With the flu season in full swing, a new poll shows that almost three-quarters of Americans over the age of 50 think all nursing home employees should get a flu vaccine every year. “We’ve finally gotten to the point in the last few years where most inpatient hospitals require their staff to get vaccinated against…  read on >

As one year ends and another begins, people often assess their habits and lifestyle, and consider changes that could improve their health. But what, exactly, should you do? Here are six steps you can take to enhance your well-being, according to doctors from the University of California, Los Angeles (UCLA): 1. Keep a personal health…  read on >

Getting into shape or losing a few pounds is a worthy New Year’s resolution, but one that comes with a warning: Take it slow. Jumping whole-hog into an exercise regime is a good way to get yourself hurt if you haven’t worked out for a while, experts say. “People get into trouble when they want…  read on >

Your home is chock full of things that could harm your pet. The U.S. Food and Drug Association urges pet owners to avoid exposing Fluffy or Fido to: Unprotected treats — If pets eat too many treats at once, they may become difficult to digest. Moreover, unchewed treats can get stuck in the windpipe, stomach…  read on >

What would New Year’s be without resolutions? But the way you approach change can make the difference between reaching successful milestones and abandoning your resolutions faster than you can say Valentine’s Day chocolates. It helps to do some advance planning. First, decide on the goals you’d like to achieve. Grab a calendar and spread them…  read on >

Excess drinking on New Year’s Eve can lead to a painful morning after, with no sure-fire cure available. But helpful strategies for treating a hangover do exist. Hangover symptoms — headache, nausea and dizziness — occur when the body withdraws from alcohol and a chemical called acetaldehyde is produced, Dr. Robert Glatter, an emergency physician…  read on >

Using a TV, computer or smartphone just before bed is a bad idea. These and similar gadgets emit blue light, which can harm sleep quality, the National Sleep Foundation says. Studies show blue light delays release of sleep-inducingmelatonin and resets the body’s internal clock to a later time. This can leave parents with children who…  read on >

The millions of Americans caught in the grip of an addiction to opioids — prescription painkillers or heroin — remained the leading health news story of the past year. The scourge is now so widespread that, just last week, research suggested that deaths from opioid overdoses may be the biggest factor driving a decline in…  read on >

An analysis of urine samples from roughly 300,000 California women finds that more than 7 percent used marijuana while pregnant. What’s more, rates of pot use in pregnancy have steadily risen over the years — from 4.2 percent of women in 2009 to 7.1 percent just seven years later. That’s according to the new report…  read on >

Holiday parties and gatherings mean more trips to nail and hair salons for some. But if you’re not careful, you might end up picking up more than you bargained for. In a recent small survey of nail and hair salon clients, more than two-thirds said they’d had one or more health issues after visiting a…  read on >