A young child who has chronic anxiety may have trouble learning, Harvard University researchers say. Fears of the dark, monsters or strangers are common and are considered normal and usually temporary. But when fears extend to physical, sexual or emotional abuse, they can affect a child’s developing brain, the researchers noted. The school’s Center on… read on >
Smoking and drinking often go hand-in-hand, stimulating pleasure centers in the brain. But there’s even more to this unhealthy relationship than meets the eye. Researchers have found that nicotine in cigarettes cancels out the sleepiness caused by alcohol, basically allowing people to keep drinking … and smoking. The two vices feed off of each other.… read on >
People who’ve suffered major traumatic injuries are at much greater risk for mental health problems and suicide, a new study finds. Researchers analyzed data from more than 19,000 people in the Canadian province of Ontario who suffered serious injuries. Most of the injuries (89 percent) were accidental rather than intentional (for example, car crashes and… read on >
If the last flu season is any indication, you need to take steps now to protect yourself against infection, an infectious diseases expert warns. The 2017-2018 flu season in the United States was the worst since the U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention began tracking the severity of annual flu seasons. There were nearly… read on >
Women confused by the conflicting advice surrounding the benefits and timing of mammograms will be interested in a new study out of Sweden. The research, involving more than 50,000 breast cancer patients, found that those who took part in a breast cancer screening program had a 60 percent lower risk of dying from the disease… read on >
The U.S. Food and Drug Administration will soon announce a ban on sales of most flavored electronic cigarettes in retail stores and gas stations across the United States, according to media reports. It’s all part of the FDA’s efforts to reduce teens’ use of flavored e-cigarettes, long thought to be especially alluring to young people… read on >
The #MeToo movement has given many Americans a glimpse into an unfamiliar world that may have left many wondering, “What were they thinking?” It turns out they might not have been thinking much at all. New research suggests that almost 9 percent of people in the United States have distress caused by difficulty controlling their… read on >
If you think your face is a bit lopsided, just wait until you get older. New research shows that differences between the two sides of your face increase with age. For the study, scientists used 3-D digital imaging to scan the faces of 191 people, aged 4 months to 88 years, to assess how facial… read on >
Smoking, diabetes, high blood pressure: all bad for the heart, but perhaps worse for women’s hearts than men’s, new research shows. Looking at data on 472,000 Britons ages 40 to 69, researchers found that all three of these heart disease risk factors increased the odds of heart attack for both sexes. But the rise in… read on >
The HPV vaccine protects against human papillomavirus, which has been shown to cause cancer in males and females, the American Cancer Society says. More than 270 million doses have been administered since 2006, reports the society, saying studies have shown the vaccine is safe. The society adds: The HPV vaccination is for boys and girls.… read on >
