Health, features and articles | Educational Science

May 31, 2016

Ikea's Dresser Recall: 7 Tips to Prevent Furniture Injuries

A new recall of topple-prone Ikea dressers highlights the hazards that everyday furniture can hold for children, but there are a number of things parents can do to make their homes safer. This week, Ikea recalled 29 million chests and dressers, because they were unstable and prone to tip over...

May 31, 2016

Ayurvedic Herbal Supplements Caused Man's Lead Poisoning

A 26-year-old man in Pennsylvania who took Indian Ayurvedic herbal supplements wound up developing lead poisoning from taking the pills, according to a report of his case. Stomach pain, weight loss, nausea, vomiting and dark-colored stools had sent the man to an emergency room in Philadelphia, where doctors discovered that...

Apr 30, 2016

Is Penis Envy Real?

Known as the father of psychoanalysis, Sigmund Freud, who would have turned 160 on May 6, founded a branch of psychological therapy that focuses on the conscious mind and the unconscious mind and how the two interact. Among his many attention-grabbing theories and ideas is the concept of penis envy....

Apr 30, 2016

Ancient Plague Victims: Did the Quarantine Help or Hurt?

When plague came to the English village of Eyam 350 years ago, it wasn't rat fleas that infected the majority of people with the deadly bacteria, but rather human-to-human transmission, a new study finds. From 1665 to 1666, the villagers of Eyam heroically quarantined themselves with the hopes of protecting...

Apr 30, 2016

Macklemore Tells Obama About How He Once Abused Prescription Drugs

If you're wondering why prescription drugs containing opioids are so addictive, just ask Grammy Award-winning rap artist Macklemore. This past Saturday (May 14), Barack Obama invited Macklemore to talk about opioid addiction during the president's online weekly address at the White House. I'm here with President Obama because I take...

Apr 30, 2016

Potato-Heavy Diet Linked to High Blood Pressure

Packing potatoes into your diet may put you at higher risk for having high blood pressure, a new study finds, although the researchers acknowledged that the study presents an interesting paradox. People who reported eating four or more servings of potatoes per week were 11 percent more likely to have...

Apr 30, 2016

6 Distinctive Food Guides from Around the World

Introduction (Image credit: USDA’s Center for Nutrition Policy and Promotion)The United States may have replaced its classic food pyramid with a simple plate design in 2011, but creative food guides still reign around the world. [Beyond the Pyramid: How Food Guides Vary Around the World] Read on to learn about...

Apr 30, 2016

The Science of Weight Loss

Many people want to lose weight, but what are the best ways to do it? There's a lot of advice out there, telling you to eat less (and what not to eat), and to exercise more (but don't overdo it). But what does the science say? To get the lowdown...

Apr 30, 2016

How Many Adults in Each State Engage in All 5 Key Health Habits?

Just 6 percent of adults in the U.S. have adopted all five key health habits that are linked with better health or longer life, according to a new report. But adults in some states are far healthier than others: The states with the highest percentages of people who engage in...

Apr 30, 2016

Kids with Puzzling Stomachaches Might Benefit from Probiotics

Children whose tummies hurt for no clear reason could benefit from taking probiotics, a new review study found. The researchers looked at ways to treat so-called functional abdominal pain, or stomach pain that doesn't have a clear cause. The condition is a big problem, in children, said study co-author Dr....

Apr 30, 2016

Women with Migraines More Prone to Heart Disease

Women who suffer from migraines may be more likely than other women to develop heart problems, a new study suggests. Researchers found that women who have migraines were at greater risk of having a heart attack and angina (chest pain), and of needing to undergo heart-related procedures such as coronary...

Mar 31, 2016

Size vs. Shape: What's More Important for Heart Health?

When it comes to heart health, body shape matters: A new study finds that having an apple-shaped body may increase the risk for heart disease in people with diabetes. In the study, people who had a higher waist circumference were more likely to have problems with the left ventricle of...

Mar 31, 2016

Concussions and Cognitive Skills: What's the Impact?

NEW YORK — Concussions may have lasting and widespread effects on a person's cognitive abilities, according to two new studies presented here at the Cognitive Neuroscience Society's annual meeting. In one study, presented on Sunday (April 3), researchers found that a concussion's effect on visual working memory — the ability...

Mar 31, 2016

One Question Could Help Spot Drinking Problems in Teens

One simple question may reveal a lot about a teen's risk of developing an alcohol problem, a new study finds. The study focused on teen alcohol screening, or questions that doctors can ask to flag those who may be at risk for problem drinking. Results showed that one question —...

Mar 31, 2016

Fitbit Helps Doctors in Man's ER Visit

For one New Jersey man, wearing a fitness tracker paid off in a big way: Doctors in the emergency room used the gadget to help determine the best way to treat his heart problem, according to a new report of the case. The 42-year-old man went to the ER after...