Temporarily boosting the dose of inhaled steroids may not do much to reduce the frequency of severe asthma flare-ups in children, according to two new studies. Short-term increases in inhaled steroids might even be tied to slightly slowed growth in kids, one of the studies suggested. Asthma flare-ups in children are common and many doctors… read on >
Women who’ve had a friend or relative die of breast cancer say they’re likely to opt for aggressive prevention measures if they develop the cancer, according to new research. “The cancer of someone you care about is a lens through which you interpret your own risk,” study lead author Tasleem Padamsee said in a news… read on >
The brutal flu season continues to ease its grip on the United States, with the latest government data showing that doctor visits are still dropping and less severe strains of the flu are starting to account for more infections. But hospitalizations for flu are still rising, as are pediatric deaths. For the third week in… read on >
Nonfatal gun injuries in the United States are becoming more severe, increasing pressure on the health care system, researchers say. Since the 1990s, the severity of nonfatal gun injuries treated in U.S. hospitals has risen 1.4 percent a year, the new study found. “Both males and females and all types of intents of firearm injury… read on >
American soldiers who have babies after a recent deployment are at increased risk of preterm birth, a new study suggests. The finding comes from the analysis of data on nearly 12,900 births to U.S. soldiers from 2011 to 2014. Overall, just over 6 percent of the births were premature — three or more weeks early.… read on >
If you’re pregnant and want to exercise in warm weather or take hot baths or short saunas, that’s safe, according to new research. Australian researchers said that doing so — within limits — should not raise your body temperature to a point that would put your baby at risk. The findings come from an analysis… read on >
If people with sleep apnea who’ve been hospitalized for any reason don’t use their breathing treatments when they return home, they’re much more likely to end up back in the hospital. They were 3.5 times more likely to be readmitted for any reason within 30 days, a new study found. And those who didn’t comply… read on >
Though the dangers of smoking during pregnancy to both mother and baby are well-known, just over 7 percent of women still light up while pregnant, a new government report shows. Younger and less educated moms-to-be were the most likely to continue puffing on cigarettes while pregnant, according to the National Center for Health Statistics, part… read on >
A new study calls for regular monitoring of “moderate” cervical lesions that might point to the potential for cancer later on, rather than immediate treatment. Moderate cervical lesions — formally known as cervical intra-epithelial neoplasia grade 2 (CIN2) — are abnormal cells on the surface of the cervix. CIN is not cervical cancer, but does… read on >
A vegetarian diet is safe for a person with diabetes, the American Diabetes Foundation says. In fact, a vegetarian diet is naturally higher in fiber, and much lower in saturated fats and cholesterol than the typical American diet. These factors, particularly the higher fiber content, may help lower blood sugar levels, the foundation says. The… read on >
