Affordable Care Act Brought Big Benefits to Women: Study

FRIDAY, March 22, 2019 (HealthDay News) -- More American women had health insurance and access to care after the Affordable Care Act (ACA) was fully in place in 2014, and poorest women benefited most, according to a new report.

For the study, researchers examined U.S. National Health Interview Survey data on insurance affordability, ac...

Managing MS

FRIDAY, March 22, 2019 (HealthDay News) -- Proper treatment can help people with multiple sclerosis (MS) contend with their disease, an expert says.

"Patients get a predisposed feeling that their life is doomed. That it's going to be a complicated life, which isn't necessarily so," said Dr. Cary Twyman, a neurologist at Penn State Heal...

Could the U.S. Mail Deliver Better Colon Cancer Screening Rates?

FRIDAY, March 22, 2019 (HealthDay News) -- No one likes to get a colonoscopy, but new research suggests that mailing at-home colon cancer tests to folks who are overdue for their checks might prompt them to get screened.

"We believe that mailing kits directly to patients, which frames participation as the default, reduced steps in the ...

AHA News: Is the New 'Fasting' Diet Trend Healthy?

FRIDAY, March 22, 2019 (American Heart Association News) -- Tipping the scales at 233 pounds, Charles Joy realized he needed to make some changes.

The 28-year-old Louisville, Kentucky, native already had tried many diet plans to varying degrees of success. In 2013, he lost more than 100 pounds through exercise and diet. But afterward,...

Gun Deaths Up Sharply Among America's Schoolkids

FRIDAY, March 22, 2019 (HealthDay News) -- Gun-related deaths among school-age children in the United States are increasing at alarming rates, researchers report.

In 2017, gun violence claimed more 5- to 18-year-olds than police officers or active-duty members of the U.S. military, according to a chilling new study led by investigators...

Is There a Safer Choice Than Opioids After a C-Section?

FRIDAY, March 22, 2019 (HealthDay News) -- Expectant moms often try to plan as many aspects of their upcoming delivery as they can. But one thing they might not consider is what type of pain relief they will choose if they need to have a C-section.

Now, new research from the University of Texas suggests that while opioids can control p...

Easy Eggs for a Nutritious Breakfast

FRIDAY, March 22, 2019 (HealthDay News) -- Recent research shows that eggs can be part of a healthful diet.

Eggs are highly nutritious because they deliver the essential amino acids your body needs to build and repair muscle and help keep your metabolism humming. Egg yolks in particular contain many nutrients, including vitamin ...

How to Raise Global Citizens of Tomorrow

FRIDAY, March 22, 2019 (HealthDay News) -- It's never too soon to teach kids to be culturally competent -- to learn about, respect and accept people whose culture is different from their own.

Children as young as 2 start to become aware of differences among people -- starting with gender -- and to be sensitive to attitudes held by thos...

How to Help Your Kids Achieve a Healthy Weight

THURSDAY, March 21, 2019 (HealthDay News) -- Obesity can lead to physical, social and emotional struggles for kids, so parents need to help their children maintain a healthy weight, experts say.

"Children with obesity are more likely than their classmates to be teased or bullied and to suffer from low self-esteem, social isolation and ...

What Drives 'Anti-Vaxxer' Parents? It's a Mixed Bag, Study Shows

THURSDAY, March 21, 2019 (HealthDay News) -- Anti-vaccination campaigns abound on social media, but the people involved are not necessarily driven by any single motivation, a new study suggests.

Instead, researchers say, people who voice their anti-vaccine sentiments online range from conspiracy theorists to parents who have safety wor...

Pesticides Tied to Autism Risk in Kids

THURSDAY, March 21, 2019 (HealthDay News) -- Children who are exposed to common pesticides, either while in the womb or in the first year of life, may be more likely to develop autism, a new study suggests.

While the researchers stressed that it's premature to say that pesticide exposure actually causes autism, they pointed out that th...

Baby Monkey May Offer Hope to Preserving Fertility of Kids With Cancer

THURSDAY, March 21, 2019 (HealthDay News) -- She's cute, and perhaps a medical breakthrough.

Scientists say they have used frozen testicular tissue to achieve the birth of a healthy baby monkey named Grady -- a success they hope to eventually translate to childhood cancer survivors whose treatment has left them infertile.

Inf...

AHA News: Culture, Paycheck, Neighborhood Key to Your Heart's Health

THURSDAY, March 21, 2019 (American Heart Association News) -- Eating a low-fat diet, getting regular exercise and watching your weight can help lower risk for heart disease and stroke.

But environmental and cultural factors also make a difference. So can how much you make for a living, especially if it barely brings in enough to pay f...

Attention, Seniors: Drink More Water and Head Off Disease

THURSDAY, March 21, 2019 (HealthDay News) -- Not drinking enough water is a common but under-recognized problem among American seniors that puts their health at risk, researchers say.

"So many health issues are related to inadequate hydration," including urinary tract and respiratory infections, frequent falls and other problems, said ...

Abuse in Childhood Tied to Brain Changes and Later Depression

THURSDAY, March 21, 2019 (HealthDay News) -- Abuse during childhood can cause structural changes in the brain that increase a person's risk of severe and recurrent depression, a new study reveals.

The findings "add further weight to the notion that patients with clinical depression who were mistreated as children are clinically distinc...

Strengthening Family Ties Through Online Gaming

THURSDAY, March 21, 2019 (HealthDay News) -- Video games provide unlimited entertainment, and interactive ones can even help you burn off calories.

But you may not know that playing games -- either in person or through shared online networks -- can unite family members from many generations in meaningful ways.

Researchers at ...

Stretches to Strengthen Your Core

THURSDAY, March 21, 2019 (HealthDay News) -- Ever had a bad spasm from bending down to pick up your child or tie your shoes?

Keeping your core muscles -- the workhorses that stabilize your spine -- flexible with a stretching routine can help prevent this common occurrence and protect your back in general.

The Pelvic Tilt<...