The Atlantic has an absorbing tale in the current issue about the first person ever diagnosed with autism. The man, now 77, is named Donald Gray Triplett and the story’s authors tracked him down in Mississippi where — 74 years after he was institutionalized for exhibiting introverted behavior — he spends his days playing golf, …
6 Common Sources of Radiation In Your Life
If you watch TV or use a cell phone, you’re getting radiation. If you smoke cigarettes, you’re definitely getting it too.
Want to Make Quicker Decisions? Muzzle Your Brain
People with anxiety disorders such as OCD know that nothing can be more paralyzing than having too many options. Go to a store to buy a sweater, find four that you like and the odds are pretty good you’ll stare and stare…and …
If You Can Balance On One Leg, You Might Live Longer
We’ve all known that physical fitness and dexterity are related, and that fitness and longevity are related. But who knew that dexterity and long life had a correlation all their own?
Are HIV Rates in Gay Men Really ‘Out of Control’?
I was a little surprised by the recent news that HIV transmission “seems to be out of control” among gay men in Europe. That “out of control” quote is what got me — it’s a direct quote from a respected scientific …
Childhood Cancer Has Its Gold-Ribbon Day
Monday was National Childhood Cancer Awareness Day, a time set aside by the U.S. Senate to brandish gold ribbons and focus attention on pediatric cancer. It can all seem quite abstract when talking about the thousands of children who receive a cancer diagnosis each year. But break it down to smaller numbers, like the 46 kids who learn …
Who’s High? A School Suspends a Student for Bloodshot Eyes
California may be considering the full legalization of marijuana, but in Texas, a student was recently suspended from school for having red eyes.
A Test to Predict High Blood Pressure in Pregnancy Is on the Horizon
Preeclampsia is one of those terms you probably wouldn’t hear until your pregnancy test turns up positive. Then, regular prenatal urine and blood pressure screenings alert you to the condition, if they detect something awry.
Under Stress? You Might Suffer Less If You’re Male
Men just scored a small victory in the gender wars, courtesy of the National Institute of Mental Health (NIMH). Turns out, when a guy says he responds to stress with more control than his wife does, he knows what he’s talking …
Study: Cancer Deaths Decline in Europe, but New Cases Rise
As cancer treatment gets more sophisticated, a diagnosis no longer means a death sentence. But while dying of cancer is less likely, a European study finds that the rate of developing cancer is higher than ever.
Why Medical Malpractice Suits Have Little to Do with Doctor Performance
A few days ago I wrote about how difficult it is for patients to be empowered consumers. A new study released today provides more evidence that patients are basically in the dark when it comes to knowing how well doctors do their jobs.
Potential for New Blood Test for Alzheimer’s
With the Alzheimer’s Association preparing to release new guidelines for diagnosing the degenerative brain disease ever earlier in a patient’s lifetime, the race is on to find new and simpler ways of testing for the disorder. …
Drug-Resistant Superbug Shows Up in Three U.S. States
“Superbug” sounds fun and cartoonlike, but this is serious, folks. A gene that can make many types of bacteria resistant to nearly all antibiotics doctors have at their disposal is on the loose in three states.