Keep Teens Safe During Sports. Participating in sports is a key part of many children’s high school experience, but injuries can and do occur. The American Academy of Orthopaedic Surgeons suggests the following ways to reduce the risk of sport-related injuries: wear protective equipment, ensure proper training and conditioning, build strength and stamina, follow rules…

Sleep Should Be a Family Value. Previous research shows that inadequate sleep is a risk factor for both childhood and adult obesity. A new study by researchers at the University of Illinois found that if parents don’t get enough sleep, their children don’t tend to either. They recommend that in order to reduce the risk…

Blood Test May Identify Patients at Risk of Cardiovascular Death. A study has identified a gene expression profile associated with an elevated risk of cardiovascular death. Combined with other indicators such as biochemical markers and family history, a simple blood test may identify patients who could benefit from early treatment and counseling to reduce their…

Hospital Drops Obstetric Malpractice Claims By 50%! With a rise in malpractice lawsuits pushing many doctors out of practice and deterring young doctors from pursuing obstetrics, a Connecticut hospital initiated a series of changes to help curb malpractice claims. By standardizing care, learning and practicing new teamwork protocols, and enhancing oversight of clinical work, the…

Elevated Blood Pressure Number Determines Risks. New research points to the type of heart risk individuals face based on which number of their blood pressure reading is high. Researchers found that an elevated systolic blood pressure (top number) was associated with an increased risk of bleeding strokes and stable angina while those with a higher…

Bad Sunburns While Young Tied to Higher Skin Cancer Risk. A new report suggests that women who get five or more sunburns between the ages of 15 and 20 have an 80% increased risk for melanoma, the most deadly form of skin cancer. Besides melanoma, these groups of women also have a 68% greater risk…

Millions of Deaths Could be Prevented by Risk Factor Reduction. A new report suggests that reducing six modifiable risk factors to specific target levels could prevent 37 million premature deaths over the next 15 years. Target levels for reducing risk factors include a 30-50% reduction of tobacco use, 10% reduction of alcohol consumption, 30% reduction…

Breast Feeding Encourages Gut Bacteria in Children. A study that tracked over 300 children during their first three years of life found that breastfeeding for longer periods encouraged beneficial bacteria to flourish in their digestive tracts. Senior author Tine Rask Licht concludes, “We have become increasingly aware of how crucially important a healthy gut microbial…

Focus on High BMI to Reduce Breast Cancer Risk, Not Waist Circumference. While a large waist circumference, regardless of body mass index (BMI), is associated with a greater risk for type 2 diabetes, heart disease, and some cancers, this does not seem to be the case for post-menopausal breast cancer. Using long-term data on nearly…

Free Radicals Not So Bad? Free radicals can stimulate apoptosis, also referred to as programmed cell death. This may be a way to avoid a cell becoming cancerous or to destroy viruses that have taken over a cell. In some cases, investigators observed that free radical apoptosis reinforces cell defenses, meaning a potential increase in…