60-Second Health

Emulsifiers in Food Linked to Obesity in Mice

25 Feb 2015

Contributed by Lukas

The common food additives altered mice microbiomes to encourage gut inflammation and overeating. Dina Fine Maron reports  

Menopause Symptoms Have Unappreciated Staying Power

17 Feb 2015

Contributed by Lukas

Although clinical guidelines assume just two years for hot flashes and night sweats, a large study finds a median symptom duration of more than three ...

Wearable Step Counters Offer Exercise Leg Up

11 Feb 2015

Contributed by Lukas

High-tech pedometers do a decent job of counting steps accurately. Dina Fine Maron reports.

Millions Risk Alcohol–Medication Interactions

29 Jan 2015

Contributed by Lukas

Some 42 percent of U.S. adults who drink have been prescribed a drug that may interact negatively with alcohol. Dina Fine Maron reports

Life Extension May Add Just Bad Time

20 Jan 2015

Contributed by Lukas

Strains of the lab workhorse roundworm C. elegans that lived longer added more time being frail and had the same portion of their lives being healthy ...

6 Steps to Women’s Heart Health

13 Jan 2015

Contributed by Lukas

Researchers tracked 70,000 for decades to find lifestyle clues for better cardiovascular condition. Dina Fine Maron reports

Avoid Back-Lit Reading before Bed

23 Dec 2014

Contributed by Lukas

Volunteers who read from an iPad before bed took longer to fall asleep and had less restful nights than when they read from a printed book. Dina Fine ...

Raw Milk Sicknesses Rise

16 Dec 2014

Contributed by Lukas

Nonpasteurized milk is fueling more outbreaks and hospitalizations. Dina Fine Maron reports

Abortions in Medical Settings Rarely Have Major Complications

09 Dec 2014

Contributed by Lukas

Careful tracking of more than 50,000 women during the six weeks after the procedure finds that serious adverse effects are rare. Dina Fine Maron repor...

Diabetes Prevention in Midlife Helps Protect Aging Brain

03 Dec 2014

Contributed by Lukas

People with type 2 diabetes in middle age had greater cognitive impairment in the following decades than did their nondiabetic counterparts. Dina Fine...

Drownings Kill 140,000 Kids Annually

25 Nov 2014

Contributed by Lukas

The World Health Organization issues a new report on the neglected public health issue of drowning

Steamy Smooches Share Batches of Bacteria

20 Nov 2014

Contributed by Lukas

A 10-second makeout session can also transfer some 80 million oral bacteria. Dina Fine Maron reports

Snake DNA Left in Bite ID's Serpent Assailant

12 Nov 2014

Contributed by Lukas

A first-of-its-kind study finds it’s possible to analyze snake DNA left in a bite victim’s wound to identify the species—and thus the correct an...

Plan Now for Future Ebola Outbreaks

31 Oct 2014

Contributed by Lukas

Diagnostics, vaccines and new drugs could vastly improve the way future Ebola outbreaks manifest in Africa, according to emerging infectious disease e...

Ebola Efforts Helped by Flu Shots

24 Oct 2014

Contributed by Lukas

Should Ebola continue to crop up in the U.S., having fewer people coming to emergency rooms with the similar symptoms of flu will help the public heal...

Kids Who Exercise Don’t Sweat Tests

09 Oct 2014

Contributed by Lukas

Physically active children are healthier and score better on intellectual tests than their sedentary peers. Dina Fine Maron reports

Smart Park Benches Weigh Sitters

30 Sep 2014

Contributed by Lukas

In a bid to boost fitness, new park benches in Moscow will let sitters see their weight and receive health tips. Dina Fine Maron reports  

Dry Roasting May Up Peanut Allergic Potential

24 Sep 2014

Contributed by Lukas

A study in mice suggests that chemical changes that occur during dry roasting may increase the odds of an allergic reaction. Dina Fine Maron reports ...

Drug-Resistant Bacteria Hang Out in Hog Workers

16 Sep 2014

Contributed by Lukas

A new study reveals that bacteria associated with staph infections can hitch a ride in workers’ noses. Dina Fine Maron reports

Graying Parent Care Falls to Daughters, Not Sons

26 Aug 2014

Contributed by Lukas

Sisters spend double the time caring for parents as their brothers. Dina Fine Maron reports

Tweets Identify Food Poisoning Outbreaks

20 Aug 2014

Contributed by Lukas

In Chicago monitoring Twitter for reports of food poisoning led to 133 restaurant inspections for health violations, with 21 establishments shut down....

Poor Diabetics Suffer More Amputations

12 Aug 2014

Contributed by Lukas

Patients in low-income zip codes were up to 10 times more likely to lose a leg or foot than diabetic patients in more affluent zip codes. Dina Fine Ma...

Heat Fells More Distance Runners Than Do Hearts

31 Jul 2014

Contributed by Lukas

An analysis of 130,000 runners in events during a seven-year span revealed that competitors were 10 times more likely to experience heat stroke than s...

Prescription Refill Appearance Change Puts Patients off Meds

24 Jul 2014

Contributed by Lukas

When refilled prescriptions for post–heart attack care resulted in the same medication looking different in shape or color, patients were significan...

Heavy Metal Headbanging Rare Risk Revealed

14 Jul 2014

Contributed by Lukas

Headbanging can cause pain or even whiplash. But a 50-year-old Motörhead fan developed a more serious condition, bleeding in the brain that required ...

Robotic Exoskeleton Gets First-Ever FDA Approval

01 Jul 2014

Contributed by Lukas

The ReWalk exoskeleton allows some people paralyzed from the waist down to walk again, with the aid of crutches. Dina Fine Maron reports  

Tanning Mice Get Physically Addicted

24 Jun 2014

Contributed by Lukas

Mice regularly exposed to UV light produced feel-good endorphins and behaved like addicts. If humans do, too, it could explain why we seek sun, despit...

Hi-Tech Helmet Heads Off Stroke Damage

17 Jun 2014

Contributed by Lukas

A helmet placed on the head of a stroke victim sends low-intensity microwaves through the brain to quickly determine whether a blockage or hemorrhage ...

Wikipedia Dicey as Medical Info Source

10 Jun 2014

Contributed by Lukas

Researchers who compared peer-reviewed articles to the Wikipedia pages for the 10 most costly medical conditions in the U.S. discovered incorrect info...

Heroin Has Expanded Its User Base

04 Jun 2014

Contributed by Lukas

Compared with 50 years ago, today's heroin user is whiter, more suburban and had prescription opioids for a gateway. Dina Fine Maron reports  

Laser Light Coaxes Damaged Rodent Tooth Repair

28 May 2014

Contributed by Lukas

Low-power laser light shined on damaged rat teeth activates growth factors that cue stem cells to generate the tooth constituent dentin, leading to re...

Vitamin C Helps Pregnant Smokers Have Healthier Babies

20 May 2014

Contributed by Lukas

Children of smokers who popped vitamin C during pregnancy had better lung function than kids of other women who also smoked during pregnancy. Dina Fin...

Some Nail Salon Dryers Bombard Skin with UV

06 May 2014

Contributed by Lukas

Just a few nail drying sessions under the highest output UV bulbs used in some salons could age the skin and bump up the risk of skin cancer. Dina Fin...

Snot Clouds Achieve Unexpected Buoyancy

29 Apr 2014

Contributed by Lukas

Sneeze and cough particles form a cloud whose turbulence pulls in surrounding air, which allows the goop to maintain buoyancy and move farther than ex...

Morning Light Exposure Tied to Lower Weight

18 Apr 2014

Contributed by Lukas

Exposure to bright light in the morning appears linked to reduced appetite and lower body weight, regardless of sleep patterns. Sophie Bushwick report...

Hand Soap Ingredient Can Up Body Bacteria Burden

09 Apr 2014

Contributed by Lukas

Residues of the antimicrobial agent triclosan can paradoxically boost bacterial growth in our bodies, by giving microbes a comfortable biofilm in whic...

Many More Americans Issue End-of-Life Instructions

04 Apr 2014

Contributed by Lukas

The number of Americans aged 60 or more who issued advance directives governing their end-of-life care went from 47 percent in 2000 to 72 percent in 2...

Goo Keeps Bones Strong but Supple

27 Mar 2014

Contributed by Lukas

Bones are filled with a viscous fluid that’s key to their function as support structures, and which could inform osteoporosis research. Dina Fine Ma...

Dodgers Doc: No Noninjury Tommy John Surgery to Improve Performance

18 Mar 2014

Contributed by Lukas

Stan Conte, vice president of medical services for the L.A. Dodgers, advised parents and coaches of young athletes to not consider Tommy John surgery ...

Flu Vaccine Keeps Connecticut Kids from Hospitals

11 Mar 2014

Contributed by Lukas

After flu shot regulations upped Connecticut kids' vaccination rate, their hospitalization risk went down. Dina Fine Maron reports  

Bedroom TV Linked to Kid Weight Gain

04 Mar 2014

Contributed by Lukas

The mere presence of a TV in a child's bedroom is linked with weight gain—regardless of how many hours per week a youngster watches it. Dina Fine Ma...

Store Receipts on Thermal Paper Can Transfer BPA

25 Feb 2014

Contributed by Lukas

Volunteers who handled receipts containing the hormone-altering compound bisphenol A for two hours showed elevated BPA levels in their urine. Dina Fin...

Concussions Abound in Soccer, Too

12 Feb 2014

Contributed by Lukas

A meta-analysis finds that concussions accounted for between 6 and 9 percent of all injuries sustained on soccer fields. Dina Fine Maron reports  

Dengue Fever Makes U.S. Inroads

03 Feb 2014

Contributed by Lukas

The CDC reports that locally acquired Dengue killed a Texas woman in 2012 who had been misdiagnosed with West Nile virus. Dina Fine Maron reports  

Secondhand Smoke Exposure Doubled Asthmatic Kids' Hospital Readmissions

28 Jan 2014

Contributed by Lukas

A study of more than 600 asthmatic children at one Ohio hospital found that if the kids’ saliva tested positive for markers of nicotine exposure, th...

Diet Soda Mixers Up Breathalyzer Readings

14 Jan 2014

Contributed by Lukas

People who drank vodka with a diet mixer had breath alcohol levels 18 percent higher than when they drank alcohol with full-calorie soda. Sophie Bushw...

The Mercury's Falling...in Women's Seafood Consumption

06 Jan 2014

Contributed by Lukas

Between 1999 and 2010 changes in seafood consumption meant that blood levels of mercury in women of childbearing age dropped by a third, and the perce...

Teens and Docs Abstain from Sex Talk

31 Dec 2013

Contributed by Lukas

In annual physicals teens and docs failed to talk sex a third of the time and usually too briefly when the subject was addressed. Dina Fine Maron repo...

Older Couch Potatoes Benefit from Even a Little Exercise

24 Dec 2013

Contributed by Lukas

Middle-aged to elderly adults with no history of exercising still saw significant health benefits from even small additions of regular physical activi...

Apple a Day Could Keep Statins Away

17 Dec 2013

Contributed by Lukas

A population model suggests that a small dietary change, such as eating a daily piece of fruit instead of the equivalent calories in less healthful fa...

Resurgence of Swaddling Brings Hip Fears

21 Nov 2013

Contributed by Lukas

Swaddling infants is safe when done correctly. But done wrong, it raises the risk of osteoarthritis and the need for hip replacement in middle age. Di...

Mondays Top Quit-Smoking Google Searches

12 Nov 2013

Contributed by Lukas

Based on the number of searches for info about smoking cessation on Google, it appears more people consider quitting on Mondays than any other day. Di...

TV Drug Ads May Cause Disinfo Swallowing

22 Oct 2013

Contributed by Lukas

An analysis of TV drug ads finds that six of 10 for prescription drugs and eight of 10 for OTC drug ads are misleading. Katherine Harmon reports.

Different Placebos Can Have Different Effects

27 Aug 2013

Contributed by Lukas

In a study of patients asked to tolerate discomfort, different placebo treatments achieved different levels of relief, in keeping with individual expe...

Anorexics Display Behaviors Common in Autism

20 Aug 2013

Contributed by Lukas

Understanding that, for example, anorexics and autists both tend to have high interest in systems could inform treatment choices. Erika Beras reports

Breakfast Is the Most Important Meal for Dieters

15 Aug 2013

Contributed by Lukas

Women who ate half of 1,400 daily calories at breakfast lost almost 80 percent more weight than women who ate half their 1,400 calories at dinner. Kat...

Use Care with Cat Caca

18 Jul 2013

Contributed by Lukas

Our feline friends might be carrying hazardous organisms in their waste, so be careful when scooping that poop. Katherine Harmon reports

Skimping on Sleep Packs On Pounds

09 Jul 2013

Contributed by Lukas

Sleep deprivation raises levels of hormones associated with hunger, and provides more awake hours for eating. Katherine Harmon reports

Exercise without Diet Still Benefits Type 2 Diabetics

25 Jun 2013

Contributed by Lukas

A small group of type 2 diabetes patients lost significant amounts of fat around their hearts and in their livers and abdomens with regular exercise, ...

New Runners Need Not Sweat over Shoes

20 Jun 2013

Contributed by Lukas

Run-of-the-mill neutral running shoes do not lead to more injuries for beginning joggers whose feet pronate or supinate. Katherine Harmon reports

Patients Prefer Diet Skinny from Big Docs

14 Jun 2013

Contributed by Lukas

Overweight patients are more likely to take weight-loss advice from overweight doctors, but the advice from thin doctors may be of higher quality. Kat...

Confessional Tweeting May Help Dieters

06 Jun 2013

Contributed by Lukas

Participants in a media-assisted weight-loss program had some success, and those who tweeted about their efforts lost a bit more. Karen Hopkin reports

Fluoride Loosens Bacterial Enamel Grip

22 May 2013

Contributed by Lukas

Rather than significantly hardening tooth enamel, fluoride may cut cavities by making it harder for oral bacteria to stick around. Karen Hopkin report...

Nightcap Drink Disrupts Important Sleep

29 Jan 2013

Contributed by Lukas

Two or more drinks cut REM sleep, which is important for memory and health. Katherine Harmon reports

Skin-Cancer Spotting Apps Miss Their Marks

16 Jan 2013

Contributed by Lukas

New smart phone apps that purport to assess patients' skin lesions as cancer or not are unreliable, according to a new study. Katherine Harmon reports

Surgical "Never" Events Happen Nevertheless

08 Jan 2013

Contributed by Lukas

The errors known as surgical "never events," which are never supposed to happen, still occur some 4,000 times annually in the U.S. Katherine Harmon re...

Video Helps with Weight Info Basics

19 Dec 2012

Contributed by Lukas

The American Chemical Society has produced a YouTube video with info to help you survive the holiday eating season. Katherine Harmon reports

Flu Web Searches Predict Disease Outbreaks

11 Dec 2012

Contributed by Lukas

Weather prediction models armed with citizens' flu symptom query data enable researchers to predict flu outbreaks. Katherine Harmon reports

E-Visits to Doctors Might Streamline Care

28 Nov 2012

Contributed by Lukas

A study finds that patients who enter information online about common infections get decent diagnoses from docs, although antibiotics may be overpresc...

Patients Should Ask Docs to Scrub

13 Nov 2012

Contributed by Lukas

Patients know that health care workers should wash their hands, but are are often reluctant to ask a doctor or nurse to lather up. Katherine Harmon re...

Exercise Lengthens Life Regardless of Weight

06 Nov 2012

Contributed by Lukas

Just a couple of hours of physical activity each week adds years to average life expectancy. Katherine Harmon reports

Your Fat Needs Sleep, Too

16 Oct 2012

Contributed by Lukas

A small study finds that sleep-deprived fat cells are less sensitive to insulin, a condition that often precedes diabetes. Katherine Harmon reports

Facebook Community Can Help Cut STIs

12 Oct 2012

Contributed by Lukas

Young adults at risk for getting a sexually acquired infection were more likely to use a condom if they followed a social media's sex education campai...

Peeking at Doctors' Notes Helps Patients

03 Oct 2012

Contributed by Lukas

Patients are more likely to follow doctors' orders if they have access to their notes. Katherine Harmon reports

Kids Gulp 7 Trillion Calories Per Year

27 Sep 2012

Contributed by Lukas

Obese kids have higher cardiovascular risks as adults, and sugary beverages are stoking that obesity epidemic. Katherine Harmon reports

Make Healthy Choices Easier Options

20 Sep 2012

Contributed by Lukas

Making bad choices harder is actually the best way to help people get healthier, say public health experts. Katherine Harmon reports

Experts Offer Tips to Lower Risk of West Nile

11 Sep 2012

Contributed by Lukas

This year has had the most recorded cases of West Nile virus on record in the U.S. Public health experts offer tips to avoid the virus. Katherine Harm...

Organic Benefits Don't Include Enhanced Nutrition

05 Sep 2012

Contributed by Lukas

Produce grown organically cuts pesticide use and the promotion of antibiotic-resistant bacteria. But nutrient levels appear similar to conventionally ...

Better Sidewalks Could Bring Improved Public Health

21 Aug 2012

Contributed by Lukas

Better sidewalks and other changes to the physical environment could encourage more activity and improve the overall health of the public. Katherine H...

Doc Calls Deconditioning a Condition

15 Aug 2012

Contributed by Lukas

A Mayo Clinic doc says physicians may miss the signs of extreme deconditioning and prescribe medication instead of long-term exercise programs. Kather...

Color-Coded Food Helps Consumers Make Healthful Choices

07 Aug 2012

Contributed by Lukas

Six months after color coding its food choices as least, somewhat or most healthful, Massachusetts General Hospital saw its cafeteria users substantia...

Many Olympians Suffer from Asthma

01 Aug 2012

Contributed by Lukas

The most common chronic condition among all Olympic athletes is asthma. But many don't start suffering symptoms until their later years, suggesting th...

Food Diary Helps Cut Pounds

17 Jul 2012

Contributed by Lukas

Dieting women who kept a diligent food diary lost more weight than other women in a cohort. Skipping meals and eating out slowed weight loss. Katherin...

Mice Hit Protein to Stop Hunger

10 Jul 2012

Contributed by Lukas

Normal mice fed protein stopped eating much sooner than mice that lacked the receptor to sense they were eating protein. Katherine Harmon reports

Meta-Study: Moderate Coffee Cuts Cardiac Failure

26 Jun 2012

Contributed by Lukas

Sixteen ounces of coffee a day cut the risk of heart failure, but 40 daily ounces of coffee upped the odds of ticker trouble. Katherine Harmon reports

Hotel Rooms House Bountiful Bacteria

19 Jun 2012

Contributed by Lukas

A new study locates the bacterial hot spots of your hotel room. Tip: don't turn anything on. Katherine Harmon reports

Hospital Noise May Disrupt Patient Improvement

13 Jun 2012

Contributed by Lukas

Hospital sounds raised volunteer sleepers' heart rates, and the effects on sick patients may be impeding recovery. Katherine Harmon reports

Aspirin Could Lower Some Cancer Mortality Risk

07 Jun 2012

Contributed by Lukas

Daily aspirin could lower the risk of dying from some nonvascular-related diseases, including specific cancers. Katherine Harmon reports

Bloodletting Makes Comeback for Metabolic Syndrome

30 May 2012

Contributed by Lukas

A small study shows that a little blood loss might improve cardiovascular health for obese people with metabolic syndrome. Katherine Harmon reports

Waves of Walkers Wander without Waking

22 May 2012

Contributed by Lukas

A large survey finds evidence that millions of Americans had at least one episode of sleepwalking in the last year. Katherine Harmon reports

Car Commutes Can Counter Conditioning

15 May 2012

Contributed by Lukas

Car commutes are linked to increased metabolic health problems, and the longer the ride the worse the issues. Katherine Harmon reports

Pacifiers Won't Make Newborns Shun Breast

01 May 2012

Contributed by Lukas

The conventional wisdom that pacifiers can interfere with early breast-feeding efforts might not hold milk. Katherine Harmon reports

Blood Flow Fingered in Ice Cream Headaches

25 Apr 2012

Contributed by Lukas

The anterior cerebral artery widens just before brain freeze, sending warming blood to the brain but increasing the pressure to painful levels. Kather...

U.S. Fast Food Contains More Salt

17 Apr 2012

Contributed by Lukas

Fast food chains say it's hard to hold the salt, but outlets in other countries are already cutting back on sodium. Katherine Harmon reports

Biological Clock Ticks Despite Technology

11 Apr 2012

Contributed by Lukas

Women who wish to conceive later in life have benefited from improvements in reproductive technology. But even those have expiration dates. Katherine ...

Kids Fail to Get Outdoors

05 Apr 2012

Contributed by Lukas

Boys get more outside playtime than girls, and almost half of parents do not take their preschool-aged kids out to play once a day. Katherine Harmon r...

Frequent Chocolate Eaters Have Lower BMIs

28 Mar 2012

Contributed by Lukas

People who ate chocolate frequently consumed more calories and more saturated fat, yet had lower average body mass indexes than those who did not eat ...

How Yoga Might Relieve Stress-Linked Ailments

13 Mar 2012

Contributed by Lukas

Yoga may increase parasympathetic nervous system activity and neurotransmitter levels, helping to decrease symptoms of some stress-related illnesses. ...

Exercise Instantly Affects DNA

06 Mar 2012

Contributed by Lukas

Signals to improve muscle tone alter the expression of genes after just one workout. Katherine Harmon reports

Teen Brain Takes Biggest Sports Hits

29 Feb 2012

Contributed by Lukas

The teen brain suffers more long-term damage from concussions than does the child or adult brain. Katherine Harmon reports