Health, features and articles | Educational Science

Nov 30, 2010

ADHD May Foster Criminal Behavior in Some Adults

Celebrity designer Ty Pennington is known for inspiring people with remodeled dream homes and providing tips for functional, stylish decor. He is also one of millions of Americans who struggle with attention deficit hyperactivity disorder (ADHD). Other stars like game show host Howie Mandel and Olympic swimmer Michael Phelps have...

Nov 30, 2010

The Future of Flavor: Strawberry's Genetic Code Sequenced

Some 50 years ago, when consumers turned from local markets to grocery stores, the strawberry lost its burst of flavor. Now researchers say the newly sequenced genome of the woodland strawberry, a relative of the cultivated berry, may help bring back the fruit's tasty tang. Traditionally, strawberries have been bred...

Nov 30, 2010

Craving for Alcohol May Be Linked to Obesity

People with a family history of alcoholism, especially women, have an elevated risk of also becoming obese, according to a new study. And the link between the two appears to be strengthening — the risk of becoming obese, for people with alcoholics in their family, is higher now than in...

Oct 31, 2010

Modern Miracle: Skin Transformed into Blood

Got blood? Future patients who need transfusions for surgery and cancer treatments could get it from a patch of their own skin. Canadian researchers took the huge step of transforming adult human skin directly into blood, as detailed in the Nov. 7 issue of the journal Nature. That should provide...

Oct 31, 2010

Are Cruise Ships a Health Risk?

Don't worry playing shuffleboard probably doesn't increase your chances of blowing out a knee. But if you're going on a cruise, make sure you wash your hands: Cruise ships can be a hotbed for viruses. We're not talking about the piddly viruses that cause the common sniffle. No, the big...

Oct 31, 2010

Study: Injured Monkeys Grow New Spinal Cord Nerves

Some patients with spinal cord injuries later experience a substantial recovery of movement, and a new study in monkeys may explain why this is. The findings may lead to better ways to treat patients with spinal cord injures. The researchers found certain nerve fibers that were not damaged when the...

Oct 31, 2010

'Presumed Consent' Policies See Fewer Living Kidney Donors

Policies that presume people will donate their organs upon their death unless they specify otherwise — also known as presumed consent — may have the unwanted side effect of lowering the number of kidneys from living donors, a new study suggests. The study examined the rates of kidney transplantation between...

Oct 31, 2010

Adult Picky Eaters Now Recognized as Having a Disorder

He's 63 years old, but Bob Krause admits he still eats a 4-year-old's dream diet. Krause likes peanut butter, crackers, grilled cheese sandwiches, chocolate milk and little else. More adventurous meals look like a plate of barf, he told LiveScience. If I could snap my fingers and change, I would,...

Sep 30, 2010

Gastric Bypass Surgery Poses Pregnancy Risks for Teens

Teen girls who become pregnant after gastric bypass surgery may have an increased risk of having children with birth defects, researchers said today. However the conclusion is based on a small number of cases, and some researchers are skeptical of the link. The surgery, which staples the stomach and rearranges...

Sep 30, 2010

Obesity: A 'Winnable' Public Health Battle?

This is the fourth in a six-part MyHealthNewsDaily series examining the problems and solutions related to six winnable battles in public health, as recently announced by the U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. Americans are eager voyeurs into the lives of obese people on TV shows such as The...

Sep 30, 2010

Halloween Treats: 6 Sweet Facts

Intro (Image credit: Dreamstime)The mention of Halloween brings up images of trick-or-treaters with plastic jack-o'-lantern pails full of candy. Here are six facts about the spooky holiday's sweets. Side 2 (Image credit: Creative Commons | Matanya)Tootsie Rolls were the first wrapped penny candy in America. Inventor Leo Hirschfield gave the...

Aug 31, 2010

Men More Susceptible to Memory Decline

Men are more susceptible than women to memory problems in old age, according to a new study. Mild cognitive impairment, a condition in which people have problems with memory or thinking beyond that explained by normal aging, can lead to Alzheimer's disease. The new research, published Sept. 7 in the...

Aug 31, 2010

How Do They Make Spam?

Though often jokingly referred to as the supermarket equivalent of the mystery meat consumed in school cafeterias, there really is no puzzle about what constitutes Spam, the rectangular meat many of us have come to love. After all, the contents are clearly labeled on the can: Pork with ham meat...

Aug 31, 2010

Surprising Hike in Suicide Rates Found Among Baby Boomers

Suicide rates among middle-age people are going up, according to a new study. The trend seems to be driven by the entrance of the Baby Boom generation into middle age, when chronic diseases rear their ugly heads. The study, published in the journal Public Health Reports, reveals middle-age suicides to...

Aug 31, 2010

When's the Best Time to Get the Flu Vaccine?

While the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention recommends getting the seasonal flu vaccine as soon as possible, some doctors say people should wait until October or November. When's the best time to get the flu shot? Everyone should get the flu vaccine as soon as it becomes available in...