Drinking polluted water can trigger vomiting, diarrhea, skin rashes, reproductive problems and developmental problems, the website girlshealth.gov says. Here are the site’s suggestions to help curb water pollution: Recycle batteries and other harmful trash, such as paint. Have water at home tested for pollutants. Filter or boil water if it contains bacteria, lead or chlorine.… read on >
WEDNESDAY, April, 4, 2018Eating lots of vegetables may help older women keep their blood vessels healthy, Australian researchers report. The biggest benefit seems to come from cruciferous vegetables, including cabbage, Brussels sprouts, cauliflower and broccoli. Eating these strong-smelling veggies was linked to less thickening of the carotid arteries, located in the neck. Thickening of this… read on >
Blood levels of a flame retardant have fallen in American children since use of the chemicals was banned in consumer products, a new study finds. Polybrominated diphenyl ethers (PBDEs) were once widely used in household items, such as couches, mattresses, carpet padding and other upholstered items. In 2004, pentaBDE — a specific mixture of PBDEs… read on >
A 40-hour work week may sound like a vacation to those burning the midnight oil. But a study in the American Journal of Industrial Medicine shows that consistently surpassing this standard can be detrimental to your health. Researchers said they found that working 61 to 70 hours a week increased the risk of coronary heart… read on >
Older Americans dramatically reduced their risks for heart attack and stroke over a recent 20-year period, a new analysis finds. The likely reason: greater use of drugs to control cholesterol and blood pressure, as well as a decline in smoking, according to researchers from the University of Southern California. The benefits were seen in both… read on >
Women who have a baby with a congenital heart defect may face a heightened risk of heart disease years later, a large study suggests. Researchers found that among more than 1 million women, those who’d given birth to a baby with a heart defect were up to 43 percent more likely to be hospitalized for… read on >
Planning a move in the future? You might want to make sure there are parks nearby. Research suggests that people who live near parks and green space are happier and healthier. For instance, one study in the journal Health & Place looked at the relationship between parks and various health factors among women in the… read on >
Your pet may be at risk for getting sick if you use raw pet food, the U.S. Food and Drug Administration says. Pet owners also are at risk of getting sick if they handle food that may be contaminated, the agency adds. If you must feed your pet raw food, the FDA suggests: Wash your… read on >
Women with dark, coarse hair growth on the face, chest or back should be tested for polycystic ovary syndrome and other underlying health problems, a new Endocrine Society guideline says. Hirsutism — the growth of unwanted hair in places where men typically grow hair, such as the face or chest — affects between 5 and… read on >
Medical care costs in the United States can be so overwhelming that Americans fear the cost of treatment more than the illness itself, a new poll shows. “It’s shocking and unacceptable that medical bills strike more fear in the hearts of Americans than serious illness,” said Shelley Lyford. She is president and CEO of West… read on >
