Heart disease is the leading cause of death among women in the United States, the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention says. About one in four women is predicted to die from heart disease, the agency laments. As women age, their risk rises. But the Food and Drug Administration says there are things women can… read on >
Starting college can be daunting, but there are a number of things new students can do to ease into this experience, a psychologist suggests. “As freshman — and their parents — begin the first semester of college, it’s important to realize that not all learning takes place in the classroom,” said Luis Manzo, executive director… read on >
LGBT people in the United States are more likely than their straight counterparts to be poor, and this is especially true for women, a new study says. Wealth plays a key role in health and well-being, and it’s one factor in the poorer health for this group that could be changed, according to the researchers.… read on >
Though psoriasis is not contagious, many Americans shun people with the skin condition, new research indicates. The study included a cross-section of about 400 Americans who viewed images of people with visible psoriasis. Large numbers wrongly thought psoriasis was contagious or only affects the skin, and about one-third said they wouldn’t want to invite people… read on >
U.S. voters’ despair over poor health and premature deaths might have tipped the 2016 presidential election in Donald Trump’s favor, a new analysis argues. Counties that voted Republican more heavily had a 15 percent higher age-adjusted death rate than counties that voted heavily Democratic, researchers found. In particular, counties that shifted toward Trump had much… read on >
No one looks forward to surgery, but if you’re able to have an elective procedure — meaning on your schedule — rather than an emergency operation, taking certain steps in the weeks beforehand will lead to a better outcome and easier recovery. Work on getting healthier through aerobic exercise, which improves lung function by expanding… read on >
Your parents’ jobs likely had a strong influence on what you do for a living, according to a study that questions the belief in social mobility in the United States. “A lot of Americans think the U.S. has more social mobility than other western industrialized countries. This makes it abundantly clear that we have less,”… read on >
Even low levels of air pollution can pose a threat to the lungs of cigarette smokers, researchers say. They tested 29 nonsmokers, 71 smokers without lung disease, and 58 smokers with the lung condition chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD). The study found that the lungs of both groups of smokers could be harmed by levels… read on >
Playtime is important to any child, especially one that is under pressure and stressed, the American Academy of Pediatrics says. Playtime is a brain-building activity that’s a healthy and necessary part of childhood development, the academy adds. The group offers this advice to parents, doctors and educators: Doctors should encourage playful learning by writing a… read on >
All children 6 months of age and older should have a flu shot, the American Academy of Pediatrics (AAP) says. A flu shot significantly reduces a child’s risk of severe illness and flu-related death, according to the policy statement published online Sept. 3 in the journal Pediatrics. “The flu virus is common — and unpredictable.… read on >
