As a tool to reduce the public health toll of drinking, higher taxes on alcohol get the most bang for the buck, a new study finds. Worldwide, more than 4 percent of diseases and 5 percent of deaths are directly linked with alcohol, previous research suggests. In this study, researchers looked at data from 16… read on >
People who have frequent recurrences of a common skin cancer may be at increased risk of a range of other cancers, a new study suggests. Researchers found the heightened risk among patients who’d had many bouts of basal cell carcinoma (BCC) — a highly treatable form of skin cancer diagnosed in over 3 million Americans… read on >
Feelings of stress and anxiety can make it difficult to cope with everyday life. The Anxiety and Depression Association of America offers these suggestions: Accept that you can’t control everything. Avoid focusing on perfection. Keep a positive attitude. Identify what triggers your anxiety. Limit alcohol and caffeine. Eat a healthy, balanced diet. Get enough sleep.… read on >
Attention guys: Your tighty whities may not be doing your sperm any favors. Men who wear tight-fitting briefs have sperm counts that suffer in comparison to men who wear boxers, according to results from the largest study to date on the controversial topic. “Men who wore tighter underwear had lower sperm counts than men who… read on >
If you’re in your early 60s, becoming more active may reduce your risk of heart disease, researchers report. That’s especially true for women, they added. “The 60 to 64 age range represents an important transition between work and retirement, when lifestyle behaviors tend to change. It may, therefore, be an opportunity to promote increased physical… read on >
Human papillomavirus (HPV) vaccinations are effective for teen girls who didn’t get the recommended shots when they were 11 or 12, researchers report. The Kaiser Permanente study of more than 25,000 women aged 26 and younger found that those who got all three doses of the vaccinations between ages 14 and 20 were protected against… read on >
The widely used chemotherapy drug trastuzumab (Herceptin) can be life-saving for women with HER2-positive breast cancer, a particularly aggressive form of the disease. But new research now adds to mounting evidence that the treatment can take a toll on the heart, increasing the risk for heart failure. The complication is uncommon, and in many cases,… read on >
Photo-editing tools that make people look more perfect online than in real life may be a health threat, medical experts warn. The tidal wave of altered photos on social media is changing perceptions of beauty. And that can trigger a preoccupation with appearance that leads to risky efforts to hide perceived flaws, researchers suggest. Those… read on >
Emergency treatment rarely allows you much time to consider your options. But what about care that can be done on your timetable? There are many tools available to help you understand the pros and cons of nearly any procedure and — through an open discussion with your health-care provider — determine what’s best for you.… read on >
Be sure to put vaccinations on your children’s back-to-school lists, whether they’re just starting school or heading off to college, experts say. By protecting infants, children and teens from serious diseases, vaccinations also protect families, schools and communities. “The best way to treat diseases is to prevent them in the first place, and the diseases… read on >
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