Child Development Stages and Milestones: What to Expect

From their first smile to their first step to the first day of school, children go through a remarkable transformation on their way to adulthood.

Here, experts explore the five developmental stages, from infancy to adulthood, and take a deeper look at the developmental milestones acquired along the way. Understanding each stage's developme...

Authoritative Parenting: What It Is, Techniques & Discipline

Children’s personalities and moods can be as diverse as the cosmos, so figuring out the best parenting style can be challenging.

To help, experts here take a deep dive into authoritative parenting, including what it’s like, examples of authoritative parenting style, its disciplinary strategies and how it compares to authoritarian paren...

PMS: What It Is, Symptoms & How to Get Relief

Are you tired of feeling moody, bloated and achy every month right before you get your period?

You're not alone. Premenstrual syndrome (PMS) is a common condition that affects many women. Here, experts explore what PMS is, its symptoms and, most importantly, how to find relief from those pesky monthly symptoms. Keep reading to understand ...

HPV: What It Is, Symptoms in Men vs. Women & Treatment

Talking about sexually transmitted infections (STIs) can be uncomfortable. But whether you’re talking to your partner, child or doctor, these are important conversations to have.

The U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention estimates 20% of Americans had an STI in 2018. There are still more undetected, unreported and untreated STI...

AHA News: Higher Cardiovascular Risk Score Linked to Lower Cognitive Function

A risk calculator used to predict cardiovascular disease also may help predict a person's poor cognitive function, new research suggests.

The study, published Tuesday in the Journal of the American Heart Association, found that the higher a person's 10-year cardiovascular risk score, the worse they scored on tests for cognitive function, a...

More 'Height-Challenged' Men Are Getting Leg-Lengthening Surgeries

Some short men really struggle with their lack of height, feeling that they are both literally and figuratively looked down upon by others.

That’s why an increasing number of height-challenged men are turning to limb-lengthening surgery -- an expensive, potentially painful, months-long procedure that will add a few extra inches to their ...

Compounds in Chocolate, Berries Might Help Boost Memory As You Age

You'll likely lose some of your memory and thinking abilities as you age, but nutrients called flavanols might help thwart that decline, a new study suggests.

Not getting enough flavanols -- natural compounds found in fruits, vegetables and even chocolate -- could be driving that age-related memory loss, researchers say.

This re...

Could 'Brain Zap' Procedure Make Older Folks Smarter? Data Suggest It Might

For people who've lost some mental sharpness, to either aging or disease, a technique that gently "zaps" the brain circuitry is showing early promise.

That's according to a new analysis of more than 100 studies assessing the technique, called transcranial alternating current stimulation, or tACS. It involves using electrodes on the scalp t...

ER-Based Pharmacies Could Improve Kids' Care, Pediatricians' Group Says

When parents rush their kids to an emergency room in the dead of night for an asthma attack or high fever, they are often discharged with a prescription. The problem is, there may be nowhere to fill it promptly.

Now, a new report from the American Academy of Pediatrics (AAP) is calling attention to the issue, and highlighting one potential...

There's a Best Time of Day to Exercise for Folks With Type 2 Diabetes

If you're one of the millions of folks living with type 2 diabetes, you know that regular exercise can help you keep your blood sugar in check.

Now, new research suggests that working out in the afternoon may help maximize these benefits.

The new study wasn’t designed to say how, or even if, exercising in the afternoon is bett...

One Key to Good Sleep for Teens: No Social Media at Bedtime

Teens need their sleep, and a new study sheds light on one way to help them get it: Keep cellphones and screens out of the bedroom.

“Getting enough sleep is crucial for teenagers because it helps their body and mind grow and develop properly,” said lead author Dr. Jason Nagata, an assistant professor of pediatrics at the University of ...

Microplastics Are Harming the Guts of Seabirds -- and Maybe Humans, Too

Microplastic pollution is altering the gut microbiomes of wild seabirds and that could be a warning sign for humans, researchers report.

Scientists from McGill University in Montreal, along with colleagues from around the world, found that tiny bits of plastic present in the gastrointestinal system of seabirds have modified the gut's micro...

Differences in Treatment, Not Genes, Keep Black Mens' Prostate Cancer Death Rates High

Black men die from prostate cancer more frequently than other men. They also shoulder the greatest burden of advanced prostate disease around the world.

Now, new research shows genetics are not to blame.

Rather, the culprit is treatment disparities, researchers report.

“I believe this is the largest and most representative g...

Immune System Could Play Role in Spinal Cord Injury and Healing

Age blunts the immune system’s ability to respond to spinal cord injuries, new animal research indicates.

But researchers working with mice also found that the membranes surrounding the spinal cord play a key role in the immune response to spinal cord injury, a discovery that might help people with these devastating injuries. They ...

Local Sales Bans on Flavored Tobacco Products in California Cut Use

Banning flavored tobacco products leads to fewer people using them, according to a new California study that found lower usage in areas that had a full ban.

Residents in areas with a comprehensive sales ban had 30% reduced odds of using flavored tobacco compared to those without a ban, according to researchers from the University of Califo...

Stress Across the Life Span Could Worsen MS

Multiple sclerosis (MS) is a chronic disease that attacks the central nervous system and leaves patients suffering from a host of symptoms, and now new research finds life stressors can make those symptoms even worse.

Poverty, abuse and divorce in childhood and adulthood can significantly impact the level of disability someone with MS expe...

With Training, Soccer Headers Might Be Safe for Teen Players

Limited "heading" of a soccer ball in youth sports may not cause irreversible harm, as long as players are properly trained, a new study finds.

This study from concussion researchers at Children’s Hospital of Philadelphia (CHOP) looked at the consequences of repeated head impacts shortly after the impact. They did this using six differe...

When Arthritis Strikes, Keep Moving

Your achy joints may suggest that you take it easy. Don’t listen to them, experts say.

If it hurts when you get up from a chair or climb stairs, you might have osteoarthritis. If so, it’s best to keep moving.

“While the pain from osteoarthritis worsens with activity and improves with rest, exercise is still the most cost-effect...

Grilling Plant-Based Burgers This Memorial Day? Safe Cooking Temperatures May Change

The last thing you want to invite to your Memorial Day cookout is foodborne illness.

An expert from Virginia Tech offers some suggestions for keeping it at bay, even when cooking something you may have less experience with, such as plant-based or turkey burgers instead of beef patties.

“If you choose the classic ground beef burge...

The Most Common Depression Medications, Explained

You've been diagnosed with depression. What's next?

The cornerstone of treatment remains antidepressants, so it's likely your doctor will prescribe one for you, but which one might be best?

You will join millions around the world who struggle with how to treat the mental health disorder. An estimated 3.8% of the global population exp...