Latest science news in Health & Medicine
Quebec City legionnaires' outbreak to get public inquiry
A coroner's inquest into an outbreak of legionnaires' disease that has killed nine people has been ordered by the Quebec government, Public Security Minister Robert Dutil announced.
Tropical Storm Isaac can damage your health
Drastic climate changes brought on by severe storms can spur allergy and asthma symptoms for sufferers across the country.
Well: Corn Recipes for Health
Sweet corn can add flavor to salads and salsas, and it can be used to make creamy but dairy-free soups and puddings, writes Martha Rose Shulman in this week's Recipes...
Cholera Sweeps West African Slums
The spread of the disease that is transmitted through contact with contaminated feces was made worse this year by flooding in the sprawling shantytowns of Sierra Leone and Guinea.
Sleep improves memory in people with Parkinson's disease
People with Parkinson's disease performed markedly better on a test of working memory after a night's sleep, and sleep disorders can interfere with that benefit, researchers have shown.
Scientists identify protein that promotes cancers, heart disease; create substance to block its effects
Strong scientific evidence suggests that high levels of a blood protein called galectin-3 may increase the risk of heart attacks, cancer and other diseases, and help forecast the outcome of...
As circumcision declines, health costs will go up, study projects
A team of researchers estimates that every procedure not performed could lead to significant increases in lifetime medical expenses because of STDs.Declining rates of circumcision among infants will translate into...
Vitamin D’s impact on infection
A study led by Harvard researchers of Mongolian schoolchildren supports the possibility that daily vitamin D supplementation can reduce the risk of respiratory infections in winter. In a report that will appear in...
Nanoparticles added to platelets double internal injury survival rate
Nanoparticles tailored to latch onto blood platelets rapidly create healthy clots and nearly double the survival rate in the vital [...]
Model shows dramatic global decline in ratio of workers to retired people
A new statistical model predicts that by 2100 the number of people older than 85 worldwide will increase more than previously estimated, and there will be fewer working-age adults to...
Couch-potato kids are biggest child health problem in the U.S. , adults say
Adults across the U.S. rate not getting enough exercise as the top health concern for children in 2012, according to a new poll on children’s health.
Specific toxic byproduct of heat-processed food may lead to increased body weight and diabetes
Researchers at Mount Sinai School of Medicine have identified a common compound in the modern diet that could play a [...]
Stroke disrupts how brain controls muscle synergies
The simple act of picking up a pencil requires the coordination of dozens of muscles: The eyes and head must turn toward the object as the hand reaches forward and the fingers...
The New Old Age Blog: Among Many Aging Americans, Surprising Optimism
A survey finds that many older Americans are optimistic about their future -- perhaps unduly so.
Vital Signs: Patterns: Heart-Attack Test Rules Out False Alarms
A new test can discern in under an hour whether a patient is having a heart attack, according to a study.
Vital Signs: Screening: Baby Boomers Urged to Get Hepatitis C Test
The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention recommended last week that all Americans born from 1945 through 1965 get a one-time hepatitis C test.
Vital Signs: Prevention: Chickenpox Down 80 Percent Since 2000
Incidence of the disease in the United States fell by 80 percent between 2000 and 2010, the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention reported last week - largely a result...
Ovulation spurred by newfound semen ingredient
Growth-boosting protein may act as pregnancy-protecting hormone in humans
Doctors Group to Announce New Policy on Circumcision
An influential group of pediatrics is expected to release a new policy regarding infant circumcision next week.
Coconut water is an excellent sports drink -- for light exercise
Coconut water (Coconut liquid endosperm) is widely consumed in many countries as a refreshing beverage but its unique chemical composition of electrolytes and nutrients can make it a good natural...
Obesity, metabolic factors linked to faster cognitive decline
People who are obese and also have high blood pressure and other risk factors called metabolic abnormalities may experience a faster decline in their cognitive skills over time than others,...
Toward a portable emergency treatment for stopping life-threatening internal bleeding
Progress is being made toward a new emergency treatment for internal bleeding - counterpart to the tourniquets, pressure bandages and Quick Clot products that keep people from bleeding to death...
Dual action polyclonal antibody may offer more effective, safer protection against osteoporosis
A new study suggests that a polyclonal antibody that blocks follicle-stimulating hormone (FSH) in mice without ovaries might offer a more effective way to prevent or arrest osteoporosis than currently...
A look at cultural traditions on death
A bioethics conference will focus on spiritual practices about dying, including whether the body is a temple — or a prison. Back when my father's life was coming to an...
State suing doctor over billing tactics
Jeannette Martello's aggressive tactics to collect fees from emergency room patients — including lawsuits and taking out liens on their homes — prompt unprecedented court case by state officials. When...
FOR KIDS: Airports that speed germs’ spread
Scientists identify which U.S airports are able to spread disease most effectively
Electrifying success in raising antioxidant levels in sweet potatoes
Already ranked by some as number one in nutrition among vegetables, the traditional sweet potato can be nutritionally supercharged with a simple, inexpensive electric current treatment that increases its content...
New coupons aim to keep people off generic drugs
TRENTON, N.J. (AP) -- If brand-name prescription medicines cost you as little as generic pills, which would you choose? A few drugmakers are betting Americans will...