Health News

Social distancing 'effective for reducing flu risk'

Date: Jan-24-2015
Stay home and watch TV to reduce your risk of flu. This is what the residents of Mexico City did during the 2009 swine flu outbreak, and researchers found it was effective.

Sleeping on stomach 'may raise risk of sudden death in epilepsy'

Date: Jan-24-2015
Sleeping on the stomach may raise the risk of sudden unexpected death in people with epilepsy, a new study finds. Researchers say sleeping on the back instead may reduce this risk.

Good-quality sleep when younger, not older, may benefit later-life memory

Date: Jan-23-2015
A new study finds maintaining good quality of sleep as a young or middle-aged adult, rather than in older age, may benefit learning and memory later in life.

CDC: low awareness among women of birth defect risk from opioids

Date: Jan-23-2015
Many women may be unaware that prescription opioid-based painkillers such as codeine, oxycodone, hydrocodone or morphine may increase the risk for birth defects.

Coma patients show improved recovery from hearing family voices

Date: Jan-23-2015
A new study finds that 6-week sessions of replaying recorded anecdotes from family members to coma patients results in improved responsiveness to sensory information.

Exhaled carbon dioxide alerts malaria mosquito to human presence

Date: Jan-23-2015
While human odor guides malaria mosquitoes to human homes, once they take up residence, it is exhaled carbon dioxide that triggers them to land on skin for their next blood meal.

Salt may raise blood pressure by disabling safety mechanism in the brain

Date: Jan-23-2015
A study of rats finds that higher salt intake over a long period disables a safety mechanism in the brain that normally stops blood pressure in arteries from rising.

Current guidelines to limit kids' screen-based media use 'may not be tenable'

Date: Jan-23-2015
AAP guidelines state children aged 2 and older should spend no more than 2 hours a day using screen-based media. But a new study suggests such recommendations may be unrealistic.

Research suggests possible HIV risk with birth control shot

Date: Jan-23-2015
Analysis of several studies measuring rates of HIV infection among women using hormonal contraceptives in sub-Saharan Africa has suggested that birth shots could increase HIV risk.

New bone growth therapy to be tested in space

Date: Jan-23-2015
In outer space, scientists will study a molecule that could accelerate bone growth, potentially leading to new treatments for osteoporosis and other bone conditions.