Health & Medicine

  1. Health & Medicine

    Excess weight alters results of blood tests in kids and teens

    Carrying extra weight could affect many routine blood tests in kids, new data show. Knowing this might help doctors better interpret lab results.

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  2. Health & Medicine

    Scientists Say: Outbreak, Epidemic and Pandemic

    These terms can describe what is happening as a disease spreads across communities, countries and the world.

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  3. Health & Medicine

    Experts rethink need for X-ray shielding of patients

    For close to 70 years, workers who perform X-ray scans of the body have been advised to shield sensitive tissues with lead 'aprons.' That may soon stop.

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  4. Health & Medicine

    New success in treating allergies to peanuts and other foods

    Nearly 8 million U.S. children have food allergies, about two per classroom. The good news: Better ways to treat them are emerging.

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  5. Health & Medicine

    Food allergies can trigger stress and anxiety

    From peanut-free lunch tables to unsympathetic relatives, food allergies can cause considerable stress for a kid. As they transition toward independence, parents and counselors can help.

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  6. Health & Medicine

    Explainer: What are allergies?

    Sometimes the body’s immune system works too well, like a smoke alarm that blares every time you cook pizza. The results can range from uncomfortable to potentially life-threatening.

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  7. Humans

    Testing the power of touch

    We pet dogs with our fingers, not our arms or backs. Our fingers are more sensitive to touch. But how do we know? Here's how you can test that.

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  8. Health & Medicine

    Your most urgent questions about the new coronavirus

    Researchers have more questions than answers right now about 2019-nCoV. They’re racing to understand and stop the coronavirus and the health crisis it poses.

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  9. Health & Medicine

    The many challenges of corralling a coronavirus outbreak

    The Chinese government has quarantined millions of people in hopes of limiting spread of a new coronavirus. But no one yet knows how much this will help.

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  10. Health & Medicine

    Explainer: What is a coronavirus?

    Coronaviruses are a diverse family of disease-causing agents. Some cause the common cold. Newer ones have emerged to pose more serious threats to people.

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  11. Health & Medicine

    Serious virus emerges in China and is spreading globally

    A new viral infection emerged in December 2019 among people in Wuhan, China. The mystery illness has already killed at least 17 people and sickened many hundreds.

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  12. Brain

    Scientists’ brains shrank after a long stay in Antarctica

    The isolation of a long-term mission at an Antarctic research station shrunk part of crew members’ brains, a small study suggests.

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