Douching is the age-old practice of using a solution to attempt to clean the vagina, but there’s only downsides to it. Beyond having no proven benefits, douching can cause many health problems, including bacterial and yeast infections. And if you already have a vaginal infection, it can push bacteria up into your reproductive organs, causing… read on >
As electronic cigarettes took off, some worried they would lead teens back to traditional cigarettes. But new research suggests that’s not the case. Vaping has done little to slow or reverse a two-decade decline in the popularity of regular cigarettes among youth, a British study suggests. “Given the important contribution to public health which has… read on >
With concern over concussion dangers rising, most U.S. parents now say that they would support bans on tackling in youth football, a new survey shows. Researchers found that of more than 1,000 parents in a national sample, 60 percent were in favor of age restrictions on tackling. Another quarter were in the “maybe” camp. The… read on >
Scientists are looking to an unexpected source in the battle against drug-resistant bacteria: fish slime. The researchers said that microbes in the protective mucus that coats young fish holds promise in fighting multidrug-resistant bacteria. These include the so-called “superbug” microbes that cause methicillin-resistant Staphylococcus aureus (MRSA) infections. The slime protects fish from bacteria, fungi and… read on >
Spring break may mean sun and fun for lots of college kids, but it doesn’t mean they can forget about contact lens care, experts say. Your risk of eye infections increases if you wear contacts and do things such as sleep in them, shower or swim with them in, and not wash your hands before… read on >
It’s been known for some time that when one parent is absent because of death, divorce or separation, kids are at higher risk for drinking alcohol and smoking than their counterparts in a two-parent household. A study done in the United Kingdom found that these risks rise even before the teen years, typically viewed as… read on >
Vaccination during childhood is essential because it helps provide immunity before children are exposed to life-threatening diseases. If you choose to delay or reject vaccines for your children, there are important responsibilities you must assume to protect others, says the U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. The CDC asks parents of unvaccinated children to:… read on >
Having a fussy baby doesn’t just rob a new mother of sleep — it can also increase her risk of depression, a new study finds. That fussiness, combined with premature birth, may significantly affect a new mother’s mood. “We found that maternal depression risk varied by gestational age and infant fussiness,” said senior study author… read on >
Children with autism may have trouble interpreting facial emotions in strangers, but research finds some are as “in-tune” with their mother’s expressions as kids without autism. The study included 4- to 8-year-olds with and without autism who viewed five facial expressions — happy, sad, angry, fearful and neutral — on both familiar and unfamiliar faces.… read on >
Add one more issue to the growing list of harms from opioid abuse: Long-term use may lead to hormone deficiencies that affect a man’s health. Researchers reviewed the latest medical evidence and found that about two-thirds of men using opioids for more than six months develop hypogonadism, which is insufficient testosterone production. The review also… read on >
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