News reports on suicides may be quickly followed by a bump in suicide rates — especially if they contain details that sensationalize the tragedy, a new study finds. The research adds to evidence of a phenomenon known as “suicide contagion.” It happens when vulnerable people identify with a person who died by suicide, and then… read on >
Exposure to bright light in the hour before bedtime can make it difficult for kids to fall asleep, family health experts warn. As day changes to night, the body increases production of a sleep-inducing hormone called melatonin. But exposure to artificial light from light bulbs or electronic devices can disrupt melatonin production, according to a… read on >
When you’re out having fun in the sun this summer, remember to take steps to prevent sunburn. Along with being painful, sunburns can cause lasting damage that can lead to a number of skin problems, including skin cancer, warned Dr. Suzanne Olbricht, chief of dermatology at Beth Israel Deaconess Medical Center in Boston. “The sun’s… read on >
College students might want to leave their smartphones and tablets behind when they head to a lecture, new research suggests. Otherwise, the distraction might translate into a lower grade on the final exam. For the study, researchers followed 118 cognitive psychology students at Rutgers University in New Jersey. For one term, electronic devices were banned… read on >
(HealthDay News) – Algae blooms include algae and cyanobacteria colonies that tend to form in rivers, lakes and ocean waters during warmer weather. In some cases they are just eyesores, but in others, they can produce toxins that are harmful to people and animals, the U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention says. The CDC… read on >
If you wind up in the emergency room with a minor injury, the likelihood you will be prescribed unnecessary opioids may depend on where the hospital is located, new research suggests. For example, such prescriptions were much less likely to be offered in hospitals in Michigan, Minnesota, New Jersey, New York and North Dakota, while… read on >
Karolina Jasko was a high school senior when a nail salon worker pointed out the black vertical line on her right thumbnail. Because she typically painted her nails, the black line had gone unnoticed and unheeded, but then it started to show signs of infection. At that point, Jasko sought out medical advice and got… read on >
A new study reveals why sex surveys tend to find that men have had far more sexual partners than women. Researchers in Scotland analyzed the responses of more than 15,000 men and women in a survey that found the average number of lifetime sexual partners among men was 14, compared with seven among women. Why… read on >
Struggles with infertility can take an emotional toll. But a new study finds the stress that a woman often experiences during infertility treatment won’t limit her chances of success. The analysis looked at 20 studies that explored the stress surrounding infertility, a condition that touches millions of women around the world. “Infertility and its treatment… read on >
The active ingredient in pot that gets you high can calm agitation in people with advanced Alzheimer’s disease, a small new study suggests. Canadian researchers found that a form of synthetic THC significantly decreased agitation in a small group of Alzheimer’s patients, working even better than the drugs now used. “This is the first clinical… read on >
