Tick-Borne Diseases on the Rise
Diseases carried by ticks are rising steadily. And it's not just Lyme disease anymore...   > >
Cyberbullying at the Office
It's not just something that happens at school. Cyberbullying at work is common and may affect your mental health...   > >
Does Exercise Really Help You Live Longer?
We know that exercise is important, but now researchers have calculated how many years it can actually add to your life...   > >
Young Docs Cost More
Young doctors cost patients far more than experienced physicians. What does this tell us about healthcare costs?   > >
Sleep Those Calories Off
People who sleep too little have reduced insulin sensitivity, leading to weight gain and diabetes. The fix is simple...   > >
Smoking Bans' Huge Health Impact
When cities or states prohibit smoking, the health benefits are immediate, enormous and not restricted to smokers...   > >
HPV Vaccine Brings Safety, Not Promiscuity
Good news for parents: Protecting pre-teen girls with the HPV vaccine does not lead to a rise in sexual behavior...   > >
No More Tears
A new quick-release adhesive tape doesn't pull or damage skin. Where was this stuff when we were young?   > >
The Organic Food Debate, PG-13 Version
The American Academy of Pediatrics weighs in, focusing on what non-organic foods may do to developing brains...   > >
Fighting Infection with a Chocolate Substitute
The leaves of the carob tree offer some encouraging news in the war on treatment-resistant bacteria...   > >
Ambushed by Manhole Covers
As if looking for work wasn't hard enough: now interviews feature "trick" questions designed to test creative thinking. Fair?   > >
Making Poisonous Plants Unmistakable
A new spray makes the toxic oil on poisonous plants glow, offering lovers of the outdoors a way to avoid contact and rashes...   > >
Go Fish: Omega-3's Slow the Aging Process
Telomeres, bits of DNA, grow shorter with age which leads to cell malfunctioning. But diets rich in Omega-3s made them longer...   > >
And We Thought We Knew Cholesterol...
Recent discoveries about cholesterol overturn old assumptions, and may lead to new treatments...   > >
Acne Goes Viral
Despite what the infomercials say, a cure for acne remains elusive. But scientists may have found a virus up to the task...   > >
The Coffee-Glaucoma Connection
Three or more cups of caffeinated coffee a day significantly raises your risk for developing a form of glaucoma...   > >
What's Your Playground Personality?
Your friends know you better than you think. In fact, kids we played with in first grade are surprisingly accurate...   > >
Celebrity Health
When Robin Roberts, Padma Lakshmi or Kylie Minogue talk about their health, they raise awareness. But there's a downside...   > >
Neural Processing Issues and Autism
Researchers are looking at autism in new ways and may have found a possible treatment for one form of the disorder...   > >
Dioxin: The Toxin that Keeps on Giving
Dioxin persists in the environment, and the body, for a very long time. It appears its effects can last for generations.   > >
Another Cold Cure Bites the Dust
Echinacea, zinc, steam, vitamin C, garlic, antihistamines, herbs, are among the fallen cures. A new candidate joins the list.   > >
Breaking Down the Black Box Barrier
What happens when patients have full access to their medical records? The OpenNotes study finds it's mostly all good...   > >
Eunuchs Live Longer
Palace eunuchs in Korea lived much longer than other men of the time. What does this say about male sex hormones?   > >
Consumption Raises Exposure? BPA Linked to Obesity
Children and teens with high levels of bisphenol A were over two and a half times more likely to be obese. Why?   > >
Sugary Drinks Linked to Genetic Predisposition to Obesity
As more studies spotlight the role of sugary drinks in obesity, governments step in to address the problem and contain costs...   > >
Toddlers' Magnetic Attraction
Too many toddlers have been showing up in ERs from swallowing pre-measured detergent packets and magnets. Some teens, too...   > >
A New Drug for PTSD?
Post-traumatic stress disorder is more than anxiety. A new drug may help the cognitive problems that come along with it...   > >
iPad Insomnia
At night, the light from your tablet computer messes with melatonin production. This throws off the body's clock...   > >
Omega-3s' Value in Question
Can taking Omega-3 fatty acids through foods or supplements help prevent heart disease? A new study casts doubt...   > >
Clicker Training for Over-Indulgers
There's help for those who find it hard to limit their intake of certain foods. Reform is possible. Really...   > >
Your Money for Your Life
About 25% of all seniors spend more than the total value of all their assets on out-of-pocket medical expenses. This is with Medicare...   > >
High Risk Heterosexuals May Want Anti-HIV Pill
The CDC is recommending that people at high risk for heterosexual transmission of HIV consider using Truvada...   > >
Feline Groovy: Rest Easier, Cat Owners
A parasite found in litter boxes had been linked to brain cancer. Now that appears not to be so. But certain risks remain...   > >
Walnuts Put the Swagger Back in Sperm
The fatty acids in walnuts amp up the vitality and motility of sperm. Good news for those with fertility problems...   > >
Say No to Hand Sanitizers
Triclosan, found in many antibacterial products, may weaken muscle function in addition to its other risks. Just use soap...   > >
The Loneliness of the Long Distance Bus Ride
It's common to place your coat on the bus or train seat next to you hoping for solitude. But when the bus will be full...   > >
Not Your Type?
Certain blood types carry a significant and inherent risk of CVD. If you know the risks, you can protect yourself...   > >
No Nutritional Advantage to Organic Food
A large study has found organic food is not nutritionally superior. But health and environmental effects are another story...   > >
Losing Weight: Online or In Person?
People who go online to lose weight are more successful than those who go it alone. But there’s still a better way...   > >
Can Antibiotics Make You Fat?
Antibiotics appear to fatten up kids the way they fatten up cattle. Needless to say, this is not necessarily a good thing...   > >
Be Brisk: A Simple Way for Seniors to Reduce Falls
Putting a little muscle into daily activities is a simple and effective way for seniors to reduce the risk of falls...   > >
Time to Take Little Ones' Food Allergies Seriously
Do you roll your eyes when told you can't send your child out with a peanut butter sandwich? Roll no more. It's serious...   > >
What Alzheimer's Tells Us about MS
The culprit in Alzheimer's disease, amyloid-beta, might prevent multiple sclerosis. Come again?   > >
Heartburn Can Be Serious
Heartburn appears to be linked to esophageal cancer. The rates for both are up and it may not just be a coincidence.   > >
A Conversation to Prevent Antibiotic Resistance
When patients and doctors are encouraged to talk to each other, antibiotic use goes way down, and health doesn't suffer...   > >
Google It? Maybe Not for Children's Health
Parents are a little too trusting of the children's health information they find on the Web. It pays to know how to look...   > >
CFL Bulbs May Damage Skin
Energy-saving CFL bulbs emit UV radiation that damages skins cells. There is an easy way to avoid most of the risk...   > >
Cranberries To Stave Off UTIs
A long-time folk remedy for urinary tract infections, cranberries may prevent UTIs in people who are susceptible...   > >
Putting Health on the Menu
The Affordable Care Act will require that more restaurants put calorie and fat information on their menus. It can help...   > >
Where Would We Be without PSA?
New research says a lot of lives would be lost if we abandoned PSA testing, but some aren't so sure...   > >
It's Not Too Late to Stop Smoking
Quitting smoking lowers one's mortality risk, and the drop was similar for those in their 60s, 70s and in their 80s...   > >
A Polypill for the Heart
Combining four medications into one pill to reduce heart disease could work wonders for aging boomers...   > >
Remember Enron?
Those who aspire to the success of Bill Gates or Mark Zuckerberg might consider role models a rung down the ladder...   > >
Defensive Doctors and Online Medical Information
Many people go online to learn about their medical condition. Does it mean they mistrust their human doctor?   > >
Spray-On Tans Are Not Risk-Free
People who go for a spray-on tan definitely reduce their chances of skin cancer, but a chemical in the sprays is not good for the lungs...   > >
Why Patients Find it Hard to Talk with Doctors
Do you find it difficult to discuss medical issues or concerns with your doctor? You are not alone. Some reasons why...   > >
Is The Soda Industry Blaming Us?
In the “war” against obesity, it seems that the soda industry wants to shift the blame to consumers...   > >
Your Metabolic Clock's Guide to Weight Loss
It's not just what you eat. It's when. Changing when you eat could have a big impact on your weight...   > >
A Benefit to Belly Fat?
Belly fat has a lot of negative effects, but researchers may have a found at least one benefit...   > >
How Not to Get Rid of Bedbugs
Over-the-counter foggers are no match for most strains of bedbugs, according to new study. Who knew about the Harlan strain?   > >
What's Waiting In Your Hotel Room?
If you're staying in a hotel or motel this summer, some unwelcome "guests" may precede you...   > >
The Café as Office and Personal Territory
If you frequent a coffee shop, you know what it is like to have Wi-Fi access problems or someone at your favorite table...   > >
Lose Weight, Save $550 Billion
The cost savings of better health are as astronomical as those of medical care. Drop 10 pounds and save $50,000?   > >
A Quick Fix for Arachnophobia
People so afraid of spiders that they wouldn't walk on grass were cured of their phobia with only one brief therapy session. ..   > >
Cash for Calories
We all basically know what we need to do to become healthier. A new study offers some insights into how to get us to do it...   > >
A Simple Way to Improve School Attendance
Can clean hands improve kids' academic performance? Actually, yes. And parents miss fewer days of work, too...   > >
Fingertip Health Tool: Texting
Text messaging is proving useful to promoting public health — as long as it isn't done while you are driving...   > >
Is Your Healthcare Plan Platinum... Or Tin?
Healthcare coverage in the U.S. today is a two-tiered system. Luckily, changes are on the way...   > >
In-Store Nutrition Counseling
People make better food choices when stores label foods according to their health benefits. A little advice helps even more...   > >
Mortality, The Spice of Life
Thinking about death can actually help us live richer, fuller lives. Just don't obsess about it...   > >
Aging Boomers
As baby boomers begin to turn 65, their golden years are not looking as golden as in generations past...   > >
Sex Counseling for Heart Patients
Too few doctors offer guidance to their heart patients about when it's safe to resume sex. And patients are reluctant to ask...   > >
Chores Keep You Sharp
Everyday activities could reduce the likelihood of developing Alzheimer's. So go cook, clean, or do the dishes...   > >
Tuna's Pink Slime and Salmonella
Nakaochi Scrape is the source of a recent salmonella outbreak. It's used in spicy tuna rolls and is easy to identify...   > >
Perception vs. Reality in Medical Care
Your opinions – both good and bad – about the medical care you receive may not be reality-based. Race plays a role...   > >
How Long is Your Commute?
The length of a person's commute can have a big impact on their health. Sitting is part of it; traffic may be another...   > >
Time to Address Adolescent Health
There are nearly two billion adolescents worldwide. If you think that's scary, consider the health risks they face...   > >
"The Medicinal Plant of 2012"
It helps reduces blood sugar levels and prevents insulin resistance and fatty liver disease. Now to develop a human dose...   > >
The Stress of the Millennium
The Millennial generation is more stressed than generations before. They are also less able to cope with stress well...   > >
Injecting Away Cholesterol
A new antibody injection could lower your "bad" LDL cholesterol. And it might just work better than statins. ..   > >
Chronic Fatigue in the Brain
Certain brain centers are less active in chronic fatigue syndrome patients, suggesting a new approach to this condition...   > >
Biological Clock Ticking? Time to Pay Attention
Once female fertility declines, it may be gone for good, even with treatment...   > >
Can Aspirin Prevent Cancer?
Three new studies suggest that aspirin can reduce the risk of cancer from occurring — and from spreading if it does start...   > >
Fracking Affects Air Quality
Hydrofracking releases pollutants into the air as well as into water. Air near wells shows potentially toxic hydrocarbons...   > >
Special K Linked to Incontinence, Bleeding
The club drug Special K or Ketamine can cause serious bladder problems in the people who use it...   > >
How to Stay Married
Even the happiest newlyweds can go on to divorce. But early warning signs might predict who does and who doesn’t...   > >
Death and Taxes
The stress of doing taxes can distract us on the road. Traffic fatalities rise every tax day, and it's getting worse...   > >
Harmful Chemicals in Everyday Products
Worrisome compounds can appear in even the most “natural” household products. Often, they aren't even listed on the label...   > >
Hunger Changes Everything
Hungry people see food cues as bigger and bolder than satiated people. Reason not to shop on an empty stomach...   > >
Organic Sweetener Adds Arsenic to Diet
Brown rice syrup, used in baby formulas and energy bars, contains arsenic, often in amounts exceeding safe limits...   > >
FDA Addresses Cancer Drug Shortage
Worrying shortages of two major cancer drugs propel the FDA to find new ways to boost supplies...   > >
Stem Cells Mend a Broken Heart
Heart attack patients' damaged heart muscles improved after being injected with stem cells, a game-changing development...   > >
MRSA: Tracing the Roots of Antibiotic Resistance
ST398 started out as an antibiotic-sensitive bacterium in humans. After it spread to livestock, antibiotic resistance began...   > >
“Y” So Much Heart Disease in Men?
The Y chromosome may affect more than men’s sex organs: It may also explain their higher risk of heart problems...   > >
Hide and Sneak with Veggies
Jessica Seinfeld made the practice of hiding veggies in other foods famous. But it may not be such a great plan after all...   > >
Can A Scent Make You Smarter?
People performed better on certain math tasks when they had inhaled a little whiff of rosemary, but contentment took a hit...   > >
Air Pollution A Danger to More than Lungs
A bad air day means an increase in strokes and heart attacks. The level of pollution required to trigger them is not high...   > >
Cognition with A Little Personality
When seniors improve their cognitive skills, their personalities also get a boost...   > >
Mediterranean Diet Helps Your Brain
People who follow the Mediterranean diet do better mentally as they age. Now we know at least one reason why...   > >
How Stress Makes You Sick
We've heard about the stress-immunity connection, but now we understand which chemicals are the culprits...   > >
Bad News Bacon
Eating red meat, particularly processed red meat, raises the risk of premature death. How much you consume matters too...   > >
Chicken Found to Be a Major Source of UTIs
The CDC says that the E. coli from chicken is behind many urinary tract infections. Some precautions...   > >
Why Alcohol Feels So Good
Endorphins, the brain’s “feel good” chemicals, may explain why alcohol makes us feel happy — and why we often want more...   > >
In NYC, Signs of Health
A simple set of signs in New York buildings raised the number of people pursuing a healthy behavior by 43%...   > >
Mending Muscles with Massage
Massage feels great, we know. But now, a study shows how it helps muscles heal after exertion...   > >
Mental Illness Rising
In America, one in five people is facing a mental health issue. Worldwide, it's the single greatest cause of disability. ..   > >
Color-Coded Health
Two simple changes help people make the smarter food choices. Now to get stores and cafeterias to use them...   > >
Killer Headphones
Have you had the headphones on and suddenly someone appears out of nowhere and taps you on the shoulder? A deadly variation...   > >
Recalculating Heart Risks
When it comes to determining heart and stroke risk, we've been doing it all wrong. You may not be as safe as you think...   > >
A Friend Request
People with heartfelt Facebook posts about what's wrong in their world may end up with less traffic...   > >
New Vaccine Guidelines
There are new vaccination recommendations target young men and boys, pregnant women, and diabetics...   > >
Bad Bosses are Bad for Business
A controlling, coercive boss can take a toll on your well being. But there is more to it than that...   > >
Calorie is a Calorie is a Calorie
Subjects in a study each lost nearly three pounds of abdominal fat. The similarities were as interesting as the differences...   > >
Humble and Helpful
If you’re in need of assistance, call on your most humble friends. Those who are arrogant may let you down. ..   > >
Lonely Hearts, Go Online
Internet dating is now one of the top methods for finding love. But whether the pros outweigh the cons is another story...   > >
An iPain in the Neck
Tablet computers are popular and convenient and really bad for your back and neck...unless you know how to adjust them...   > >
Gossip Is Good for Your Health
It isn't always bad to gossip. In fact, it has social and health benefits. It depends on what you are gossiping about...   > >
Eat Out, Lose Weight
It can be done; you just have to know some of the tricks that make it possible, like sharing an entrée...   > >
Are Playgrounds Boring Kids?
Out on the playground, there's a fine line between safe and boring. Kids need a challenge...   > >
Environmental Pollutants Cut Vaccines' Effectiveness
Children's immune response to vaccines was greatly reduced if they had been exposed to a common chemical compound...   > >
Why Climb Stairs When You Can Have Sex?
The AHA says sexual activity is safe for most heart patients, like any form of moderate exercise...   > >
FDA: Let's Stop Resistant Bugs
Finally: The government plans to curb antibiotic use in food animals, hoping to reduce antibiotic-resistance in humans...   > >
The Perils of Shift Work
Shift workers are at risk for type 2 diabetes. And the longer you work rotating shifts, the worse it gets. Some tips for coping...   > >
Marijuana's Paranoid Side
Smoking pot can make people calm, anxious, or even psychotic. A study reveals the chemical culprit...   > >
Happy Quitters
Struggling with the resolution to quit smoking? It gets better: Quitters report being happier and healthier...   > >
New Proposed Guidelines on Lead
A CDC committee recommends more prevention and a lower threshold at which children are treated for lead exposure...   > >
Make Way for DHEA
The hormone DHEA sounds like a miracle: it may ease menopause symptoms and boost sexual interest...   > >
Medical Maggot Therapy
Maggots not only appear to clean wounds more effectively than modern methods, they may offer antibacterial protection...   > >
The Evolution of Prejudice
A new look at prejudice finds it may mostly exist just because we're afraid of germs...   > >
Marathoning Hard on the Heart
Endurance athletes' hearts often show reduced function in one area after a workout. But less exercise isn't the answer...   > >
Baking? Don't Lick that Bowl!
An outbreak of Shiga toxin-producing E-coli sent dozens to the hospital. The culprit was raw cookie dough...   > >
The Ultimate Mouthwash
Call it a smartbomb against tooth decay. It's just in development, but a new mouthwash targets the bacterial causing cavities...   > >
Can Pollution Cause Diabetes?
A new study links traffic pollution to type 2 diabetes risk — especially in people who are healthier to begin with...   > >
The Best Doctors Embrace Errors
Much of medicine involves trial and error. For doctors, focusing on successes is less helpful than analyzing one's mistakes...   > >
Energy Drinks Fuel ER Visits
Energy drink-fueled visits to the ER have risen 1600 percent since 2005. What you take in with the drinks also matters...   > >
Toxic Soup?
BPA is not only in plastics; it's in the lining of cans. Eating canned soup puts more of this toxin in your body...   > >
Bad Vibes for Bone Loss
Whole body vibration platforms have been marketed to prevent bone loss. Problem is, they don't work...   > >
PID Still Threatens Fertility
Pelvic Inflammatory Disease increases the risk of female infertility and chronic pain: Get checked now...   > >
Proof Your Doctor Cares About You
Doctors asked to take this simple precaution for their own protection ignored the request, but for patients, they complied...   > >
Feed Your Sperm Well
Good nutrition and lifestyle choices are just as important for men's fertility as for women's. So be kind to your sperm...   > >
No Way to Quit
The anti-smoking drug varenicline (Chantix) can bring on depression, suicide and violence. The FDA found differently...   > >
Presenteeism's Hidden Costs
You are at work, but you should be home in bed. Are you doing anyone any favors? Maybe, but maybe not. It's a company thing...   > >
Chicken Pox Parties??
Pox- tainted lollipops are a mail order business for some. It's illegal, and "a really bad idea," says the CDC. Vaccinate...   > >
Txt2Stop Smoking
People in a British study had double the quit rate thanks to support and tips delivered by cell phone. Just text "crave."...   > >
Wider Waist, Bigger Risk
Your pants size may be a good indicator of your risk of colorectal cancer. But the criteria are different for women and men.   > >
Students Are the Best Teachers
How can we help preschoolers with poor language skills? Put them in classes with kids with better skills...   > >
Fall Back and Change the Batteries
Carbon monoxide is a silent killer. Get a detector; keep it working; and read this checklist for what to look out for...   > >
Saving Breasts After Cancer
A procedure that preserves the nipple during breast cancer surgery helps with reconstruction — and better yet, it's safe...   > >
Teaching Doctors Empathy
Can listening to their own encounters with patients help doctors become more responsive to patients' concerns?   > >
Does Living Happy = Living Longer?
Happiness measured at one point in time was linked to lower mortality five years later. Cause or coincidence?   > >
Consumers' Dismal Label Reading Scores
If we read road signs as poorly as we do nutritional labels, ten car pile-ups would be commonplace. What would help...   > >
Colon Cancer Linked to Bug
Colon cancer tissue was infected with a specific bacterium. Could this mean a cancer antibiotic in the future?   > >
Mental Health Boosts Economic Health
The economic benefits of offering mental health help to those living in poverty are enormous...   > >
Preventing Stroke in at-Risk Brains
Drugs to reduce the brain's immense energy needs may serve to help preserve it when its blood supply is compromised...   > >
Miscarriage or Misdiagnosis?
Ultrasounds to diagnose miscarriage can be inaccurate, and healthy pregnancies could be terminated unnecessarily...   > >
Publication Bias Threatens Scientific Process
Journals are increasingly biased toward presenting positive results. This can have a chilling effect on what is studied...   > >
Can Parents Compete with Cartoons?
It's hard to encourage kids to eat well when you have to compete with cartoon character marketing, but it is possible...   > >
Possible Mad Cow Treatment
The brain-wasting prion diseases are slow-growing. Two drugs seem to bring them almost to a standstill...   > >
Gamers Solve Research Mystery
A team of online gamers helps researchers solve a critical piece of the AIDS puzzle, showing the power of cooperation...   > >
Contraception and HIV Transmission
A large African study has found that hormonal contraception doubles the risk of HIV infection and transmission...   > >
Ticks and Transfusions Spread New Disease
Move over Lyme disease. Now ticks – and blood transfusions – are linked to an emerging infectious disease: Babesia...   > >
Listeria Outbreak Likely Has Not Peaked
The bacterium Listeria has killed 13 people. Given its slow incubation period, this may be just the beginning...   > >
Circumcision Less Common
Circumcision rates are down. The decision to remove a boy's foreskin reduces some risks and raises others...   > >
Highly Contagious
The flu virus may be coming to a home – and a theater – near you. Last year's vaccine is not likely enough...   > >
High Heat Harms Medications
Exposing medications to extreme temperatures, such as in the car when traveling, reduces their potency. How hot is too hot?   > >
Salmonella, Lessons from the August Outbreak
Is the flurry of outbreaks this year the result of food production issues or a breakdown in regulation? What you can do...   > >
Making Your Fat Burn More Calories
Brown fat burns many more calories than white fat. Now, a surprising new way to make white fat behave like brown...   > >
Sprains Strain ERs
Sprained ankles and minor injuries clog emergency rooms, endangering people with serious problems. A new plan...   > >
Superhuman Vitamin-Users
Vitamins are good for you, right? Not necessarily. In some people they lead to more health risks. It's called licensing...   > >
Lean and Spicy
A study has found that eating fatty foods seasoned with herbs and spices can reduce triglycerides and insulin responses...   > >
Stopping Panic Attacks Before They Start
Subtle cues precede most attacks. The trick is listening to them and preventing them...   > >
Up in Secondhand Smoke
Attention deficits, learning and conduct disorders are 50% more likely when a child is exposed to secondhand smoke...   > >
School Lunch Scare
Nine out of 10 items in kids' lunch bags were found to be unsafe to eat. But there are some simple ways to keep food safe...   > >
Public Health Spending Pays Off
A study of public health spending between 1993 and 2005 found spending a little more save money and lives later...   > >
Ovarian Cancer Gene Discovered
Having a faulty RAD51D gene means a 1 in 11 chance of ovarian cancer. Knowing your status can help with serious decisions...   > >
Sex and Diabetes
The sexual problems often experienced by men with diabetes were rapidly reversed and lasted for an entire year...   > >
The Eye Phone Connection
Smartphones breed eye strain: tiny screens and tiny fonts are not a good combination. How to help your eyes...   > >
Endless Worry Colors Relationships
People with anxiety often have problematic social relationships, partly as a result of their worries. What can be done?   > >
Warning on Colon Cleanses
Though they may sound enticingly healthy, colonics can pose serious, even fatal, health risks. Have some fiber instead...   > >
Risky Business
Teens are surprisingly risk-aversive in some situations, while women are apt to take more risks than men in others...   > >
BPA-Free?
With no regulations, that water bottle may not be BPA-free. So read the fine print and check out this study.   > >
The Sodium-Potassium Connection
Americans' overindulgence in salt is well-known, but our tendency to eat too little potassium may make it even more deadly...   > >
Reducing Hospital Infections
Two very-low tech solutions to common medical problems show how easy it can be to reduce costs and improve care.   > >
Asthma Linked to Cockroaches
A study of middle-income kids with and without asthma found that cockroaches seem to be a factor in asthma rates in NYC.   > >
Social Problems Are Killers
Proof that public health must be seen in a broader light than it currently is. Save healthcare dollars; improve schools...   > >
CDC Says, Get Screened
Colon cancer is practically entirely preventable. Tens of thousands of lives could be saved if people were screened...   > >
An Amazing Number
A Harvard study figures out how much various healthy lifestyle choices reduce your risk of sudden cardiac death. It's huge...   > >
Cell Phones and Brain Tumors: No Link?
A new review study finds no good evidence of a cell phone-brain tumor connection. Now what to believe?   > >
Dangerous Dishwashers
They're not exactly killers, but most dishwashers do harbor pathogens – fungi, yeast, and molds – than can cause problems...   > >
An Ounce of Prevention
A new Health Promotion Strategy aims to make citizens healthier nationwide and address disparities in healthcare...   > >
A Male Contraceptive?
Research on mice has found a way to reduce male fertility without reducing libido. Sounds good, right?   > >
Cell Phones and Infection
Cell phones appear to be a major source of disease-causing bacteria in hospitals. Guess who's bringing in the germs?   > >
Emergency in the ER
There is evidence that long waits in the emergency room are themselves a medical emergency...   > >
Apples Work Wonders
A compound in apples, ursolic acid, helps prevent the muscle atrophy that comes with illness and age...   > >
Probiotics Seized for False Heath Claims
The FDA directed US Marshals to seize several varieties of probiotics because their labels made false treatment claims...   > >
No More Leathery Pork Chops
New USDA guidelines mean that beef, lamb, veal and now pork have the same recommended cooking temperature...   > >
Kids Given Antibiotics for Asthma
Nearly a million kids a year are prescribed antibiotics for asthma, another unnecessary use. But why?   > >
Are the Best Hospitals Really Better?
A study finds that the hospitals rated "best" on popular ranking reports may not be any better than the one close to home...   > >
Social Support Systems
Getting along well with the coworkers may lengthen your life. Getting along with the boss…not so much...   > >
The Price of Swimmer's Ear
The CDC says treatment for swimmer’s ear costs half a billion dollars each year. There are steps you can take to prevent it...   > >
Purses and Punching Bags
Little things – like being asked to hold a purse – can make men feel their manhood has been threatened. Guess what happens...   > >
Fat Cats... And Dogs
Diabetes epidemic not only in humans, but cats and dogs are developing it in record numbers. Put those treats down, now...   > >
Brain Scans in Kids
Kids with minor injuries are exposed to excessive radiation from unnecessary CT scans. But are there risks with cutting back?   > >
Easing Stress Can Boost IVF Success
Women taking a stress relief program while undergoing IVF got pregnant significantly more often than those who didn’t...   > >
Pesticide May Lower IQ in Kids
A banned residential pesticide is linked to lower IQ in kids. It's still being used in agriculture...   > >
Acne Medication and MRSA
Long-term use of antibiotics to treat acne does not make "staph" bacteria drug-resistant. What about other drugs?..   > >
Who's Counting Calories? Not Many.
Taste and price drive food most people’s food choices. Many don’t even know how many calories they should eat anyway...   > >
How "Health Literate" Are You?
Patients who are less knowledgeable about their own health have a greater chance of being hospitalized — and of dying...   > >
Bogus Acai Berry Claims and Sites
The Federal Trade Commission urges courts to crack down on fake news sites’ phony claims about acai berry and weight loss...   > >
Honey Helps Healing
A particular kind of honey weakens bacteria's ability to attach to tissues, providing a new line of antibacterial defense...   > >
Do As I Say, Not As I Do
Doctors would often choose different treatments for themselves than those they would recommend to patients. Why?   > >
Supplement Use Up, But Are We Healthier?
More of us are taking nutritional supplements, but can a pill make up for poor dietary choices?   > >
Drug-Resistant Staph in Meat
Meat and poultry in five U.S. cities were contaminated with bacteria. Contamination is not the source.   > >
Longer Work Day, Shorter Life
People who regularly work long days have a far higher risk of heart disease. How long is too long?   > >
Big Mac's Secrets
Nutrition labeling, including calories, is now the law for big restaurant chains and vending machine operators. Uh-oh...   > >
Are Food Dyes Safe for Kids?
Some studies show a link between artificial dyes and ADHD. So why did an FDA panel reject warning labels for these foods?   > >
Fat But Fit Better
Fitness level may be a better predictor of heart disease than obesity. But thin and fit is still the best bet...   > >
Healing Your Heart
Injecting stem cells into hearts reduces enlargement and scar tissue, and boosts heart function. What's the drawback?   > >
Chocolate and Health
The benefits of chocolate are being widely reported, but how real are they? A look at cocoa's pros and cons...   > >
When a High Disease Rate Is Good
We tend to think a low disease rate means that doctors are doing a good job. This study calls that assumption into question...   > >
The Computer Will See You Now
Watson, the supercomputer that beat two Jeopardy! champions, is turning its talents to diagnosing disease...   > >
Lowering Unwanted Pregnancies
A study found that all that it takes may be to allow women to have a full year's supply of birth control pills at a time...   > >
Exercise Cuts Salt's Effect on BP
Regular exercise can inhibit salt's tendency to raise blood pressure. But don't break out the chips yet...   > >
Celiac Disease or Gluten Sensitivity?
Even if you have tested negative for celiac disease, you may still have gluten sensitivity, according to new research...   > >
Seniors Unaware of Free Health Services
Too many Medicare recipients are not taking advantage of the preventive health care services they are entitled to...   > >
Tomatoes Rule
Tomatoes are more nutritious when cooked and are even better for you than anyone knew. Pizza, anyone?   > >
US Unhealthier Than UK
Americans’ health is worse than their British counterparts’ in everything from asthma to angina. Is our healthcare system to blame?   > >
Big Belly — Big Deal?
A diet rich in potassium appears to reduce stroke risk by 21%, but some need to be careful about their intake...   > >
Parks As Health Care
Before cutting park budgets, legislators might want to factor in the health costs, a study has found...  > >
FDA Removes Hundreds of Products
Cold, allergy and cough medicines that were never submitted for FDA approval are being taken off the market...  > >
Skin Wound Care
A study finds that properly cleaning and covering a wound has a bigger impact on healing than antibiotics do...  > >
Confusing Vitamin D
There's more evidence that at high doses vitamin D greatly reduces cancer risk. But what about the risk of toxicity?   > >
Obesity Trumps Everything
Being overweight was found to dramatically raise men's risk of death from heart attack, even if they were otherwise healthy...   > >
Zinc Shortens Colds After All Taking zinc supplements at the first sign of a cold may actually shorten its duration. But it's also possible to over-dose...  > >
Virility Boosters Antioxidants appear to improve male fertility, perhaps reducing the damaging effects of oxidative stress on sperm cells...  > >
What Every Vegan Needs
A large-scale review found that vegans often have low levels of two key nutrients. Some foods and supplements that help...   > >
New Osteoporosis Guidelines
The guidelines for osteoporosis screening have been expanded — do they include you?  > >
Exercise and IBS
Regular exercise significantly reduces IBS symptoms and the likelihood that they'll get worse over the years. Why wait?  > >
No Tanning Bed Needed
Carotenoids – found in certain fruits and vegetables – can improve skin tone with no cancer risk. Eat and look healthier...  > >
More Harm Than Good?
The cancer drug Avastin appears to reduce a person's chance of surviving when administered with certain chemotherapies...  > >
Meditation Changes the Brain
People who took a course on mindfulness meditation had significant increases – and decreases – in areas of their brains...  > >
Don't Sit Too Long At Your Computer
A new study finds the health risks involved in spending hours sitting (in front of a screen or anywhere) are huge...   > >
Antibiotics and BP Med Danger
Taking some antibiotics while on certain BP meds can cause a severe drop in blood pressure and falls. An alternative...   > >
Hot Flashes Are Good?
Hot flashes and other menopause symptoms may actually have a protective effect when it comes to certain cancers...  > >
Cell Phones and Cancer
A large-scale analysis of cell phone use finds a connection between usage and brain cancer. How to limit your exposure...   > >
Best Breast Cancer Treatments
The success rate in treatment is closely linked to the surgical skill and radiation strategy of your oncologist. What works...   > >
Infectious Disease Guidelines
When it comes to treating infectious diseases, doctors rely on guidelines based on little evidence...   > >
Good News for IBS
A new antibiotic may bring significant relief to IBS sufferers; but will it work over the long-term?   > >
Cancer, Pain and Smoking
Is it that smoking actually increases cancer pain, or that greater pain increases smoking? Some findings...   > >
Statins Are No Magic Bullet
These cholesterol-lowering drugs are great, but don't think using them means you can eat whatever you want...   > >
Guys, Go See A Doctor
Men tend to avoid going to the doctor. This can leave them without adequate preventive care and at risk for cancer...   > >
Viva Fruits, Vegetables — and Vino
Seniors who eat – and drink – a more Mediterranean style diet have less cognitive decline than people who don't...   > >
Bartenders Are Breathing Easier
Wisconsin passed a law banning smoking in bars and restaurants. Now the air in them is no longer dangerous...  > >
(Some) Childbirth Deaths Drop
The number of women who die from general anesthesia during childbirth has dropped, but epidurals are another matter...  > >
Echinacea, No Cure for a Cold?
A small study finds this ancient herbal remedy doesn't cut the length or severity of a cold by much. But is that enough?   > >
Bacteria to the Rescue
Beneficial bacterial may trigger white blood cells to form, suggesting a new way to treat autoimmune diseases and colitis...   > >
Ban Tobacco Displays?
In Ireland, a ban on displaying tobacco products changed attitudes and didn't hurt shopkeepers' bottom lines...   > >
The Unemployed Rebound
Laid off? Here's some good news: Your happiness level will likely rise to pre-unemployment levels within a year. ..   > >
Aging Better
A 10-year study of people 70 and over has found that those following simple healthy eating guidelines live better and longer...   > >
To Drink or Not to Drink
The health benefits and hazards of alcohol should be on your mind this New Year's Eve. A game plan for the night...   > >
Raise the Cholesterol?
More evidence that "good" cholesterol really is good: Higher levels of HDL may reduce risk for Alzheimer's disease...   > >
More Bad News About BPA
Women having trouble conceiving may want to consider their exposure to BPA and learn how to limit it...  > >
Cytomegalovirus Harms Babies
Many of us haven't heard cytomegalovirus, but babies can develop disabilities because of this congenital disease...  > >
Why Does Staph Prefer Humans?
Scientists discover why staph infections prefer humans over other animals: it's all in the blood...   > >
Foodborne Illness Hits 1 in 6 Americans
The Centers for Disease Control's new figures are pretty startling. What can you do to avoid food that can make you sick?..   > >
Sleeping Beauty
A recent study, complete with before and after photos, finds sleep really does make you more attractive. No surprise...   > >
Married Men Are Nicer
But are they nicer because of marriage, or just nicer to begin with? A study examines the issue...   > >
Paralyzed Monkey Jumps Again
Researchers say that implanting stem cells allowed a paralyzed monkey to walk – and jump – again. Are humans next?  > >
Probiotics vs. Montezuma's Revenge
With diarrhea, fighting bad bacteria with the good bacteria in probiotics seems to help. But what's the dose?  > >
For the New Year: Let's Quit!
The Surgeon General's report on smoking details the damage and the speed with which smoke (even secondhand) harms you...  > >
Medication or Meditation?
More people are seeking treatment for their depression. But the type of treatment they choose may not be the most effective...  > >
Can Your Kids Be Too Clean?
A chemical in antibacterial soap is linked to allergies and hay fever in children...  > >
How Much is Enough?
The dietary recommendations for calcium and vitamin D have changed. Having too much can be risky, but debate abounds...  > >
Washed Up
What's antimicrobial soap doing in our food chain? Nothing good. And it isn't even more effective than regular.  > >
Can Science Reverse Aging?
Researchers find a way to control a gene that plays a key role in the aging process. It worked in mice: are humans next?  > >
Kids' Ear Infections
Antibiotics may make the pain go away faster, but they are rarely necessary. There are also significant risks...  > >
HIV Protection At Last?
Truvada, a new once-a-day pill offers good protection from HIV infection. Will the CDC "ok" its distribution?  > >
A Weight Gain Wake-Up Call
Gaining weight wreaks havoc on the heart and significantly ups the odds for heart disease. So go easy on the cookies...  > >
Abandoned Prescriptions
How many people go to the doctor, get a prescription and then either don't fill it or simply never pick it up?  > >
Bluetooth for BP
Using your cell phone and your doctor's feedback to "telemonitor" your blood pressure can help keep it in check...  > >
More Evidence for Early Mammograms
Just in: Another new study finds that early mammograms may bring big benefits to women under 50...  > >
Wait, Fat is Good???
Yes. Replace too much of the fat in your diet with carbs and you actually increase your risk of heart problems. What to do...  > >
Red Bull or Rum?
College kids who drink more energy drinks also consume significantly more alcohol: coincidence or cause?  > >
Spotty Care for Rural Elders
In much of rural America medical and geriatric care may be minimal. A new program that tightens the safety net may help...  > >
Eye on Glaucoma
What can a common eye condition reveal more about our overall health?  > >
K2 and "Spice" Danger
Synthetic marijuana is legal in some states and found in convenience stores. It is sending kids to the ER with seizures...  > >
Don't Try This At Home
We're talking about smoking, especially if you have children. Turns out, secondhand smoke is even more dangerous for them...  > >
Boot Up to Trim Down
Want to lose weight? Let your computer or cell phone help you. Online feedback can improve results, a study has found...  > >
With Friends Like These...
Obesity can spread among friends. Rising obesity rates are partly related to a phenomenon known as social contagion...  > >
Stress: Not So Bad for the Belly?
Stress isn't behind as much weight gain as was previously thought, but there are sex differences to consider...  > >
Preventing Parkinson’s
Parkinson’s disease appears linked to problems in the brain’s energy stores. New research suggests a fix...  > >
Smells Good, But It's Toxic
Many of those scented products you love actually give off toxic chemicals. Some are even "green."...  > >
Lose Your Belly Fat
This simple eating adjustment can help reduce belly fat, as well as your risk for diabetes and heart disease...  > >
Aging Like Wine
So often studies tell us what not to do. Finally, here's one that tells you what you need to do to age well...  > >
Meningitis Booster Needed?
The meningococcal vaccine MSV4 doesn''t last as long as anticipated. Is a booster needed to protect those 11-14?...  > >
Turn Down The Volume
Teens’ hearing has gotten worse over the past two decades, and it may be from having the iPod cranked up too loud...  > >
Aspirin for the Colon
Low doses of aspirin may be quite effective in fighting off colon cancer in those at high risk — but how it works is still a mystery...  > >
New Diet Idea
Paying with cash is more psychologically "painful" than paying with credit, which leads to less junk food spending...  > >
New Pediatric Guidelines
New guidelines: All babies should have their iron levels tested at 1 year; breastfed babies need iron starting at 4 months...  > >
Hormones Raise Cancer Risk
A landmark study finds that HRT raises a woman's odds of developing invasive breast cancer, and of dying from it...  > >
Low Fat! Reduced Calorie!
The health claims on the front of packages often offer a false impression. Those low-fat snacks still aren't good for you...  > >
Erring on the Side of Caution
Doctors are over-prescribing some colon cancer screening, and ignoring other tests. Healthcare dollars are at stake...  > >
Give Whole Grains a Chance
Many people don't eat whole grains, a key part of a healthy diet, because they are afraid they won't like them. Popcorn? ...  > >
Kids' Psychology
When your child spends more than two hours per day in front of the TV the risk of behavioral and social problems increases...  > >
Improving BP Control
Taking blood pressure medications before bed boosts their effectiveness by working with your body's natural rhythms...  > >
Quick, Before It Multiplies!
In contrast to conventional beliefs, the body can actually grow new fat cells, rather than just enlarge those it already has...  > >
Recess!
Two quick exercise programs aim to get office workers moving, no matter what their fitness level...  > >
Moms -To-Be: Care for Your Gums!
Believe it or not, treating gum disease while you’re pregnant may reduce the odds of having a premature baby...  > >
Type 2 Diabetics, Good News
Lifestyle changes produced larger and longer-lasting health improvements than expected...  > >
Mammograms for 40-Somethings?
Two new studies add to the debate about whether mammograms should be standard for women in their 40s...  > >
Helping Families Get Healthier
A study at IBM shows that modest company-sponsored incentive programs can increase the health of workers and their families...  > >
What Hurts the Heart?
Metabolic syndrome can double the risk of heart attack and stroke. The good news is it doesn’t necessarily lead to diabetes...  > >
Danger: Infant Sleep Positioners
The FDA warns parents of suffocation risk associated with infant sleep positioners, and offers tips for crib safety...  > >
Bad Habits = Costly Workers
People who smoke, overeat, or don't exercise take more sick days, while those who drink take fewer. Go figure...  > >
Texting to Death
Distracted driving deaths are up. Do you really need to read or send that text at 50 miles an hour?  > >
FDA Restricts Diabetes Drug
The FDA has issued restrictions on who can be prescribed the type 2 diabetes drug Avandia^®. There is a confirmed heart risk...  > >
Magnetic Pulsing
A small study has found that stroke patients recover better when they receive magnetic pulses to the brain...  > >
Can a Virus Cause Obesity?
New research finds a link between childhood obesity and a virus that causes the common cold. But how are the two connected?  > >
Another Diet Pill Bites the Dust?
A panel of FDA experts says the risks outweigh the benefits of the highly anticipated weight loss drug, Lorcaserin. What's next?  > >
Angioplasty, No Free Pass
Using a balloon to open clogged arteries reduces angina, but not the threat of a heart attack...  > >
B for the Brain
People taking high doses of B vitamins had less brain shrinkage than those who didn't in this Oxford University study...  > >
Contagious Yawning
Contagious yawning is familiar to most. But did you know it is a form of normal social bonding and can point to problems?  > >
Laser Pointers
Parents take note: laser pointers are fun. They also vary greatly in power and can seriously damage eyes...  > >
Medical Mistakes, Real and Imagined
Many people think their doctors made an error. Whether it's true or not, patients often switch doctors as a result...  > >
Your Hair Knows
Look at the hair of cardiac patients and you can see that in the months before the attack, stress hormone levels were rising...  > >
Omega-3's and Diabetes
Researchers show how these beneficial little fats reduce inflammation in fat cells, and could help stave off diabetes...  > >
The Price of Malpractice
Researchers calculate that medical malpractice and defensive medicine cost the nation billions of dollars each year...  > >
Pressured.
Renin, an enzyme, may offer a way to figure out which blood pressure meds a patient may best respond to...  > >
Challenging Mammograms
Hormone Replacement Therapy may affect how doctors interpret the tests, leading to diagnoses of breast cancer where none is present...  > >
Beyond Salmonella
The FDA says Salmonella was found in chicken feed and mounds of feces on the egg farms in the recent recall...  > >
Medical Marijuana
People with chronic nerve pain found some relief by smoking marijuana in a Canadian study. Medical marijuana is legal there...  > >
Black Rice?
Researchers find that black rice has more antioxidants than blueberries. The trick will be figuring out where to buy it...  > >
The Dieter's Best Friend
People who drink more water as part of a weight loss program tend to lose more weight, perhaps because they drank less soda...  > >
Chronic Fatigue Syndrome
New evidence suggests (again) that chronic fatigue syndrome may be linked to a virus - but is it cause or effect?  > >
Disrupting the Biological Clock
Reduced messenger RNA activity appears to be behind the sleep, blood pressure and mood problems seen in alcoholics...  > >
Acetaminophen and Asthma
Does taking this common painkiller disrupt the body's inflammatory response and provoke asthma? A new study raises concern...  > >
You Can Change Your Heart's Fate
By adjusting the diet, it's possible to reverse metabolic syndrome, the precursor to heart disease and diabetes...  > >
Just Be Yourself
Despite earlier theories, stressed out, neurotic people do not get cancer more frequently than laid back, out-going types...  > >
Mind over Matter
Seniors who worry about falling actually fall more than those who don't, even when their risk of falling is the same...  > >
Goodbye MRSA Infections
Painting walls with a new paint killed 100% of all staph bacteria. Nanotubes helped make it possible...  > >
Where There's Smoke, There's Damage
Even casual smokers and those exposed to second-hand smoke show serious changes in the genes of their airway cells...  > >
New Path to Happiness
People who lose weight have less body pain. This immediate benefit may be the best diet incentive yet...  > >
It's So Infuriating
Angry people have a greater risk for heart attack and stroke than easygoing folks. Artery walls tell the story...  > >
Cut the Meat
Women who eat more fish, nuts, and low-fat dairy seriously decrease their risk of heart disease, compared to red meat eaters...  > >
Turn down the Volume
Teens' hearing has gotten worse over the past two decades, and it may be from having the iPod or MP3 cranked up too loud...  > >
The Vagina Dialogues
If you've had a C-section, can you still give birth vaginally? New guidelines are out for doctors and mothers-to-be...  > >
FDA Orders Egg Recall
Two farms in Iowa have now recalled over 380 million eggs due to possible contamination with Salmonella enteridis...   > >
Babies With Benefits
Babies born to mothers who received Earned Income Tax Credits weigh more, a sign of greater health...   > >
Sexual Cholesterol
Doctors testing a woman's cholesterol may want to ask when her last period was, since estrogen levels may affect the reading...  > >
ER Emergency
ERs are over-burdened with non-emergency care. Wait times are measured in hours. Why?   > >
More Bad News for Fructose
Cancer cells actually prefer fructose over glucose to fuel themselves and help them proliferate...  > >
Brain It Out
Researchers find that Irritable Bowel Syndrome is linked to changes in the brain as well as the gut. But which come first is a question...  > >
An Alternative to Hysterectomy
For some women, a procedure that stops blood flow to uterine fibroids may be a good alternative to hysterectomy...  > >
Stem Cells Heal Hearts
Tiny "scaffolds" lined with stem cells may help damaged hearts tissue repair itself - but will it work in humans?  > >
"Clinically Proven" Products
When you read of a cosmetic or supplement being "proven" to help, it helps to look a little deeper...  > >
Calcium: Trouble for the Heart?
Calcium supplements may strengthen the bones, but they may also raise the risk of heart attack, researchers say...  > >
Flu Vaccine Update
Fall is the time to be vaccinated if you are six months old and over. A single vaccination is all that is needed...  > >
Hands, Not Mouth
Chest compressions alone are just effective as CPR with mouth-to-mouth when it comes to saving a heart attack patient's life...  > >
Taking In Sync to a New Level
The better we understand another, the more closely our brain patterns resemble theirs, a phenomenon dubbed neural coupling...  > >
Not So Sweet Alabama
People who have higher levels of the chemicals PCBs in their bodies also seem to have higher blood pressure...  > >
Patient Doctor Communications
Doctors and patients don't communicate well, which can be a big health problem. If patients speak up, things improve...  > >
Weight Loss Media Campaigns
Even well-meaning weight loss campaigns may end up turning off the people they are meant to inspire. What do you think? ...  > >
Friends, For a Long and Healthy Life
Having a strong social support system rivals quitting smoking in terms of the years it can add to our lives...  > >
Fish for the Eyes
Age-related macular degeneration can cause blindness in seniors. Eating fish loaded with omega-3's may help prevent it...  > >
Weight-Loss Supplements Offer Poor Results
In two studies, each of nine different supplements, "fake" weight-loss pills worked just as well as those marketed in stores...  > >
Chief Sitting Still
Researchers find that the longer you sit, the shorter your lifespan...  > >
Making Doctors' Notes Available to Patients
A new study, OpenNotes allows the patients of over 100 primary care doctors to access their medical records...  > >
Sniffing Insulin for Alzheimer's
Not just for diabetics: A sniff of the hormone insulin may help recover memory function in Alzheimer's patients...  > >
The Nose Knows
Zinc nasal sprays, often used as cold remedies, appear to damage, and in some cases, destroy, people's sense of smell...  > >
Don't Throw Out the Rabbit's Foot
When people have good luck charms with them they perform better, a study has found. It's about confidence...  > >
The Biggest Losers
Slow and steady doesn't always win the race. A big loss can help offset the inevitable back-sliding....  > >
Convenience Stores Raise Risk of Obesity
That store on the corner with its bags of snacks and tall sugary drinks is a hazard to your waistline, a study has found...  > >
Rx for Doctors: Reduce Arrogance
A commentary in JAMA calls out doctors who do not follow the checklist for preventing CLABSI infections...  > >
One down, two to go
Lorcaserin seems to help people slim down with fewer side-effects than past drugs. But will the FDA approve it?...  > >
To Screen or Not to Screen?
Screening for prostate cancer has been controversial. A new study finds that it really does help -- especially men under 60...  > >
Best Ways to Get Healthly
The American Heart Association has released a study of the best ways to change behaviors to achieve heart health...  > >
Not So Hot Salsa
Mexican food-lovers beware: the CDC says that 1 out 25 cases of food poisoning are the result of contaminated salsa or guacamole...  > >
Eat Less or Exercise More?
Kids are overweight, but what's to blame? And what's the cure? ...  > >
Spreading the Medical Word
More hospitals are using the new family-centered rounds, which help parents stay involved in their child's medical decisions...  > >
Don't Leave Car With It
Injuries can happen when infant car seats are used outside of the car: they can fall from counters, shopping carts, tables...  > >
Seniors on Antibiotic Risk High Potassium
An antibiotic often prescribed for urinary tract infections can raise potassium levels to dangerously high levels...  > >
Two Hours Does What?
Whether your child is in grade school or college, video games may be just as bad as TV for their attention spans...  > >
Take the A Train
Taking public transportation instead of your car can help you lose weight, not to mention its environmental benefits...   > >
Cut, Cut, Cut
Do you know where your salt is? Most Americans, even those who watch salt intake, eat twice as much salt as they should...  > >
The Junk Food Boss
The "hunger hormone" ghrelin not only makes you hungry, but it may make you choose fried chicken over a salad...  > >
Bigger Isn't Always Better
Obese individuals report reduced sex life, not to mention more STDs, sexual dysfunction, and unwanted pregnancies...  > >
Cholesterol and Cancer: Strong Link?
“Good” HDL cholesterol was found to be linked to much lower risk of cancer: now the questions is why this is the case...  > >
Fat Cells Multiply In Fructose
If fructose didn't already have a bad enough rap, now it seems to help kids' fat cells proliferate, too...  > >
TXA, An Inexpensive Lifesaver
Using the compound TXA, which helps prevent bleeding, could save the lives of as many as 90,000 accident victims worldwide...  > >
One-stop for adverse events
The FDA has a new website that tracks problems people have had with various prescription drugs. Bookmark this one...  > >
Cartoons Linked to Child Obesity
Kids say foods taste better when cartoon characters are on the label, possibly adding fuel to the childhood obesity epidemic...  > >
eAT: Dangerous Diets
Websites that hype eating disorders are too common these days. Even worse, they're often aimed at children...  > >
FDA Warning on Vitamin D Dosing
Parents can accidently overdose babies with a dropper of Vitamin D. Too little can be dangerous, but overdoses can be deadly...  > >
Nature: Fuel for the Soul
Spending as little as 20 minutes in nature is a good way to recharge, according to a new study. Even urban gardens can work...  > >
Be Careful Surfing for Autism Info
Many sites on autism and its treatments lack good - or any - quality control, so be careful about which you choose to use...  > >
Heart Attacks Are Down. Why?
A recent study among members of a California HMO shows a decrease in serious heart attacks. There seem to be a few reasons...  > >
CBT and Exercise Help Fibromyalgia
Fibromyalgia patients better manage their pain with cognitive behavior therapy and exercise. Knowing how they cope helps, too...  > >
Vacuuming Stroke-Causing Clots?
Early studies using a tiny vacuum to remove blood clots in the brain show promise and extend the time to treatment...  > >
Feds Seize Tainted Chinese Honey
The FDA has found a potentially fatal drug in honey from China, adding evidence to support growing concern in Washington...  > >
More Good News for Mediterranean Diet
Have some nuts and veggies: a new study shows that eating a Mediterranean-style diet protects the heart from a second attack...  > >
New, and Not Necessarily Improved
New drugs are often prescribed over the old even if they aren't better or more cost effective. And few are paying attention...  > >
$Billions for Viagra?
We spend $77 billion on "medicalized" conditions like erectile dysfunction. Is this a wise use of healthcare dollars?   > >
Doctors Develop New Way to Treat Bunions
A new treatment for bunions is less painful and recovery is quicker...  > >
No, Thanks, I'll Have Water
Reducing your intake of sugar-sweetened drinks (iced tea, soda, lemonade) by just one can a day can lower blood pressure...  > >
Healthy Teeth Lead to Healthy Hearts
Researchers Find that People Who Brush Twice Daily Have Less Inflammation and Healthier Hearts than People Who Brush Less...  > >
Sunshine and Multiple Sclerosis
Babies born to mothers who had less sun exposure in the first trimester were more likely to develop MS. Why?...  > >
Too Much Overtime May Hurt the Heart
Working more than three hours of over-time per day ups the risk of heart-related deaths, heart attack, and chest pain...   > >
ADHD and Pesticide Exposure
Children with ADHD had significantly higher pesticide exposure levels than their peers in a new study...  > >
Mini-Strokes Are Not Minor
TiAs, or transient ischemic attacks, are very often warning signs of an impending stroke. Too few seek treatment for them...  > >
Supplements Interfere With Warfarin
Many supplements affect the blood-thinning action of warfarin, causing potentially deadly bleeding...  > >
Bar-Codes Reduce Hospital Errors
A new bar-code system tied to a patient's electronic medical record (EMR) may help hospitals cut down on medication errors. ...   > >
More Reasons to Get Your ZZZs...
Inadequate sleep raises the risk of early death and diabetes. It may also help explain the rising rates of diabetes worldwide...   > >
Does the Pill Reduce Sex Drive?
Women on the pill may suffer from lower libido than women on other forms of birth control...   > >
A Laughing Matter
Break out the sitcom DVDs. Laughter may help stimulate appetite in older adults and people with chronic pain...   > >
Pain, New Ideas and Potential Remedies
New research suggests that targeting the OLAM compounds that activate pain receptors may block pain at its root...   > >
Promising New PTSD Treatment
Blocking the nerves of the stellate ganglion, a treatment for chronic pain, provided two veterans with relief from PTSD...   > >
Time Outdoors Helps Self Esteem
Good news, couch potatoes: Just five minutes outside can improve mood and self-esteem. Vigorous exercise is not necessary...   > >
Helping Tooth Extractions Heal Faster
A promising "Buffy-Coat" technique uses platelet-rich plasma to help tooth-extraction patients form new bone...   > >
Interruptions Behind Many Medication Errors
The more a nurse is interrupted while preparing or administering medication, the greater the chance of error...  > >
Depression Meds' Side Effects Under-Reported
A study has found that side effects from these drugs rarely make it to patients' charts. Patient and doctor reporting play a part...  > >
Sleep, A Key to Recovery
Patients in intensive care units tend not to sleep well. A study found earplugs and eye masks can make a difference...  > >
Health Insurance: Millions Spent on Salaries, Not Care
Health insurance executives are paid millions to make sure that stock prices stay high. Patient care is not a concern...  > >
Do Computer Games Make You Smarter?
A study in which subjects practiced computer games found that game skills improved, but not overall mental capacity...  > >
A Really Easy Diet Tip
Sleep. A study has found that the sleep-deprived tend to consume over 500 calories more a day than those who are well-rested...   > >
Middle-Aged Increasingly Disabled
The number of middle-aged Americans who say they cannot easily perform daily functions like climbing ten stairs has risen...  > >
How Much Exercise?
A Harvard School of Public Health study suggests some guidelines for exercise that can help keep weight off without dieting...  > >
Strategies for Managing Stress
Stress is a fact of life, but you can learn to manage it better. There are ways to cope physically and mentally...  > >
Acne Drug Suppresses HIV
Minocycline helps prevent the HIV virus in infected human T cells from reactivating, yet doesn't interfere with immune function...  > >
Say What? OTC Pain Meds Raise Risk of Hearing Loss
A long-term study has found that men who regularly take pain medication have a higher rate of hearing loss...  > >
Your TV Cannot Teach Your Baby
Research shows that educational DVDs don't improve learning in children under two. Babies need interaction to learn...  > >
Hip Fracture Patients Need More Help
A meta-analysis finds that after breaking a hip, people need more help than they tend to get...  > >
FDA Issues Warning on Flea and Tick Treatment
Those apply−between−the−shoulder−blade flea remedies are dangerous for some pets, particularly small ones...  > >
Retrovirus Link to CFS Questioned
A recent study has not found a link between the XMRV−virus and chronic fatigue syndrome. What now?...  > >
Exercise Lowers Anxiety
Exercise reduces the anxiety people with a chronic illness often feel. Others who are anxious should take note as well...  > >
Vaccines Don't Cause Autism
Retractions don't happen often in science, but they are part of the process. Changing public perceptions is another matter...  > >
High Protein = High Cholesterol
While you may lose weight on a high protein diet, you are also raising blood fats. High−carb diets had the opposite effect...  > >
Another Step In Stem Cell Research
Scientists have found a way of creating adaptable stem cells from adult tissue. If practical, the method may end the controversy...  > >
Chickenpox Vaccine Helps After Exposure
The varicella vaccine helps reduce, and may prevent, symptoms even when it is given after exposure to the virus...  > >
Nicotine Patches: Longer is Better
Using a nicotine patch for six months, rather than the standard two, slightly raises the chances that a person will remain cigarette−free...  > >
Treating Mild Depression Helps
Those who are feeling a bit depressed, but who resist treatment, are more likely to become depressed than those who seek help...  > >
New HIV Drug Blocks Transmission
A new drug, Truvada, given to mice with "humanized" immune systems and exposed to HIV helped protect them from infection...   > >
Weight Can Interfere With Vaccines
Overweight people who are vaccinated with regular needles may not receive as much vaccine as they should...   > >
Lung Cancer Survivors, Quit
When people diagnosed with early−stage lung cancer quit smoking, they double their chances of survival...   > >
Molecule Appears to Block HIV Transmission
Surfen, a molecule that prevents the HIV virus from communicating with an important compound in semen, holds promise as a means of prevention...  > >
Junk Food and Diabetes
Frequent eating of fast food fried chicken and burgers raises the likelihood of type 2 diabetes by 40-70%....  > >
Antipsychotics' Health Risks
Antipsychotic drugs like clozapine and olanzapine can raise the risk of diabetes, but patients are often not monitored...  > >
Soldiers' Families Under Stress
Kids and caregivers left behind during deployment have to shoulder a heavy burden. A study looks at what can help...  > >
Heart Attack: Improving the Odds
The odds of dying from a heart attack are as bad as they were 30 years ago. CPR education and defibrillators can help...  > >
Cracking Cancer's Genetic Code
The mutations that produce skin cancer and lung cancer have been identified. Most are from exposure to sun and smoke...  > >
The TV Reduction Diet
Want to burn 120 calories a day? Just turn off your TV. This small change can have a big impact on health and weight...  > >
Pomegranate Beats Infection
An ointment made of pomegranate rind and metal salts successfully combated MRSA, a notoriously hard−to−treat staph infection...  > >
Couch Potatoes Beware
The more time you spend watching television, the greater the risk of dying. Lack of movement is the culprit...  > >
Calorie Counts on Menus Reduce Overeating
People who see calorie information on menus tend to eat less. It helps to put that 500-calorie dessert in context...  > >
Don't Text And Drive
Can't resist texting while driving? Think again. A study shows you are six times more likely to crash...  > >
Leave Your Car At Home: Walk
A study shows how reducing road traffic by walking or biking can cut carbon emissions by half and make people healthier....  > >
Sobering News On Coffee
Don't count on coffee, even lots of it, to help you sober up this New Years Eve. It may even make driving more dangerous...  > >
Can't Buy Me Happiness
Therapy is far more effective than money (even a raise!) at increasing happiness, according to a new study...  > >
Depression and Longevity
People who are depressed have a shorter life−span. Is this because doctors tend not to investigate their symptoms?...  > >
The Sleepless Can't Decide
People who are sleep−deprived cannot make split-second decisions, even when lives depend on it...  > >
After the Flu, Pneumonia Risk
The swine flu threat seems to be easing at the moment, but those who contracted the virus remain vulnerable to pneumonia...  > >
Smoker at Home Risky for Kids
Laws protect people from cigarette smoke in the workplace and public areas. But what about the home? Secondhand smoke affects smaller children far more than adults...  > >
Trade Your TV For A Treadmill
Making activity part of your home life helps maintain weight loss. People who lose weight and keep it off implement relatively simple changes to their home life...  > >
Fever: It's a Good Thing
When parents and doctors give young children fever−reducing medication to prevent a reaction to a vaccination, they are also reducing the effectiveness of the vaccine itself...  > >
Lupus Linked to Pesticide Use
People who have the most exposure to household pesticides such as roach or ant killers, are more at risk for autoimmune diseases like lupus and rheumatoid arthritis...  > >
Parks Improve Overall Health
Living near green space seems to make people healthier, both mentally and physically. Time outdoors reduced reports of anxiety, depression and a variety of illnesses...  > >
Healthcare, Who Gets It?
We aren't talking about benefits. Just simply understanding the system is more than even new MDs feel confident about, according to a new study. So what are consumers supposed to do?...  > >
Good Daycare Is An Escape Route
Daycare that offers children living in poverty a chance to learn school-readiness skills and exposure to adult role models helps them keep pace with their wealthier peers...  > >
Chronic Fatigue Linked to Virus
CFS sufferers, it is not just in your head. Researchers have discovered that a retrovirus (XMRV) is linked to Chronic Fatigue Syndrome. It is still too early to say the virus causes CFS, but that's exactly what may be the case...  > >
New Hope for AIDS Vaccine
Research on a combined, "prime-boost" vaccine has yielded modest results in what was the largest study in AIDS research history. The approach suggests a more effective way to help the body fend off HIV...  > >
Of Earaches And Antibiotics
Two major pediatrics societies have set policies recommending watchful waiting over immediate antibiotic treatment for many, if not most, of children's earaches. Parents can help...  > >
Couch Potatoes, Take Heart!
When it comes to exercise, your body has a short memory. So starting to exercise now can put you ahead of those who were fit, but quit. And of course, the fitter you are, the longer you live...  > >
HPV Vaccine & Breast Cancer
The HPV vaccine appears to also offer protection from certain types of breast cancer, making the vaccine a Win-Win decision for women (and perhaps men)...  > >
Doctor Visits: Race Matters
African American patients tend to have less informative communication with their healthcare providers than do whites. The good news is that patients can help the process by...  > >
Flu: An Ounce Of Prevention
When it comes to the H1N1 flu, an ounce of prevention is definitely worth a pound of cure, according to a recent study. A flu vaccine is better than relying on antiviral medication...  > >
New & Improved Or Just New?
When a drug announces, “More Effective!” what does it mean? Is it better than other drugs or just better than it used to be? Or better than taking nothing?...  > >
Teens and Rx Medication
Prescription medication sharing is a growing problem among adolescents. Whether it is antidepressants or drugs for ADHD or allergies, their use can often cause serious side effects...  > >
Health Is A Four Lane Road
Following four basic healthy behaviors – not smoking, eating well, staying trim, and exercising – can cut your risk for most major diseases by 80%. But you have to do all of them together...  > >
Antidepressants Trend Upward
Antidepressant use has doubled over the last decade according to a recent study. Is this a good thing or a sign that the drugs are being over-prescribed?...  > >
No Place Like Home
Premature infants face a variety of medical challenges. But when it comes to helping them become “school−ready,” the home environment is incredibly important...  > >
No Medicalese, Please!
Something to prescribe for your doctor: a toolkit for turning medical jargon into language a regular person (like you) can understand and act on...  > >
Chlamydia, A Hidden Danger
Chlamydia is a sneaky, all−too−common sexually transmitted disease. People who have it often have no symptoms until it is very far progressed. That's why screening is so important...  > >
Daily Sex Good for Sperm
Trying to conceive? You might try having sex every day for a week or so prior to trying to conceive, according to a new study. The fragmentation index of the sperm of men who...  > >
Telehealth Aids Heart Patients
Using the phone and Internet to provide follow-up services to patients, particularly heart patients, can greatly improve their health, reducing smoking, lowering blood pressure and...  > >
Global Warming Threatens Health
Global warming and climate change are not just bad for the planet, they are also bad for public health, affecting food and water supplies and encouraging the Northward spread of certain diseases...  > >
Nano Lab On a Chip
It may soon be possible to diagnose many viral and bacterial infections on the spot using a portable device that reads blood or saliva samples...  > >
Go Green – Lose Weight
Epidemiologists estimate that global obesity raises carbon dioxide emissions (and thus global warming) by about 450 tons a year. And then there's the extra fuel to needed to move such big bodies around...  > >
Brief Exposure, Big Response
It doesn't take long for air pollution or secondhand smoke to begin to affect your heart and cardiovascular system. Researchers saw risky changes after just ten minutes...  > >
The Flu News At This Moment
The current flu outbreak is relatively mild. So what's the worry? Flu viruses change constantly, so it is best to consider the situation as very much in flux and take some simple steps to protect yourself...  > >
PBOR Alert: Call A Lawyer
Twenty−three states offer patient bill of rights (PROR) statutes, yet almost no one can understand them. The documents raise incomprehensibility to an art form, and some are curiously silent on certain subjects...  > >
Drug Ads Need To Offer More
Direct−to−consumer advertising should do more to present the benefits of drugs, as well as side effects, so consumers can make better−informed decisions with their doctors. Drug fact boxes help...  > >
Why Winter Is Flu Season
"It's not the heat, it's the humidity," appears to apply to flu virus transmission as well as summer lethargy. Infections increase when the air is cold and humidity is low...  > >
That Face Lick Is Harmless
Dog lovers, rejoice: Sleeping with or being licked by your dog does not put you at greater risk for exposure to bacteria than the dog-less...   > >