Why get vaccinated? Typhoid vaccine can prevent typhoid fever. People who are actively ill with typhoid fever and people who are carriers of the bacteria that cause typhoid fever can both spread the bacteria to other people.  When someone eats or drinks contaminated food or drink, the bacteria can multiply and spread…

While 10% of people in the United States report being allergic to penicillin, 9 in 10 are not. However, this can be difficult to scratch from medical records.  So concludes one of three studies presented at a scientific meeting in Houston, TX, shedding fresh light on the antibiotic. Alexander Fleming discovered penicillin by chance in…

New research finds that following a diet rich in plant-based foods and low in animal products during midlife is associated with a significantly lower risk of cognitive impairment later in life. According to the latest estimates from the United Nations, there are currently 137 millionpeople over the age of 80 worldwide.…

Krill oil and fish oil supplements are two sources of omega-3 fatty acids including DHA and EPA. While oil from both krill and fish provide health benefits, their origin, price, and benefits may differ. Fish oil comes from oily fish, such as tuna, herring, or sardines. Krill oil comes from a…

Here are some key points about fish oils. More supporting information is in the main article. Fish oils contain omega-3 fatty acids and vitamins A and D. Omega-3 fatty acids found in fish oils may protect the heart and offer other health benefits, but research results have been mixed. Eating fish is…

Are omega-3 supplements as beneficial as researchers once believed? Not when it comes to inflammation, a new study suggests. Recent studies show that taking supplements to increase vitamin D and omega-3 levels may not reduce systemic inflammation. The new research, which drew from the VITAL study, aimed to determine the biomarker levels of several inflammation…

The loss of sleep is a common problem in modern society, affecting many individuals at some point in their lives. Sleep deprivation occurs when an individual gets less sleep than they need to feel awake and alert. People vary in how little sleep is needed to be considered sleep-deprived. Some…

Sleeping problems can affect both mental and physical health. Now, a large-scale analysis in China highlights how insomnia might lead to potentially life threatening cardiovascular diseases.  Insomnia is a relatively widespread problem. When a person has insomnia, they often struggle to fall asleep or stay asleep. Some people experience both. Around 1…

Hypothyroidism is when the thyroid gland does not produce enough thyroid hormones to meet the needs of the body. The thyroid is underactive. The opposite is hyperthyroidism, where the thyroid produces too much thyroid hormone. However, the link between hyperthyroidism and hypothyroidism is complex, and one can lead to the other,…

After uncovering a key mechanism that could explain how e-cigarettes harm the lungs, brain, and cardiovascular system, a team of researchers now calls for much stricter regulation of these electronic devices.  Electronic cigarettes — e-cigarettes, for short — were developed as a safer alternative to traditional cigarettes, in an effort to…

A new blood test could save lives in the treatment of sepsis. It assesses five markers in the blood to predict who is at low, medium, and high risk of death. With this knowledge, doctors could start treating the serious condition much earlier and with more precision. Researchers from several…

The knee is the largest joint in the body. People use it heavily every day as they walk, run, climb, or jump. As a result, it is also very prone to injury and pain. When these occur, a doctor may recommend exercises to help a person strengthen the muscles around…

Sarcopenia is the loss of muscle mass due to the natural aging process. This decrease in muscle leads to a reduction in a person’s strength. As a result, their balance and gait are also affected. Sarcopenia can have an impact on a person’s ability to perform everyday activities, such as…

A new study has found a link between lower muscle mass and a higher risk of cardiovascular events — at least in males aged 45 and over. This association, the research indicates, is valid even for males with no history of heart disease. Some loss of skeletal muscle mass occurs…

Doctors prescribe anti-inflammatory drugs long or short term to treat a range of conditions from allergies to arthritis. But could some of these drugs actually increase the risk for another chronic condition — diabetes?  GlucocorticoidsTrusted Source are a type of anti-inflammatory drug that doctors often prescribe for the treatment of various…

A 100-metre high air purification tower in Xian in Shaanxi province has helped reduce smog levels in the city, preliminary results suggest The tower pictured while under construction in Xian. An experimental tower over 100 metres (328 feet) high in northern China – dubbed the world’s biggest air purifier by…

What types of painkillers are there? Most pain-relieving medications fall into one of the following groups: Non-opioid painkillers – this includes paracetamol. Some of these are available over the counter from pharmacies and supermarkets. Other types need a prescription. Anti-inflammatory drugs – such as ibuprofen or naproxen. These are also known as non-steroidal anti-inflammatory…

       Pharmacokinetics deals with the movement of a drug from its administration site to the place of its pharmacologic activity and its elimination from the body. Factors affecting the movement (kinetics) and fate of a drug in the body are: (1) release from the dosage form; (2) absorption from the site…

Why is this medication prescribed? Clobetasol topical is used to treat the itching, redness, dryness, crusting, scaling, inflammation, and discomfort of various scalp and skin conditions, including psoriasis (a skin disease in which red, scaly patches form on some areas of the body) and eczema (a skin disease that causes…

A fat molecule found only in avocados shows signs of strengthening insulin sensitivity, according to research in mice.  Avocados aren’t merely a tasty addition to a diet — they contain a fat molecule that may safely reduce insulin resistance. A study by researchers from the University of Guelph, in Canada, suggests…

Milk of magnesia is a standard, effective treatment for constipation. People can buy it from drug stores without a prescription. This article will explain what it is and how to use it, along with common side effects. What is milk of magnesia? Milk of magnesia contains magnesium, which is a naturally…

With their rich content of fiber, low saturated fats, and high levels of antioxidants, nuts are one of the healthiest and most nutritious snacks out there. New research shows that the health benefits of nuts may be even more wide-ranging than we think.  Nuts are packed with nutritional value. Rich…

Eat well for a long and healthy life – that’s a mantra that we’re all familiar with, but what are the best foods to help us achieve that goal? In this article, we give you an overview of some of the most healthful and nutritious foods. Official figures indicate that, currently,…

Wearable activity trackers may pave the way for a better method to predict short term death risk, suggests a new study, which found that exercise data was more accurate than other risk factors, such as smoking and medical history.  Being able to make an accurate prediction about a person’s risk…

With rates of obesity growing across the globe, researchers are on a mission to identify new strategies to tackle the problem. According to a new study by scientists from Deakin University in Australia, one such strategy may lie in our taste buds. In the journal Obesity, study coauthor Prof. Russell Keast,…

With so many diet types to choose from, how do we know which one will suit us best? One problem that may face us is deciding whether to go low-fat or low-carb. What does research have to say about it? Keto diets, Mediterranean diets, fasting diets — there are so…

The first large-scale cohort study of its kind looked at the link between waist circumference in later life and the risk of dementia in a population of older Asian adults. Physicians, healthcare professionals, and medical researchers tend to use body mass index (BMI) to determine if a person’s weight is…

A first-of-its-kind review and meta-analysis of specialized literature suggests that mind-body therapies, such as meditation and cognitive behavioral therapy, can help ease physical pain and prevent the development of opioid use disorder.  Opioids are a class of drugs that doctors sometimes prescribe for the treatment of acute chronic pain. While…

New research argues that melanoma can start not only in the skin, but also inside hair follicles. When they become cancerous, the cells then leave the follicles and move into the skin’s outermost layer, or epidermis. The scientists demonstrated this effect in a new mouse model of human melanoma and confirmed it…

Today is Friday the 13th, and vast numbers of people across the world will avoid going about their usual business because they fear this day will bring them “bad luck.” In this Spotlight feature, we examine the psychological mechanisms behind superstitious thinking. Some people think that encountering a black cat…