“Stay in school” slogans tend to focus on the money, status and freedom that more education can provide. Now there’s another argument for getting as many degrees as you can — having a longer life. The higher a person’s level of education, the lower their risk of premature death, claims a new global study published…  read on >  read on >

Exposure to toxic heavy metals could cause middle-aged women to have more health problems as they grow older, a new study finds. The study links toxic metal exposure to women having fewer eggs in their ovaries as they approach menopause. This condition — known as diminished ovarian reserve — could cause worse health problems during…  read on >  read on >

Ultrasound scans that pick up “microstructural” changes in a woman’s cervix could point to her having a higher risk for preterm birth, researchers report. The scans were done as early as week 23 of pregnancy and could help assess risks for “preemie” delivery, even among first-time moms. Between 10% and 15% of births occur before…  read on >  read on >

Babies born to COVID-infected mothers have triple the risk of developing a breathing disorder that normally affects preemies, a new study shows. Researchers found that exposure to the coronavirus while in the womb increased a newborn’s risk of respiratory distress syndrome by sparking an “inflammatory cascade” in the infants that affected their breathing. “We found…  read on >  read on >

The health dangers posed by colorful detergent pods continues to plague young children, a new study warns. U.S. poison control centers still receive one call every 44 minutes about a young child who’s been harmed through exposure to a liquid laundry detergent pod, researchers report. The steady stream of calls is evidence that voluntary standards…  read on >  read on >