Health, features and articles | Educational Science

Jun 30, 2017

Missouri Woman Dies from Tick Bite: What Is Bourbon Virus?

A woman in Missouri recently died from a rare tick-borne illness called Bourbon virus disease, which was first identified only a few years ago. The woman, 58-year-old Tamela Wilson, began feeling unwell in late May, shortly after she'd spotted and removed two ticks from her body, CBS News reported. Soon,...

Jun 30, 2017

Pregnant Women Can Do These 2 Things to Lower Odds of a C-Section

Women may have another reason to eat healthy and exercise during pregnancy: These behaviors may lower their odds of having a cesarean section, a new meta-analysis finds. Gaining some weight during pregnancy is healthy and indeed expected, but gaining too much weight can have negative effects on both mom and...

Jun 30, 2017

How Brain's 'Helper Cells' Could Contribute to Schizophrenia

Problems with the brain's helper cells may contribute to schizophrenia, a new study in mice suggests. The study focused on glial cells, which provide support for the neurons that do the signaling within the brain. For instance, glial cells help organize the connections among neurons and produce myelin, which acts...

Jun 30, 2017

Images: Brains with CTE

What CTE Looks Like in the Brain (Image credit: Dr. Ann McKee, Copyright: BU Photography)The vast majority of brains donated to science by former football players show signs of the debilitating brain condition chronic traumatic encephalopathy, or CTE, a new report says. [Read our full story on the report.] CTE...

Jun 30, 2017

Why You May Not Have to Finish All Your Antibiotics

If you have ever taken an antibiotic, you likely know the drill: Finish the entire course of treatment, even if you are feeling better, or else you risk a relapse. Worse, by not finishing, you might contribute to the dangerous rise of antibiotic-resistant bacteria. The advice to always finish your...

Jun 30, 2017

Scientists Edit Human Embryo: This Is Why Designer Babies Are a Ways Off

This article was originally published at The Conversation. The publication contributed the article to Live Science's Expert Voices: Op-Ed & Insights. The announcement by researchers in Portland, Oregon that they've successfully modified the genetic material of a human embryo took some people by surprise. With headlines referring to groundbreaking research...

Jun 30, 2017

This Is How a Woman Died from a Tick-Borne Disease Without a Tick Bite

A woman in Japan died last year from a tick-borne disease — but she was never bitten by a tick. Instead, investigators believe the woman became infected with a disease called severe fever with thrombocytopenia syndrome through a bite from a stray cat, according to The Japan Times. (Essentially, the...

May 31, 2017

Tuna Steaks Recalled in 3 US States for Hepatitis A

A number of restaurants in California, Oklahoma and Texas received shipments of frozen tuna steaks that may be contaminated with hepatitis A, according to health officials. The tuna products, distributed by Hilo Fish Company in Hawaii, recently tested positive for the hepatitis A virus and are being recalled, according to...

May 31, 2017

FDA Asks Drug Company to Pull Painkiller in First

The U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) announced today (June 8) that it has requested that Endo Pharmaceuticals, a drug company, remove the opioid painkiller Opana ER from the drug market. This is the first time that the federal agency has requested that a drug company voluntarily stop selling a...

May 31, 2017

Boy Dies Days After Swimming: What Is 'Dry Drowning'?

A 4-year-old boy in Texas died recently, nearly a week after he went swimming, from what his parents were told was dry drowning. But what exactly does this mean? The boy, Frankie Delgado, was playing in the waters of the Galveston Bay when he was knocked down by a wave,...

May 31, 2017

Rare Genetic Mutation Makes People Prone to Colds

The case of a young girl who frequently got sick from colds has helped scientists pinpoint a rare genetic mutation that makes people more susceptible to cold viruses. The 5-year-old girl has suffered numerous life-threatening infections from human rhinoviruses, which cause the common cold, according to a new report. When...

May 31, 2017

Lonely? Take the Focus Off Yourself, Study Suggests

When people feel lonely, they may become more self-centered, which, in turn, can make them even lonelier, thus fueling a vicious cycle, according to a new study. The results suggest that self-centeredness may prolong loneliness. If you get more self-centered, you run the risk of staying locked in to feeling...

May 31, 2017

Demi Moore's Missing Teeth: Can Stress Really Make Teeth Fall Out?

Actress Demi Moore's smile looked a little different recently — she lost her two front teeth, a problem she says was the result of stress. But how does stress cause teeth to fall out? Moore, who is 54, revealed her dental issues on Monday (June 12) when she appeared on...

May 31, 2017

Unproven Treatments for 'Chronic Lyme Disease' Lead to Severe Infections

In a small number but growing number of cases, people in the U.S. have suffered severe bacterial infections, bone damage or a life-threatening condition called septic shock — all because of treatments they received for a condition called chronic Lyme disease. But there is no test for chronic Lyme disease,...

May 31, 2017

Downward Dog, Doctor's Order: Yoga Could Ease Back Pain

To ease low back pain, you may want try a downward dog: A new study suggests that doing yoga may be as effective as physical therapy for reducing low back pain. The study looked at a specific yoga routine designed by experts. Some yoga poses could be harmful to the...