In cities, the chances of being bitten by mosquitoes varies according to neighborhood income — and middle-class residents may be at greatest risk. That’s the upshot of a study done in Baltimore, where researchers spent two years analyzing DNA from mosquitoes’ stomachs. They found that in low-income neighborhoods, rats were the preferred “blood meal” for… read on >
Drugs that fight cancer in people could help treat cancers that put Tasmanian devils at risk of extinction, researchers report. They found that two transmissible cancers — devil facial tumor 1 (DFT1) and devil facial tumor 2 (DFT2) — are closely related and that molecules called receptor tyrosine kinases (RTKs) play an important role in… read on >
Something like this has happened to most of us: You wake up, wide awake, only to discover that it’s 3 a.m. Suddenly your mind fills with worry about how hard tomorrow will be if you don’t get more sleep. The problem is, you toss and turn and can’t get back to sleep. What to do?… read on >
If you aren’t getting enough sleep, you’ll probably feel very tired during the day. And you may not feel alert and refreshed when you wake up. While everyone has a sleepless night now and then, chronic lack of sleep can lead to a host of medical problems and should be discussed with your doctor, the… read on >
Parents who read to their infants and toddlers may help them develop skills that pay big dividends when they start school, a new study suggests. Specifically, reading aloud and pretend play may offset disruptive behaviors — such as hyperactivity and aggression — and improve attention, researchers found. “When you read with your child, it’s really… read on >
People struggling with COPD might find some relief in an ancient art. The centuries-old practice of tai chi appears to boost the exercise capabilities and the quality of life of those with chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD), a study from Chinese and British researchers suggests. COPD is a chronic, debilitating and largely incurable form of… read on >
Memo to Mom and Dad: Rein in your screen time. That’s one of the things that kids say they’d like to tell their parents, according to a survey on families’ technology rules and expectations. To better understand the tug of war between parents and children over their electronic gadgets, researchers from the University of Michigan… read on >
Folks using online message boards to learn more about their heart implant should take any advice they come across with a grain of salt. Researchers report it’s as likely as not the guidance they find will be bogus. About half of the advice related to heart implants found on an anonymous online board was either… read on >
If you are considering breast implants, you should be aware of potential risks, including breast pain and potential rupture of an implant, the U.S. Food and Drug Administration says. The FDA offers this information for women who are considering breast implants: Understand that breast implants may require future surgery. Review product labeling and the Summary… read on >
Growing up in a disadvantaged neighborhood may mean more visits to the emergency room, a new study suggests. When children came from areas of “low opportunity,” they were about one-third more likely to have been treated at an urgent care center or an emergency room than kids from areas with more opportunity. They were also… read on >
