Topical issues

Beta-blockers, a type of drug frequently prescribed for people with heart disease, may not reduce the risk of a second heart attack, death, or stroke in people with coronary artery disease (CAD). In people with risk factors for heart disease, beta-blockers may increase the risk of such events, according to findings from a recent large […]

Chances are, you’re sitting inside right now. But do you know what’s in the air that you’re breathing? How much do you know about your in home air quality? Most people spend the majority of time indoors, whether in homes, workplaces, school, or other buildings. Yet indoor air pollutants are often abundant in homes and

A few mice caused havoc in the United States during the summer of 2012, as officials from Yosemite National Park warned up to 10,000 park visitors that they might have been exposed to a deadly form of hantavirus (hanta virus). As of September 1, 2012, at least six people had fallen ill from infection with

The Patient Protection and Affordable Care Act (ACA), popularly known as “healthcare reform,” passed a major hurdle on Thursday, June 28 when the Supreme Court of the United States upheld all but one of the law’s major provisions. While the court ruled that the “individual mandate” (the requirement that almost all Americans purchase health insurance

On June 6, 2012, a cross-Atlantic research team reported results of a large, retrospective cohort study, which suggest that children who have several computed tomography (CT) scans during childhood may be at greater risk of leukemia and brain cancer. However, the study authors observed, the influence of CT scans on the absolute risk of developing

If you’ve tried to start a fitness program only to lose it amongst a pile of forgotten New Year’s resolutions, don’t give up. Summer is just around the corner, and long, sunny days invite more outdoor activity. Here’s how to make a fitness program a fun part of your daily routine. We know. You made

Are you the parent of a preschooler? Do you struggle to prioritize work, play, discipline, chores, bedtime, meals, tantrums, and more? Does outdoor play time often get left off the list? Findings of a Seattle-based research team suggest that you’re not alone: Only half of preschool age children in the United States spend at least

Vitamin D levels higher than the low end of normal do not provide any benefits and may actually increase the risk of heart attack and other heart problems, according to new research from a Johns Hopkins University research team. The study was led by Muhammad Amer, M.D., an assistant professor in the division of general

Are you among the thousands of people pledging to lose thirty pounds, quit smoking, eat healthier, run a marathon, save money, go back to school, or any of the thousands of other pledges people make to themselves every January 1? Do your resolutions usually last much longer than January 15? Thought not.  It may be

With Christmas right around the corner, many procrastinating parents, aunts, uncles, grandmas, and grandpas are madly scrambling to find last-minute gifts for the kids on their holiday gift lists. Should you choose educational toys? Video games? Electronic gadgets? Old-fashioned toys? If you’re one of those procrastinating parents, don’t despair. Here are some guidelines for choosing

Is there a caregiver on your holiday gift list this year? If so, you’re not alone. With an estimated 65 million informal and family caregivers in the United States, representing about 29 percent of the U.S. population, there are plenty of caregivers out there who need some caring themselves this holiday season. Caregiving can be

Kids drink as many or more sugary drinks when schools ban only soda – and not other sugar-sweetened beverages – as in schools that do nothing to decrease children’s access to high-calorie beverages. Even more discouraging, comprehensive policies banning sugar-sweetened beverages such as soda in school are only slightly more effective. Schools that ban all