Stories4:07 PM EDT, May 22, 2013
Scientists find more than 100 types of fungi living on our feet
It's time to face the fungal foot facts: On average, each one of us is currently walking around with 100 types of fungi living on the soles of our feet, in between our toes, and on our toenails, according to a new study.
7:18 PM EDT, May 21, 2013
It's finals week: Do you know what your teen is taking to study so hard?
By the end of high school, 12% of teens say they have taken a stimulant medication for reasons other than to treat attention-deficit hyperactivity disorder (ADHD). But parents, including many of those whose kids are taking ADHD drugs in a bid to boost their academic performance, appear to be...
8:23 PM EDT, May 20, 2013
After a suicide, classmates often think about it too, study says
A schoolmate's suicide is associated with thinking about or trying suicide among teenagers, researchers report.
8:15 PM EDT, May 20, 2013
The key to extinguishing memories: Remembering to forget
All psychotherapists -- and most criminal attorneys -- know that memories are fragile things. Once a seemingly well-entrenched memory for a given event -- what psychologists call a declarative memory -- is taken out for inspection, it is subject to being frayed, recolored, reinterpreted and altered....
9:04 PM EDT, May 22, 2013
'Emotional paramedics' there in times of trauma
He was a wreck, this stranger sitting alone in front of the nurses' station at the hospital.
4:45 PM EDT, May 21, 2013
Drowsy young drivers have increased crash risk
Young adult drivers who usually get less than six hours of sleep per night are more likely to crash than those who sleep in, according to a new study from Australia.
5:34 PM EDT, May 17, 2013
Fever reducers don't slow children's recovery: study
A review of past research finds that fever-reducing drugs have no effect on the speed of children's recovery from an infection, contrary to the fears of some doctors and parents.
May 22, 2013
Popping pacifier into parent's mouth to clean it beneficial to baby, study claims
That old-fashioned way of cleaning your baby's pacifier with your own saliva could transfer germs that actually help boost the infant's immune system and stave off allergies, according to a recent study by Swedish researchers.
4:44 PM EDT, May 20, 2013
Attention deficit hyperactivity disorder linked to adult obesity
Having childhood attention deficit hyperactivity disorder could lead to a life of obesity, even if ADHD symptoms disappear in adulthood, a new study shows.
11:09 PM EDT, May 17, 2013
How to avoid a return to the hospital
The only thing less pleasant than a stay in the hospital is having to go right back there to deal with complications. And experts say it happens all too often.
8:51 PM EDT, May 11, 2013
Boys have eating disorders too
Since the 1970s it's been common knowledge that eating disorders are a significant issue. But the problem isn't limited to young girls and women. Experts say a growing number of boys and men are admitting their own struggles with anorexia, bulimia and binge eating — and seeking treatment for...
2:38 PM EDT, May 15, 2013
Slightly high lead tied to less reading readiness
Children with even slightly elevated blood lead levels are less likely to be ready to read when starting kindergarten, according to a new study.
3:35 PM EDT, May 16, 2013
Lifestyle change may ease heart risk from job stress
Being under stress at work is tied to a higher risk of heart problems, new research confirms - but putting down the beer bottle and going for a walk may help.
5:07 PM EDT, May 16, 2013
Ewwww -- poop in pools more common than you may think, CDC warns
Attention swimmers: More than half of the public pools tested in a new study contained bacterial evidence that someone may have pooped in the pool.
12:22 AM EDT, May 13, 2013
Teen texting at the wheel tied to more driving risks
Teenagers who text while driving are also more likely to engage in other risky activities, such as riding with an intoxicated driver or not wearing a seatbelt, a new study suggests.
5:04 PM EDT, May 14, 2013
Number of abused U.S. children unchanged since 2008
The number of U.S. children who were exposed to violence, crime and abuse in 2011 was essentially unchanged from 2008, according to a new government survey.
7:29 PM EDT, May 15, 2013
How early can a child be diagnosed with autism?
Q: What symptoms should parents watch for if they are worried a young child may have autism? Is it possible to diagnose autism before age 2?
2:55 PM EDT, May 14, 2013
Anger linked to raised heart attack risk
Bottling up emotions is thought to harm both mind and body, but a new study suggests that the opposite extreme may be no better.
4:45 PM EDT, May 10, 2013
What do we spend to preserve nature? $40 billion
Some say that you can’t put a price on precious natural resources. As of this week, you can.
7:20 PM EDT, May 10, 2013
Earth's climate changed dramatically when CO2 hit 400, study says
Wondering where Earth’s climate is headed with an atmosphere that is 400 parts per million carbon dioxide?
May 11, 2013
The world through a newborn's senses
Newborns arrive in this world somewhat half-baked or, in the more measured words of evolutionary anthropologist Wanda Trevathan of the University of New Mexico, "a little unfinished, if you will."
3:52 PM EDT, May 9, 2013
Pets may help cut heart disease risk: American Heart Association
Anyone wanting to live longer and cut their risk of suffering from heart disease might want to consider getting a pet.
12:04 AM EDT, May 9, 2013
U.S. spending on medicines fell for first time in 2012
Patent expirations on big-name drugs such as Lipitor and Plavix has resulted in modestly less spending on medicines in the United States for the first time in at least 55 years, according to a report released on Thursday.
2:59 PM EDT, May 9, 2013
Give immigrants healthcare access: U.S. kid doctors
A group representing U.S. pediatricians said this week that its members should pay special attention to the healthcare needs of immigrant children and support health insurance for all — regardless of legal status.
7:15 PM EDT, May 8, 2013
Dissecting laughter, a serious business
The bleak chamber of an MRI machine is among the least funny places on earth, but a group of German researchers is using the device to probe the origins of laughter in the human brain.
1:35 PM EDT, May 8, 2013
Many with hepatitis C don't get needed follow-up tests, CDC says
Half of all patients who have tested positive for hepatitis C have not had follow-up testing to see if they are still infected, according to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention.
8:45 AM EDT, May 7, 2013
Women's brains more likely than men's to respond to crying babies
Why do kids grow up to cry "Mommy" more often than "Daddy"? The National Institutes of Health has an answer: The wailing of a hungry infant is less likely to bother a man than a woman.
May 5, 2013
Many opt for high-deductible health plans despite risks
Alice Marie Francis believes it's important to have health insurance, but finding a plan that fit her budget was no easy task. "Money is tight," says the 50-year-old Burbank mother of two, whose children are insured by their father's work-based policy.
7:56 PM EDT, May 6, 2013
FDA warns pregnant migraine sufferers against anti-seizure drugs
The Food and Drug Administration is warning physicians that women who suffer migraine headaches and are pregnant or may become pregnant should not use the drugs valproate or valproic acid to prevent the severe headaches, in light of new evidence showing those taking the drugs during pregnancy have...
4:49 PM EDT, May 6, 2013
Many kids with suicide on the mind have guns in the home
More than 17 percent of children considered to be at risk of committing suicide have guns in the home that could make a passing destructive impulse deadly, and between 15 percent and 30 percent of those adolescents told researchers they had access to those guns, to bullets, or to both.
4:34 PM EDT, May 6, 2013
Go suck on a pacifier? Adults' mouth bacteria may help babies
Forget boiling, or antiseptic wipes: The best way to clean a Binky may be putting it in your own mouth.
3:39 PM EDT, May 3, 2013
Moms' iodine levels tied to kids' poor test scores
Mothers who are mildly iodine deficient are more likely to have children who perform poorly in spelling, grammar and literacy, according to a new study from Australia.
3:39 PM EDT, May 2, 2013
Programs to reduce antibiotic use often work
Programs that attempt to encourage or force hospital doctors to cut back on prescribing antibiotics achieve that goal and help reduce the number of dangerous drug-resistant bacteria, says a review of past research.
7:27 PM EDT, May 1, 2013
IRS deals employers a setback in healthcare rules: lawyers
Employer-sponsored healthcare plans cannot include most "wellness programs" as part of minimum coverage requirements, dealing a setback to many businesses, according to new federal rules for U.S. President Barack Obama's healthcare overhaul starting next year.
8:00 AM EDT, April 30, 2013
Developers dive in to create a wealth of autism apps
At times, Andy Shih still finds himself overwhelmed by the groundswell of interest in autism apps he's seen in the three years since Apple Inc. released the first iPad.
3:42 PM EDT, April 30, 2013
How much do financial interests sway researchers?
Funding from drug companies and other potential conflicts of interest did not influence the conclusions reached by researchers testing new cancer treatments over the past few years, according to a new analysis.
4:06 PM EDT, April 29, 2013
U.S.-born kids have more allergies, asthma
Kids and teens who are born abroad and immigrate to the United States are about half as likely to have asthma and allergies as those who are born in the U.S., according to a new study.
6:38 PM EDT, April 29, 2013
Healthcare costs to negate state, local budget improvements: outlook
State and local governments can expect ever-widening budget gaps through 2060, as rising healthcare costs for both citizens and public employees surpass recent improvements in their revenue, the Government Accountability Office said on Monday.
5:03 PM EDT, April 29, 2013
Your child's brain on math: Don't bother?
Parents whose children are struggling with math often view intense tutoring as the best way to help them master crucial skills, but a new study released on Monday suggests that for some kids even that is a lost cause.
7:13 PM EDT, April 28, 2013
Austerity is hurting our health, say researchers
Austerity is having a devastating effect on health in Europe and North America, driving suicide, depression and infectious diseases and reducing access to medicines and care, researchers said on Monday.
April 27, 2013
Of course you're stressed. Just look at you.
We all know the face of stress: the clenched jaw, the furrowed brow, the intense stare. And, really, it's not a bad look. We all do some of our best work under pressure. Adrenaline and other stress hormones give us the kick start we need to meet deadlines and generally get ahead in life.
1:52 PM EDT, April 25, 2013
Heavy use of herbicide Roundup linked to health dangers: study
Heavy use of the world's most popular herbicide, Roundup, could be linked to a range of health problems and diseases, including Parkinson's, infertility and cancers, according to a new study.
9:00 AM EDT, April 25, 2013
Physicians debate whether patients need to know they're dying
physicians have not ceased debating one of the stickiest and most universal ethical quandaries of medical practice: How, when and why does one inform a patient that he or she is dying?
5:59 PM EDT, April 24, 2013
Spending teenage years in the 'stroke belt' seems to increase risk
Spending adolescence in the “stroke belt” of the southeastern United States could make people more vulnerable to stroke later in life – even if they eventually move elsewhere, a study published Wednesday suggests.
2:20 PM EDT, April 24, 2013
Aging U.S. to drive up heart-related health costs: study
The costs linked to heart failure in the United States are expected to more than double within the next two decades as the population ages and treatments help patients with the disease live longer.
4:54 PM EDT, April 23, 2013
Psychiatric insurance approval takes time in ERs
Doctors spend about 40 minutes getting approvals from insurance companies to get a psychiatric patient from the emergency room to a hospital bed, according to a new study.
6:31 PM EDT, April 23, 2013
College binge drinking raises risk of heart disease
Step away from the beer pong table! College binge drinking may leave you with more than just embarrassing memories and excruciating hangovers.
6:12 PM EDT, April 22, 2013
Not enough data to support suicide screening: panel
There is not enough evidence to recommend universal screening to find people at risk of suicide, according to a government-backed panel.
April 20, 2013
Set a goal but didn't follow through? Tips to resetting habits
OK, you've had nearly a third of the year. Lost that weight? Smoking a thing of the past? Nicer to your husband? If you are like many people, such resolutions have disappeared as completely as the bubbles in your Champagne toast. But you can start again.
3:20 PM EDT, April 18, 2013
Brain work-outs may help preserve mental function
A review of the best evidence for interventions to prevent declining brain power finds that only one — mental exercise — consistently makes a difference.
3:18 PM EDT, April 18, 2013
Exercise, diet may keep sleep apnea from worsening
Losing weight through exercise and healthier eating may have long-term benefits for people with mild sleep apnea, a new study suggests.
5:31 PM EDT, April 18, 2013
Negative views tied to child maltreatment
Mothers-to-be who believe infants dirty their diapers to bother their parents or purposefully ignore their mothers may be more likely to abuse or neglect their young children, a new study suggests.
4:45 PM EDT, April 17, 2013
Doctors order fewer tests when they know prices: study
Doctors order fewer laboratory tests during a patient's hospital stay if they know how much the tests cost, according to a new study.
8:30 AM EDT, April 17, 2013
Our dogs and our kids bind us (and our microbiomes) together
People who live with canine companions — dog owners, some would call us — have certain common quirks: a fondness for wet kisses, for instance, and a compulsion to grab a fistful of fur and ask, "Who's a good boy (or girl)?" with no expectation of an answer.
7:39 PM EDT, April 15, 2013
Video chat: Meditation coach Mark Coleman on mind-calming techniques
Feel too scattered to be mindful? Trying to calm your mind but meditation seems way out of your reach? Here’s your chance to get some advice from a longtime and well-known meditation teacher, Mark Coleman. He’ll be taking questions from people who join our Spreecast chat from 11 to 11:30...
8:30 AM EDT, April 15, 2013
Can a company patent your DNA? Supreme Court hears BRCA gene case
Can a private company own rights to your DNA?
12:12 PM EDT, April 12, 2013
Patients often biased against fat doctors, too
People are less likely to trust and follow the advice of an overweight doctor, according to a new online survey that suggests "weight bias" may go both ways in the doctor-patient relationship.
April 6, 2013
Try This: 'Elephant ears' massage helps kids perk up
If you're dealing with tired, sluggish kids who aren't able to listen or pay attention, try this quick mind-body trick.
7:37 PM EDT, April 10, 2013
Should seniors qualify as living donors?
Robert Brown was healthy, willing and a good match: So why not give a kidney to his wife, who otherwise would need dialysis?
April 10, 2013
Sleep helps brain retain new information
Sleep helps the brain to better remember new material and differentiate between two new pieces of information, a study by University of Chicago scientists has found.
11:49 AM EDT, April 8, 2013
Ways to help you find your best self
After searching for years, Mariel Hemingway has found the happiness equation that works for her. Her hope now is to inspire others to do as she did and find their best lives with her new documentary film.
11:04 AM EDT, April 3, 2013
Drinking, drugs more common for kids of deployed
Teens and preteens with a parent deployed in the military may be more likely to binge drink or misuse prescription drugs, according to a new study.
2:55 PM EDT, April 3, 2013
What treatment's best for hyperactive preschoolers?
Parents of preschoolers at risk for attention deficit/hyperactivity disorder (ADHD) may first want to try behavior training before they put their children on medications, suggests a new analysis of past studies.
4:23 PM EDT, April 1, 2013
End-of-life talks lacking between doctors, patients
Although many older patients in Canada have thought about end-of-life care and discussed it with family members, a new study suggests fewer have spoken with doctors and had their wishes noted accurately in their medical record.
7:42 PM EDT, April 3, 2013
Some mothers can't breast-feed
In an era when "breast is best" is trumpeted by the government, by the medical profession and even by baby formula companies, an estimated 1 to 5 percent of women are physically unable to produce enough milk to feed their babies.
7:47 PM EDT, April 3, 2013
Is new pneumonia vaccine better than old one?
Q: I heard there's a new pneumonia shot. Is it better than the old one?
7:50 PM EDT, April 3, 2013
Living the hallucinations he's penned
It was about 4:30 in the morning and something stirred Jay Cooper awake.
5:38 PM EDT, April 3, 2013
Diagnosis could make parents want to medicate baby, study says
Living with a baby who vomits and cries all the time can make a parent worried (yes, I know this first-hand). If a doctor diagnoses a problem, and there’s medication to treat that problem, it’s easy to understand why parents might eagerly accept it.
6:45 PM EDT, April 2, 2013
Another vaccine fails to prevent staph infections, study finds
Staph infections remain a significant problem for hospital patients, and scientists are trying to develop vaccines to prevent Staphylococcus aureus bacteria from establishing itself in vital areas like the heart, lungs or blood. But it’s turning out to be a difficult task: A promising vaccine intended to protect heart-surgery patients from staph infections worked no better than a placebo, a new study reported.
6:18 PM EDT, March 29, 2013
U.S. to reexamine health effects of cellphone radio waves
U.S. regulators are looking into how radio frequencies emitted by cellphones and other wireless devices affect people amid lingering concerns about the risks of cellphone radiation.
3:18 PM EDT, March 28, 2013
Prebiotics in baby formula and eczema: mixed picture
There's some evidence to suggest that putting prebiotics in baby formula protects children against the skin condition eczema, according to a fresh look at past research.
1:41 PM EDT, March 28, 2013
Texting fails to boost flu shots in pregnant women
Text message reminders don't increase flu vaccinations in pregnant women, according to a small pilot study.
8:30 AM EDT, March 28, 2013
Do companies that refuse to hire smokers help them or harm them?
The Cleveland Clinic is a world-famous medical center that is consistently ranked among the top hospitals in the country. It goes without saying that the health professionals who work there don’t condone smoking. In fact, since 2007, the clinic has refused to hire anyone who smokes.
8:55 PM EDT, March 27, 2013
Knowing when to let go
My father, sister and I sat in the near-empty Chinese restaurant, picking at our plates, unable to avoid the question that we'd gathered to discuss: When was it time to let mom die?
9:05 PM EDT, March 27, 2013
Videos illuminate realities of end-stage procedures
End-of-life choices and treatment decisions are rarely discussed in the medical community, despite expert advice meant to encourage communication, studies suggest. As a result, many patients spend their final days receiving invasive treatments that they might not have chosen if they had known more...
8:46 PM EDT, March 27, 2013
Complementing end-of-life care
Of the countless painful decisions surrounding a loved one's end-of-life care, among the trickiest is how to provide physical comfort in a way that also provides a dignified ending.
8:00 AM EDT, March 26, 2013
Which is worse, isolation or loneliness?
Henry David Thoreau relished isolation but didn't feel lonely. Marilyn Monroe was a social butterfly but died lonely.
2:54 PM EDT, March 25, 2013
Temporary tattoos can cause long-lasting allergic reactions: FDA
That temporary henna tattoo may leave a longer-lasting physical effect than you had hoped for, and it may not be pretty, the Food and Drug Administration said Monday.
4:37 PM EDT, March 25, 2013
Resident work hour limits introduce new concerns
Restrictions on work hours for doctors-in-training may end up inadvertently limiting their educational opportunities and increasing errors, new research suggests.
March 27, 2013
Health care law to spur need for doctors
The estimated 29 million people who are required by federal law to buy health insurance next year will spark a demand for more physicians and other primary care providers in some parts of the nation that won't be met quickly, according to a new study.
7:39 PM EDT, March 21, 2013
As 'telehealth' grows, experts question cost benefits
Monitoring patients at home using modern technology, so-called 'telehealth', is tipped as the next big thing in healthcare, but a new study by British researchers suggests it may not be worth the extra expense.
March 23, 2013
Anger issue: When phone goes from mobile to aerial
On a recent evening outside a San Fernando Valley movie theater, a young man startled passersby when he hurled his cellphone onto the sidewalk. As he sheepishly picked up the pieces, he apologized and said he was having a bad day.
7:48 PM EDT, March 20, 2013
Bacteria crawling all over things you don't even think about
Given how often they're on the floor, occasionally inside a public restroom, it should come as no surprise that a third of women's purses crawl with E. coli.
8:20 PM EDT, March 20, 2013
Through Feldenkrais, simple movements ease muscle pain
By the time people come to see Lisa Walker, they're usually desperate.
4:51 PM EDT, March 15, 2013
House-warming improvements linked to better health
In a review of existing evidence on the health value of fixes to housing, researchers say that improving buildings to enhance "thermal comfort" — with central heating or insulation, for instance — pays off in both physical and mental well-being.
5:11 PM EDT, March 14, 2013
More U.S. drivers texting, chatting than Western Europeans: CDC
More U.S. drivers chatted on the phone or used email and text messaging while behind the wheel in 2011 than did their counterparts in several Western European countries, according to the CDC.
8:16 PM EDT, March 13, 2013
Mounting trouble with artificial hips
Two months after hip replacement surgery, Scott Ebert's leg started giving way. His joint began slipping. Razor blades of pain pierced his foot. An inexplicably large bruise grew along his calf. An excruciating burning feeling filled his hip. His ears rang. Doctor after doctor didn't know why....
12:35 PM EDT, March 12, 2013
Omega-3 DHA may prevent earliest preemies
For pregnant women, supplements of an omega-3 fatty acid called Docosahexaenoic acid (DHA) may help to reduce the likelihood of giving birth very prematurely, according to a new study.
4:21 PM EDT, March 12, 2013
Breastfeeding may not ward off child obesity
Breastfeeding does not seem to protect babies against becoming overweight or obese kids, a large, new study says.
5:07 PM EDT, March 12, 2013
Family docs can treat simple sleep apnea: study
With some basic training, primary care doctors and nurses could treat uncomplicated sleep apnea cases, according to a new study from Australia that highlights the potential cost savings compared to treatment at specialty sleep medicine centers.
1:39 PM EDT, March 11, 2013
Pet frogs linked to salmonella outbreak in kids: CDC
Small water frogs marketed and sold as pets are linked to an outbreak of Salmonella infections from 2008 to 2011, according to a report from the U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC).
