To instill lifelong habits to protect one’s smile, experts recommend that tooth brushing begin early in childhood. To accomplish this, the American Academy of Pediatrics advises the following: wipe your baby’s gums with a soft, clean washcloth; never give your baby a bottle in the crib; introduce solid healthy food choices to avoid tooth decay;…

Seasonal Affective Disorder (SAD) is a type of depression triggered by decreased exposure to daylight, which makes it more common in winter months. Common symptoms include feeling down, having low energy, sleeping a lot, and craving sweet or starchy foods. To help manage SAD, the National Sleep Foundation suggests the following: expose yourself to more…

Every year, the highly-contagious norovirus causes up to 21 million illnesses, about 70,000 hospitalizations, and up to 800 deaths in the United States alone. This virus in known to cause vomiting and diarrhea, and often lurks in confined areas. To help protect yourself from the norovirus, the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention recommends the…

Among a group of 1,708 heart attack survivors, those given a high-dose multivitamin, multi-mineral supplement had a 54% reduced risk for a poor cardiovascular outcome when compared with participants who consumed a placebo. This finding surprised researchers who will repeat this experiment with a larger pool of participants in the future. American Heart Journal, January…

A review of data on more than 61,000 postmenopausal women from a long-term study suggests that it’s never too late to lose weight to reduce the risk of breast cancer. The review revealed that a 5% or greater weight loss among post-menopausal women lowered their odds for developing breast cancer by about 12%, while losing…

Previous research indicates that women with the BRCA1 or BRCA2 gene mutations have an elevated risk for developing breast cancer. A pilot study involving 68 BRCA1 or BRCA2 mutation carriers indicates that the incidence of breast cancer is lower among those who regularly exercise and refrain from smoking. The research team recommends a larger scale…

The RAND Corporation reports that the introduction of self-driving cars that are just 10% safer than human-driven cars could save hundreds of thousands of lives over the next 15 to 30 years. RAND Corporation report, November 2017

Oral cancer accounts for about 3% of all cancer cases each year and it is often diagnosed between the age of 55 and 64. According to the American Dental Association, oral cancer symptoms may include the following: a mouth sore or irritation that doesn’t resolve within three weeks; red or white patches; a lump, rough…

Excessive exposure to ultraviolet (UV) radiation is a significant cause of skin cancer. To minimize exposure, the American Cancer Society suggests the following: stay in the shade during the hours of 10 AM and 4 PM when UV rays are the strongest; wear sunscreen when outside at all times; wear clothes that cover most of…

Bloodstream infections, known as sepsis, claim the lives of six million people worldwide each year. To determine risk factors for this condition, Norwegian researchers reviewed records of nearly 2,000 sepsis patients and found that smoking, obesity, and an inactive lifestyle are a significant threat for blood poisoning. When these factors are combined, individuals face nearly…