West Nile Virus is an infection that is spread by mosquitoes, and is commonly found in Africa, West Asia and the Middle East. The virus made its way to the United States in 1999 and has been reported in 48 states, the American Academy of Family Physicians says. The main symptoms of West Nile Virus… read on >
Taking time off reduces many workers’ stress and re-energizes them, but those benefits disappear once they’re on the job again, researchers say. Moreover, many people said they’re unable to relax and enjoy their time away from the office at all, according to a new poll of more than 1,500 American adults who work full- or… read on >
Before you head out for a sunny summer getaway, get familiar with the signs of heat-related illnesses. Once at your destination, build in time for your body to adjust to the climate. If you’re lounging by the water and taking only short walks, your risk of a heat illness is low. But if you’re not… read on >
Nothing can ruin a summer vacation faster than an unexpected trip to the hospital. The U.S. Food and Drug Administration offers these suggestions for a healthier vacation: Avoid tanning or spending too much time in the sun. Check your medications before you leave to make sure you have enough. Never pack medication in checked luggage.… read on >
During the summer when people trade in their jackets and jeans for flip flops and bathing suits, more skin is exposed to the sun’s harmful UV rays. Dr. Katherine Gordon, assistant professor of dermatology at UT Southwestern Medical Center in Dallas, said summer is the perfect time for people to get in the habit of… read on >
The National Safety Council has a sobering forecast for this Fourth of July. It estimates that 18,600 people could be seriously injured on U.S. roads and 164 could be killed — nearly 4 percent more than the number of deaths (157) that occurred in 2012, the last time July 4 fell on Wednesday. “Independence Day… read on >
When packing for your summer vacation, be sure to include the right footwear, a podiatrist advises. “The type of vacation you go on will determine the type of shoe you need,” Dr. Ronald Lepow, an assistant professor at Baylor College of Medicine’s department of orthopedic surgery, in Houston, said in a school news release. If… read on >
Just because you’ve returned home from a trip abroad doesn’t mean you can’t get sick, the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention says. Here are the agency’s suggestions for what to do when you get back home: Visit your doctor if you are not feeling well after a trip. Be sure to tell your doctor… read on >
Humidity doesn’t hinder the ability of flu viruses to infect people, claims a new study that challenges a long-held belief that the viruses become less active in moist conditions. The researchers found that mucus and other airway secretions expelled during coughs or sneezes protect flu viruses when they’re airborne, regardless of humidity levels. The findings… read on >
Maybe there’s a good reason you dislike cold weather: The risk of death from a heart attack is higher in the winter than in the summer, a new study says. Researchers at Leeds General Infirmary in England examined data from more than 4,000 patients treated for heart attack over four years. They found the risk… read on >
