A 30-minute sauna or warm bubble bath every day might help women of a certain age fend off unwanted weight gain. That’s the promising takeaway from a study in mice that shows the potential of heat treatments in postmenopausal women.  Researchers found that older female mice who received a half-hour-long whole-body heat treatment gained less…  read on >  read on >

A girl’s genetics can indirectly influence the age when she has her first period, by accelerating her weight gain in childhood, a new study finds. A number of other genes also can directly affect the age of puberty, some with profound effects, researchers added. More than 1,000 genetic variants are tied to the age of…  read on >  read on >

Exposure to air pollution as a child increases an adult’s risk of bronchitis, a new study warns. Young adults with bronchitis symptoms tended to have been exposed during childhood to two types of air pollutants, researchers found: Particle pollution from dust, pollen, wildfire ash, industrial emissions and vehicle exhaust. Nitrogen dioxide from gasoline engines. Bronchitis…  read on >  read on >

Youth sports are important for the development of children and teenagers, but there’s no sure way to ensure a youngster doesn’t get hurt while competing. That’s why it’s important for parents to spot and appropriately respond to their children’s sports injuries, Dr. Eileen Crawford, an orthopedic surgeon with the University of Michigan Health C.S. Mott…  read on >  read on >

Acupuncture can help breast cancer patients deal with the hot flashes that often accompany hormone therapy, a new clinical trial says. Nearly 2 in 3 women who got acupuncture during hormone therapy reported fewer and less intense hot flashes, results show. Hormone therapy blocks the effect of estrogen and other hormones that powers some breast…  read on >  read on >

Many sexually transmitted diseases are on the rise in the United States, and a nationwide poll indicates that ignorance about how they’re transmitted could be fueling their spread. About a third of Americans (34%) falsely believe sexually transmitted infections (STIs) can only be transmitted through sexual intercourse, poll results show. In fact, they can also…  read on >  read on >