Health News

FDA Approves Blood Sugar Monitor App
iPhones have made a huge impact on the way we access information. Can't remember the name of that one actor? Pull out your phone and the answer is there. Now, the FDA has approved a new iPhone tool for diabetes patients.
Kids ER Visits from Batteries Increasing
The increase in electronics, computers and cell phones in homes can cause more than screen-obsessed children who don't get out enough. It also means more batteries are lying around.
Born Into a Smoke-Free World
The effect of tobacco smoke on pregnant women and their developing babies is well-documented, but what if a baby were born into a community where no public smoking was allowed at all? The first study conducted in the U.S. to compare a city with a smoking ban to a city without one found that fewer pregnant women were smoking and fewer babies were being born early. Avoid cigarette smoke while pregnant. Robert Lee Page, II, a pharmacist in the Department of Clinical Pharmacy at the University of Colorado's Skaggs School of Pharmacy and Pharmaceutical Sciences, led the study to inve...
Common Cold Remedy May Not be Best
Zinc is commonly sold as a remedy for the common cold, but whether its effective is controversial. A recent review of research shed some light on this debated treatment.
Germs Living in Your Sandcastles
Going to the beach means digging in the sand, building sandcastles , being buried in sand… But most health departments have no way of determining how "clean" that sand is.
Faster Water Quality Test Coming Soon
Summertime is just around the corner, and dog days at the beach may be part of many families' vacation plans. But parents may be wondering about how clean the water is. Water-testing technology so far has been inadequate in testing for bacteria because it's not accessible enough to check all swimming spots or it can't keep up with quickly changing conditions at some sites. Now a new, faster method for testing may be available from researchers whose paper strip method can detect E. coli in minutes. Check for safe and clear beaches ahead of time. Lead author John Brennan, a ch...
Texting and Driving: Not Smart
With many states passing laws against texting while driving, some claim that the laws will make driving more dangerous because drivers will conceal their phones. However, a new study tells a different story. The study, initiated by high school students, found that drivers make more driving mistakes while texting. They are more likely to drift from their lane, be unaware of accident hazards, and speed whether or not they were concealing their phone. Texting while driving increases your risk of being in an accident. "Any texting while driving has an adverse impact on driving p...
Pacifiers for Breastfeeding Ok
Breast is best… but what about pacifiers? It's commonly been thought that giving a baby a pacifier might cause problems with breastfeeding.
Moms - Babies Know Best
Researchers are learning more about how obesity develops from complex factors beyond just eating too much. One factor may be a fear of not having enough food for one's children. A recent study reveals that food insecurity, or the anxiety about whether a person will have enough food to be sure their family is well fed, might play a part in why some children go on to become severely overweight. Follow your doctor's recommendations on feeding your baby. Rachel Gross, MD, an assistant professor in the Department of Pediatrics at Albert Einstein College of Medicine and the Children's...
If 5 + 3 = 9, Check Your Kid's Meds Again
If you remember asking your math teacher, "When are we ever going to need this stuff," the answer might be more important than you think: when you're measuring medication for your kid. A recent unpublished study has shown that poor math skills among parents are strongly linked to errors in measuring out the correct dosage of a medication for their children. Have a nurse, doctor or pharmacist show you how to measure your child's medication. Lead author Christine Marrese , MD, of the New York University School of Medicine and Bellevue Hospital, and colleagues wanted to find out wh...