Health

Scoliosis is a spinal condition that occurs when there is an abnormal curve of the spine. Often, scoliosis cases are mild and do not need extensive treatment, but there are very severe cases that require surgery and crucial care for the spine. Scoliosis is typically diagnosed through X-rays. The cause …

Monsters under the bed aren’t the only bedtime horrors to worry about. Sheets and pillowcases may actually be embedded with bacteria, according to a new study by Amerisleep, a mattress company in Scottsdale, Arizona.  Unwashed bedding could even contain more bacteria than toilet seats after just one week, according to …

A former Australian rules football player has been diagnosed with chronic traumatic encephalopathy in a landmark finding for female professional athletes. The Concussion Legacy Foundation said Heather Anderson, who played for Adelaide in the Australian Football League Women’s competition, is the first female athlete diagnosed with CTE, the degenerative brain …

A recent health alert from the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) warns travelers to protect themselves against measles before heading out to visit other countries this summer.  A recent rise in cases of measles sparked the health advisory urging people to check that they’ve had two doses of …

Human remains are at the center of tangled litigation involving a major regional health care system and the company contracted to dispose of its medical waste in North Dakota. Monarch Waste Technologies sued Sanford Health and the subsidiary responsible for delivering the health care system’s medical waste, Healthcare Environmental Services, …

Fireworks are a Fourth of July staple.  Families from across the country settle into a comfy spot on a blanket, a bleacher or even a boat to catch a Fourth of July fireworks display.  The tradition of lighting off fireworks on the holiday is one that dates back to 1777, …

A growing body of research indicates that music can be a form of therapy — especially singing with others — to improve your mental health. But it’s OK if you are not the next “American Idol.” Music therapy addresses symptoms across a wide range of illnesses, including chronic pain, anxiety …

Anyone who’s ever been plagued with pink eye — and its telltale signs of irritation, itchiness and discharge — likely will want to take measures to prevent it from happening again. Also known as conjunctivitis, the infection causes the white of the eye to become pink or red, hence its …

The Centers for Disease Control (CDC) will now begin tracking infections caused by Cronobacter, a potentially deadly bacteria that has been found in powdered infant formula. On Thursday, the Council of State and Territorial Epidemiologists — a nonprofit group that advises the CDC — added Cronobacter-related infections to the national …

A new artificial intelligence-powered tool aims to detect signs of dementia, Alzheimer’s and other memory disorders by analyzing a person’s speech and language patterns. The system is called CognoSpeak. Researchers at the University of Sheffield in the U.K. developed it.  In early trials that included both Alzheimer’s patients and cognitively …