but it can be deadly for your dog, the U.S. Food and Drug Administration warns. Xylitol is present in many human foods and other products, and the FDA’s Center for Veterinary Medicine has received a number of reports over the past several years of dogs being… read on >
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