Just hearing Mom’s voice over the phone may have the same soothing effect as getting a hug in person, according to new research to be published tomorrow in the Proceedings of the Royal Society B.
Heart disease risk: impact of pollution, overtime
It’s a busy week in heart health news. The American Heart Association (AHA) released a new statement (PDF) yesterday on the impact of particulate pollution on heart health — suggesting that there is now enough evidence to indicate that this form of fine pollution can contribute to heart disease and even trigger heart attacks.
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Can exercise help your cells live longer?
Our cells are constantly replenishing themselves — with new ones replacing old ones that die off during routine apoptosis, or programmed cell death. According to new research published this week in the journal BMC Physiology, strenuous exercise might slow down the process of apoptosis, effectively making your cells live longer.
Study: Restless Leg Syndrome runs in the family
A new study from Canadian researchers contributes to evidence suggesting that Restless Leg Syndrome — the condition characterized by extreme discomfort in the legs when sitting or lying down — is hereditary. Researchers studied 671 people diagnosed with restless leg syndrome, and then asked their family members to participate in
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Birth control: Can the pill lower your sex drive?
Fifty years after the birth control pill first emerged, we are still grappling with how it has impacted society — and our private lives. A new study published in the Journal of Sexual Medicine suggests that women on oral contraceptives may experience lower sex drive than those not taking the pill, adding to a varied body of research
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Does new cancer report overstate environmental risks?
Cancer researchers are expressing concern over a new report highlighting the dangers of environmental toxins, suggesting that the findings overstate the risks of daily exposure to household and environmental chemicals in comparison to known risks such as smoking and obesity.
More deadly crashes after dark linked to teen cell use
An increase in fatal nighttime crashes involving teenage drivers is likely attributable to an increase in talking and texting while driving, according to a new report from the Texas Transportation Institute. As the Associated Press reports, researchers found that, across the U.S., deadly nighttime crashes involving drivers between the
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Raising awareness with bobbleheads and burger candles
In efforts to raise awareness — and money — for autism and malaria, a fast food chain and comedian and Major League Soccer (MLS) team owner have signed on for some unique promotional items.
More wooden cribs recalled for faulty drop-sides
In the second crib recall in as many weeks, the U.S. Consumer Product Safety Commission (CPSC) issued a recall yesterday of 170,000 drop-side cribs sold by C&T International/Sorelle, of East Rutherford, New Jersey. (Prior to 2003, the cribs were also sold under the brand Golden Baby Inc.) The recall was prompted by 104 reports of
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E. coli-contaminated romaine lettuce recalled
An E. coli outbreak has sickened at least 19 people in Michigan, Ohio and New York, resulting in 12 hospitalizations and three cases involving potentially life-threatening complications. The outbreak may be connected to contaminated romaine lettuce products sold to wholesalers and food-service outlets, and for use in in-store salad bars …
How hand-washing helps ease your mind
The simple act of hand-washing has been shown to help clear a guilty conscience and even make you more forgiving of the moral missteps of others. It’s known as the Macbeth principle of morality: we make a fundamental, psychological association between physical purity and moral purity, which lets us literally wash away our sins (and …
President’s panel analyzes environmental cancer impact
Environmental toxins are a greater cause of cancer than previously believed, according to a new report from the President’s Cancer Panel — an advisory group that considers testimony from several cancer researchers to inform the president’s policies on cancer prevention. In the more than 200-page annual report (PDF), the authors say
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Study: quick weight loss may yield lasting results
Get-slim-quick strategies are often evaluated similarly to get-rich-quick schemes — as unlikely to yield any long-term results. Yet a new study published today in the International Journal of Behavioral Medicine suggests that, for obese patients in the initial stages of weight loss, shedding pounds speedily may actually be key to
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