Older Americans dramatically reduced their risks for heart attack and stroke over a recent 20-year period, a new analysis finds. The likely reason: greater use of drugs to control cholesterol and blood pressure, as well as a decline in smoking, according to researchers from the University of Southern California. The benefits were seen in both… read on >
Women who have a baby with a congenital heart defect may face a heightened risk of heart disease years later, a large study suggests. Researchers found that among more than 1 million women, those who’d given birth to a baby with a heart defect were up to 43 percent more likely to be hospitalized for… read on >
Planning a move in the future? You might want to make sure there are parks nearby. Research suggests that people who live near parks and green space are happier and healthier. For instance, one study in the journal Health & Place looked at the relationship between parks and various health factors among women in the… read on >
Your pet may be at risk for getting sick if you use raw pet food, the U.S. Food and Drug Administration says. Pet owners also are at risk of getting sick if they handle food that may be contaminated, the agency adds. If you must feed your pet raw food, the FDA suggests: Wash your… read on >
Women with dark, coarse hair growth on the face, chest or back should be tested for polycystic ovary syndrome and other underlying health problems, a new Endocrine Society guideline says. Hirsutism — the growth of unwanted hair in places where men typically grow hair, such as the face or chest — affects between 5 and… read on >
Medical care costs in the United States can be so overwhelming that Americans fear the cost of treatment more than the illness itself, a new poll shows. “It’s shocking and unacceptable that medical bills strike more fear in the hearts of Americans than serious illness,” said Shelley Lyford. She is president and CEO of West… read on >
Even though they know it’s dangerous, many American drivers still talk on a cellphone or text while behind the wheel, a new survey finds. In fact, the number of drivers who say they talk regularly or fairly often on their cellphone while driving has actually risen 46 percent since 2013, the pollsters say. More than… read on >
Parents annoyed by the loud music that their teens listen to might have good reason to worry. About 20 percent of American kids aged 12 to 19 have some degree of hearing loss, a national survey found. And, according to the World Health Organization, 50 percent of people up to age 35 are at risk… read on >
The U.S. Food and Drug Administration’s decision late last year to delay a review of electronic cigarettes and cigars is unlawful and a threat to public health, according to a lawsuit launched by seven medical and public health groups, as well as five individual pediatricians. According to the groups, the FDA’s decision to delay the… read on >
Most people today simply aren’t as active as people were decades ago. You can blame technology for some of that. The conveniences of modern living have taken away many chances to burn calories. Homes, office buildings and even some public spaces have been modernized in ways that require people to be less physically active throughout… read on >
