Healthy Living News

May012012

Painkiller Withdrawal Triples in Newborns

by Lori Wiviott Tishler, M.D.
Harvard Medical School

The growth of painkiller use and abuse has led to another surge in drug dependence, this one among newborns, a study finds. The study takes the first close look at the problem. Newborns go through withdrawal symptoms if their...read more

Categories: Children's Health, Family Health

Apr182012

Study: 2 Types of Drugs Protect Kidneys

by Howard LeWine, M.D.
Harvard Medical School

Two types of drugs can help to reduce the risk that early kidney disease will get much worse, a new study finds. Researchers put together the results of 110 previous studies. In those studies, people with early kidney disease...read more

Categories: Family Health, Men's Health, Women's Health

Apr162012

Comfort Method Soothes Sting of Shots

by Henry H. Bernstein, D.O.
Harvard Medical School

A combination of simple comfort methods can help to ease the pain of vaccinations for babies, a new study finds. The research weighed the effect of a method called the 5 S's. This stands for swaddling (in a blanket), side or...read more

Categories: Children's Health, Family Health

Apr092012

Kids Using CAM Don't Skip Asthma Drugs

by Henry H. Bernstein, D.O.
Harvard Medical School

Children with asthma who use non-traditional treatments don't skip their regular asthma medicines more often than others, a study finds. The study included 187 children with asthma. Their families were part of a larger health...read more

Categories: Asthma, Children's Health, Family Health

Apr062012

Doctors Urge Savings on Unneeded Care

by Howard LeWine, M.D.
Harvard Medical School

Do you really need that test or treatment? In many cases, the answer is no, a coalition of nine doctors' groups says. The groups released lists of five items each. They said doctors and patients should question whether tests...read more

Categories: Family Health

Apr052012

Studies Explore Gene Mutations in Autism

by Anthony L. Komaroff, M.D.
Harvard Medical School

Changes (mutations) in genes that affect only a child, not the parents, may account for some cases of autism, 3 new studies find. The changes occur in the sperm or egg around the time the child is conceived. Fathers are 4...read more

Categories: Autism, Family Health

Apr022012

Autism Progress, Mom's Education Linked

by Claire McCarthy, M.D.
Harvard Medical School

Some children with autism can become much more able to function over time, a new study finds. And the mother's race and education make a big difference in which children improve. Researchers reached these conclusions based on...read more

Categories: Women's Health, Family Health, Children's Health, Autism