A towering weed with sap that causes blisters and burns is blooming this month across the U.S.
Family MattersParenting
Should Parents Lose Custody of Their Extremely Obese Kids?
One way to manage the nation’s childhood obesity crisis might be to take the most severely overweight kids away from their parents, argues Harvard pediatrics professor and obesity expert David Ludwig in a controversial commentary …
Q&A: Etiquette for Gays, Lesbians and Their Straight Friends
Move over, Emily Post! When it comes to etiquette for members of the gay, lesbian, bisexual and transgender community — as well as their straight friends, family members and coworkers — author and journalist Steven Petrow is …
Students Sue ‘Troubled Teen’ School for Systematic Sexual, Emotional Abuse
Nine former students of Mount Bachelor Academy, a now-defunct school in Oregon for “troubled teens,” have filed a $14.25-million lawsuit against the school for emotional, sexual and physical abuse.
The Curious Link Between Allergies and Cancer
Certain environmental exposures are known to increase your risk of cancer: tobacco smoke, UV radiation and even pollution. But what about some common metals and chemicals that cause contact allergies?
Study: Pets Give Us the Same Warm Fuzzies That Friends Do
A dog is man’s best friend, the old adage tells us — and, indeed, new research shows that when it comes to fulfilling our basic psychological needs, humans do benefit from their pets in much the same way they do from their friends.
Family MattersPregnancy
A New Study Details the Effects of Smoking in Pregnancy
Pretty much everyone knows that smoking is bad for you. It’s particularly ill-advised for pregnant women, although data show one in five U.S. moms-to-be still cop to the habit. Lest smokers need another nudge to quit, the first …
Salt: How Bad Is It, Really?
Much like cell phones and eggs, salt is one of those things that studies say is bad for you one day, but O.K. the next.
The July Effect: Why Summer is the Most Dangerous Time to Go to the Hospital
You can’t control when health emergencies occur, but if you had to go to the hospital, you’d probably be better off avoiding the summer months.
Scientists Discover Drug-Resistant Gonorrhea ‘Superbug’
A new, untreatable strain of the sexually transmitted disease gonorrhea has been discovered in Japan, according to an international team of infectious disease experts. The strain, named H041, is resistant to all known forms of antibiotics.
Secondhand Smoke Linked to Learning Disabilities, ADHD in Kids
Kids who grow up among smokers are more likely than kids in smoke-free homes to suffer from a number of neurobehavioral disorders, including attention deficit hyperactivity disorder (ADHD), learning disabilities and conduct disorders.