by Fayeza Ahmed, University of Maine Adherence to a Mediterranean diet has been associated with less cognitive decline over five years in older adults in the United States, according to a new study led by University of Maine and the University of South Australia researchers. The study, conducted by researchers Alexandra Wade, Merrill Elias and...
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Old Drugs in Your Medicine Cabinet? Here’s What to Do with Them
Posted Today They’re haunting the back of your medicine cabinet like the Ghosts of Illnesses Past. Pain pills your doctor prescribed years ago after that operation. Antibiotics from a child’s last ear infection. Half-finished, crusty bottles of cough syrup and leftover sleeping pills. It’s bad enough these old drugs are taking up valuable storage space. But they could also be dangerous to people and...
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Experts Say Get Your Flu Shot Early: Here’s Why
Officials recommend getting a flu shot early because it takes the vaccine 2 to 4 weeks to become effective. A flu vaccine reduces your risk of becoming ill and lessens the severity of the flu if you do get it. The vaccine is recommended for most people above the age of 6 months. Experts recommend getting the seasonal flu vaccination as early as possible to provide the best protection. That’s because if...
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Do tea bags benefit eye health?
By Hannah Nichols Reviewed by Cynthia Cobb, APRN Using tea bags on the eyes is an accessible and inexpensive home remedy. It not only aids relaxation but may also help with several eye ailments. Camellia sinensis and Camellia sinensis assamica are two varieties of tea plant that grow in around 45 countries, including China, India, Japan, and Sri Lanka. These two tea plants...
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How to induce vomiting: What to know
By Zawn Villines Reviewed by Saurabh (Seth) Sethi, MD MPH Vomiting is one of the body’s natural defenses against germs, poisons, and drugs. Some people wish to induce vomiting to relieve nausea, whether the cause is an illness or a substance such as alcohol. Others induce vomiting if they believe that they have overeaten —...
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Concussions and school-age children: What parents need to know
by Susan Davies, The Conversation “Jamal” is a 16-year-old boy who sustained a concussion in a skateboarding accident in July. He was diagnosed in the emergency room. Jamal initially had headaches, nausea and sensitivity to light and noise, but he appeared symptom-free within two weeks. When Jamal returned to school in late August, he had difficulty waking...
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How your genes affect the number on your scale
by Len Canter Could your genes be keeping you from losing weight? While you shouldn’t use a family tendency toward wide hips or an apple shape as an excuse to stray from a healthy diet, acceptance can help you reassess your personal ideal and make you happier with your body. Hundreds of genes have been...
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How a sense of purpose can link creativity to happiness
by Gareth Loudon, The Conversation Wheat Field with Cypresses, by Vincent Van Gogh. Credit: Shutterstock There are plenty of famous artists who have produced highly creative work while they were deeply unhappy or suffering from poor mental health. In 1931, the poet T.S. Eliot wrote a letter to a friend describing his “considerable mental agony” and how...
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Stress and blood vessel problems
by Megan Jentz, Emory University Emory University School of Medicine researchers have uncovered an important risk pathway for cardiovascular disease (CVD) by utilizing an oft-cited fear—public speaking—to measure how stress changes the lining of blood vessels in patients with coronary artery disease (CAD). While psychological stress is already associated with CVD, the Emory study—published in this month’s...
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Ultrasound sensor aids diagnosis of middle-ear infection
by Aron Guttowski, Fraunhofer-Gesellschaft A new type of ultrasound transducer from Fraunhofer should soon be delivering a fast and reliable diagnosis of infection of the middle ear. A U.S. company and the Fraunhofer Institute for Photonic Microsystems IPMS are collaborating on the development and application of this technology. The transducer is integrated in an otoscope and helps physicians decide whether a course of antibiotics is...