Parents of children struggling with eczema or asthma might think that having a dog would only make it harder to control their child’s condition. But two new studies suggest man’s furry best friend might actually provide some protection against allergic diseases. The first study contends that having a dog in the house before you’re even…  read on >

Early signs suggest that the United States will see a severe flu season, so it’s especially important for Americans to get their shots, health experts say. Australia had its worst flu season on record, and what happens in the southern hemisphere typically predicts what happens in the northern hemisphere, said Kevin Harrod. He is a…  read on >

Gone are the days of hunting through calorie and carbohydrate counting books to find the information you need to plan weight loss menus. Now all that and more is in the palm of your hand — if you have the right smartphone app, that is. There are hundreds of apps for dieters, many of them…  read on >

If you have trouble keeping slim, don’t put all the blame on your DNA. People carrying so-called “obesity” genes tend to gain more weight if they don’t work out or don’t get enough sleep, said Timothy Frayling, a professor with the University of Exeter Medical School in England. “You can’t change your genes — but…  read on >

Knowing they’re at increased risk for breast cancer isn’t enough to persuade many women to get MRI screenings — even if they’re free. Researchers studied more than 1,000 women in a U.S. military health system who had a 20 percent or greater lifetime risk of breast cancer due to genetics or personal or family history.…  read on >