Health and Wellness News

THURSDAY, Nov. 27, 2014 (HealthDay News) - Thanksgiving meals can pose a challenge for people who have to eat a gluten-free diet, an expert says. Many traditional Thanksgiving dishes - such as turkey, corn, sweet potatoes and cranberry sauce - are gluten-free, but "when it comes to pies, stuffing, gravy, etc., gluten-free substitutes may need to be considered," Dr. Anca Safta, director of the Gluten...
November 27, 2014
(HealthDay News) - Your feet can really take a beating from all the walking and standing at holiday functions. The American Podiatric Medical Association offers this advice: - Moisturize daily to ease dry, cracked and tired feet. Stretch your feet regularly, and treat them to a massage at the end of the day. Indulge in a pedicure at home or at a salon, but cut toes straight across, remove dead skin...
November 27, 2014
(HealthDay News) - Read to lace up your ice skates and enjoy some winter exercise? Make sure you're prepared. The National Safety Council offers these suggestions: - Make sure skates support your ankles well and fit comfortably. Take skates to have blades professionally sharpened before skating season starts. Only skate in areas that are prepared and safe for skating. Make sure you know the basics,...
November 27, 2014
(HealthDay News) - While Thanksgiving usually is a time of indulgence, there are plenty of nutritious traditional foods. The Harvard Medical School suggests this healthier Thanksgiving fare: - Stick to turkey, as it's lean and nutrient-rich. But avoid the skin, which is higher in saturated fat. Make your own cranberry dish to reap the benefits of the antioxidant-rich fruit without as much sugar. Make...
November 26, 2014
(HealthDay News) - Healthy habits are key to a healthier lifestyle and weight loss, but it's not always easy. The Academy of Nutrition and Dietetics offers these suggestions: - Eat breakfast every morning, and make it a healthy one. Opt for lean proteins, whole grains, and fruit and vegetables. Limit coffee intake to no more than three cups per day, and avoid adding fattening creamers and sugar. Bring...
November 26, 2014
WEDNESDAY, Nov. 26, 2014 (HealthDay News) - Obesity is associated with close to 500,000 new cancer cases worldwide each year, and nearly two-thirds of obesity-related cancers occur in North America and Europe, a new report shows. The analysis of data from 184 countries showed that excess weight was associated with 345,000 (5.4 percent) of new cancers in women in 2012, and 136,000 (1.9 percent) of new...
November 26, 2014
WEDNESDAY, Nov. 26, 2014 (HealthDay News) - Taking acetaminophen, best known as Tylenol, during pregnancy or giving it to young children does not raise the risk of childhood asthma, a new study finds. Concerns have been raised that the use of acetaminophen during pregnancy and/or early in a child's life may be associated with the development of asthma. But the study authors say that respiratory infections...
November 26, 2014
WEDNESDAY, Nov. 26, 2014 (HealthDay News) - People with rheumatoid arthritis may be more likely to achieve remission if they maintain a healthy body weight, according to new research. The study found that those who were heaviest had almost 65 percent reduced odds of disease remission. Being underweight also lowered the odds of remission. "Medication for rheumatoid arthritis is not as effective on the...
November 26, 2014
Here are some of the latest health and medical news developments, compiled by the editors of HealthDay: - Supreme Court Justice Ruth Bader Ginsburg Receives Heart Stent - U.S. Supreme Court Justice Ruth Bader Ginsburg had a stent placed in her heart's right coronary artery during surgery Wednesday. The procedure was conducted at MedStar Washington Hospital Center after Ginsburg experienced discomfort...
November 26, 2014
WEDNESDAY, Nov. 26, 2014 (HealthDay News) - Fewer American adults are smoking cigarettes than ever, health officials said. In fact, the rate of cigarette smoking has dropped from about 21 percent in 2005 to 18 percent in 2013. That means the number of cigarette smokers dropped from 45.1 million to 42.1 million, despite the increasing population, according to the U.S. Centers for Disease Control and...
November 26, 2014
WEDNESDAY, Nov. 26, 2014 (HealthDay News) - New regulations to reduce emissions of the smog-causing pollutant ozone from power plants and factories were issued Wednesday by the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency. Ozone has been linked to asthma, heart disease and premature death. The new rules would lower the current limit for ozone pollution from 75 parts per billion to between 65 to 70 parts per...
November 26, 2014
WEDNESDAY, Nov. 26, 2014 (HealthDay News) - While people have long believed their dogs understand what they're saying, a new study suggests they are processing the meaning and emotion of words in a human-like way. Past research has shown that dogs respond to different parts of human speech - including the actual content and the emotional tone, said study author Victoria Ratcliffe. But her team's findings...
November 26, 2014
WEDNESDAY, Nov. 26, 2014 (HealthDay News) - When you're planning your holiday get-away, don't forget to factor high altitude into your vacation sports - such as skiing or hiking, a sports medicine specialist cautions. Outdoor explorers may fail to take altitude into account when visiting high-altitude recreation areas, which puts them at risk of developing fatigue and other symptoms related to being...
November 26, 2014
WEDNESDAY, Nov. 26, 2014 (HealthDay News) - Deaf teens have stronger language and reading skills if their hearing problems were detected at an early age, a new study suggests. Researchers looked at a group of deaf children in England who were diagnosed with permanent hearing loss through an infant screening program conducted in the 1990s. A follow-up of the children at age 8 found that those who were...
November 26, 2014
WEDNESDAY, Nov. 26, 2014 (HealthDay News) - Some people's brains seem pre-wired to acquire a second language, new research suggests. But anyone who tries to move beyond their mother tongue will likely gain a brain boost, the small study finds. The brain "becomes more connected and integrated after learning," said study co-author Ping Li, co-director of the Center for Brain, Behavior and Cognition at...
November 26, 2014
WEDNESDAY, Nov. 26, 2014 (HealthDay News) - More than half of Americans with dementia have never undergone screening of their thinking and memory skills, a new study suggests. As reported online Nov. 26 in -Neurology-, "approximately 1.8 million Americans over the age of 70 with dementia have never had an evaluation of their cognitive [mental] abilities," study author Dr. Vikas Kotagal, of the University...
November 26, 2014
WEDNESDAY, Nov. 26, 2014 (HealthDay News) - Even after they're cleared to play following a concussion, baseball players' batting skills are worse than normal, which suggests they may not be fully recovered, a new study suggests. "Although players who sustain a concussion may be symptom-free and cleared by MLB [Major League Baseball] protocol to return to play, the residual effects of concussion on...
November 26, 2014
WEDNESDAY, Nov. 26, 2014 (HealthDay News) - An experimental Ebola vaccine appears to be safe and produces an immune system response that could protect people against the deadly virus, according to early clinical trial results reported by the U.S. National Institutes of Health. The success of the phase I clinical trial for the vaccine paves the way for field-testing it in the Ebola-stricken West African...
November 26, 2014
WEDNESDAY, Nov. 26, 2014 (HealthDay News) - Most babies and young children don't need medicines if they have a cold, the U.S. Food and Drug Administration says. Over-the-counter (OTC) cold and cough medicine should not be given to children younger than 2 because they could cause serious and potentially deadly side effects, the agency warned. American adults average about three colds a year, but children...
November 26, 2014
(HealthDay News) - Allergic conjunctivitis, sometimes called allergic pinkeye, is characterized by red, crusty, itchy and watery eyes. The American Academy of Family Physicians mentions these common triggers: - Ragweed, grass, tree and other pollens. Animal dander or secretions, such as saliva. Irritating cosmetics, perfumes or medications. Smoke and air pollution. Copyright © 2014 HealthDay. All rights...
November 25, 2014
TUESDAY, Nov. 25, 2014 (HealthDay News) - New rules announced Tuesday by the U.S. Food and Drug Administration will have many restaurant chains posting calorie counts on their menus, and the rules even apply to movie theater popcorn and ice cream parlor fare. "Americans get about a third of their calories away from home, often consuming less nutritious food and underestimating the calories they eat,"...
November 25, 2014
TUESDAY, Nov. 25, 2014 (HealthDay News) - A brain abnormality may be responsible for more than 40 percent of deaths from sudden infant death syndrome (SIDS), a new study suggests. The abnormality is in the hippocampus, a part of the brain that influences breathing, heart rate and body temperature. This abnormality may disrupt the brain's control of breathing and heart rate during sleep or during brief...
November 25, 2014
TUESDAY, Nov. 25, 2014 (HealthDay News) - Dutch researchers have developed a device that may reduce the discomfort many women feel during a mammogram while preserving the quality of the image. Breast compression is necessary in mammography for imaging purposes, but it can be painful. The new device displays the average pressure during compression, so the pressure can be adjusted and standardized, which...
November 25, 2014
TUESDAY, Nov. 25, 2014 (HealthDay News) - Eating a serving a day of yogurt may lower your risk of developing type 2 diabetes, new research suggests. "The data we have gathered show that yogurt consumption can have significant benefit in reducing the risk of diabetes," said senior study author Dr. Frank Hu, a professor of nutrition and epidemiology at Harvard School of Public Health, in Boston. "It's...
November 25, 2014
(HealthDay News) - The calendar may not say so, but winter is already here for many parts of the United States. So make sure you're prepared to shovel snow. The American Academy of Orthopaedic Surgeons offers these suggestions: - Snow shoveling is taxing on the heart, so make sure your doctor says it's safe. Wear lightweight, water-repellent clothing that's insulating and allows for ventilation. Wear...
November 25, 2014