A five-week-old baby has died of whooping cough in San Diego, the second infant death from the disease in California this year. The otherwise healthy baby died on Friday, NBC San Diego reports. Officials have not revealed further details on the case. Newborns are especially susceptible to the disease because they are too young for […] More
Smoking, even socially, is linked to an increased risk of brain bleeding, according to a new study reported in the journal . That seems to be especially true for women, who are known to have a higher risk for brain bleeding than men. The study involved data from 65,521 people in Finland who answered survey […] More
If you’ve ever turned down a happy hour invite because you’re on antibiotics, you probably know that alcohol and medication can be a bad, even dangerous combination. But when doctors say not to mix drinking with drugs, are they really talking about one beer or glass of wine? That depends on the medication in question—and […] More
All-time summer heat records keep buckling under the weight of rising global temps—a trend that hits home, literally and figuratively, when you receive your monthly air conditioning bill. Unfortunately, mistakes you’re making with your home AC may be undercutting its efficiency, effectiveness, and safety, experts say. “If you have a badly maintained system, it can […] More
Eyes red-rimmed and mouth set in obstinate frown, my 4-year-old son Achilles was hungry and angry. He was, in other words, hangry. And the only thing worse than a hangry adult, as any parent knows, is a hangry toddler. Achilles has been hangry for much of his short life. My son is both a stubborn […] More
There’s growing evidence that the heart and brain are connected, since both rely on keeping the blood system healthy. Now, in a study published in the journal , researchers find that changes in levels of LDL cholesterol may be especially harmful to cognitive functions. The scientists, led by Dr. Roelof Smit at Leiden University Medical […] More
Omega-3s are the fats that made fish famous. famous: fish oil is now the most popular natural product in America among U.S. adults—8% of whom take it—and children. Our bodies need these essential unsaturated fats but can’t produce them, so we rely on sources like seafood or supplements to get enough. But as omega-3s have […] More
An all-inclusive vacation with drinks and food sounds like a traveler’s paradise, but it’s probably a nightmare for your health. Often sought out by rowdy Spring breakers and budget-conscious families, all-inclusive places promise food, drinks and lodging at a reasonable price tag. But with the exception of a handful of places, you usually just get […] More
Prince Harry took a HIV blood test live on the British royal family’s Facebook Thursday to demonstrate how easy it is to get checked. The 31-year-old royal was tested at the Burrell Street Sexual Health Centre in London and got his results back within a minute — the test was negative. “It is amazing how […] More
A baby born in Texas is confirmed to have microcephaly due to an infection with the Zika virus. The child was born with the birth defect in Harris County, Texas, a region that includes Houston. The Texas Department of State Health Services (DSHS) announced that they received laboratory confirmation of a past Zika infection in […] More
About 750,000 Americans travel abroad to receive medical care and plastic surgery every year, usually in hopes of cheaper rates. But a new report from U.S. health officials reveals that some Americans have contracted severe infections from getting plastic surgery—including breast augmentations, liposuction and buttock lifts, among other procedures—in foreign countries, highlighting the possible risks […] More
You’re minding your own business, cleaning your bathroom, when an unwelcome guest scuttles out of nowhere. Few among us wouldn’t recoil in disgust—or flat out run away—from the dreaded cockroach. And why shouldn’t we? Roaches are big and slick and thrive in the dank, dark areas of our homes that most of us find repellent. […] More