Articles

Scientists have identified a genetic mechanism which appears to determine which fatty deposits in the arteries have the potential to kill us. Most of these plaques pose no risk to health, but a minority burst, forming blood clots, which can cause heart attacks or strokes.  More...

A male contraceptive jab could be as effective at preventing pregnancies as the female pill or condoms, work shows. The monthly testosterone injection works by temporarily blocking sperm production and could revolutionise birth control, experts believe.  More...

Some baby foods contain "staggering" amounts of sugar and fat that make them worse than junk food, according to a survey published today. Farley's Original Rusks contain more sugar than McVities Chocolate Digestives, and Heinz Toddler Mini Cheese Biscuits have proportionately more saturated fat than a McDonald's quarter pounder with cheese.  More...

“I count ... six babies in there,” the ultrasound technician said slowly. “And they all have strong heartbeats.” Kristina stared at the monitor, following the technician’s pointer as he showed her the little black blurs on screen. Her joy turned to shock, then panic. Six babies?  More...

Mothers who diet excessively during pregnancy might be storing up problems for their child later on and might be increasing the risk that if their child becomes obese, he or she will develop the adverse consequences of obesity sooner rather than later.  More...

Iron plays a large role in brain development in the womb, and new University of Rochester Medical Center research shows an iron deficiency may delay the development of auditory nervous system in preemies. This delay could affect babies ability to process sound which is critical for later language development in early childhood.  More...

A new study out of the Hospital for Sick Children found babies whose mothers experienced morning sickness later tested a few IQ points higher than children of mothers who had nausea-free pregnancies. More...

You want nice, healthy cells? Then you better make sure you get enough vitamin B9, also known as folic acid or folate — its naturally occurring form. The stuff is primarily found in green, leafy vegetables like spinach, lettuce and turnip greens. If that doesn't appeal to you, beans, peas, citrus fruits and squash provide what you need. Still not impressed? There's always liver. More...

The Department of Health is to consider a mass vaccination of children in England against chickenpox. Experts have been drafted in to weigh up the benefits following a recommendation from the Joint Committee on Vaccination and Immunisation (JCVI).  More...

During the course of your pregnancy, it is possible that you may catch a cold or flu virus. Because your immune system is affected during pregnancy, your symptoms may persist longer than usual. Nasal stuffiness is very common in pregnancy because of hormonal effects on the nasal passages. If other cold symptoms are not present, you probably do not have a cold. More...

While some medications are considered safe to take during pregnancy, the effects of other medications on your unborn baby are unknown. Therefore, it is very important to pay special attention to medications you take while you are pregnant, especially during the first trimester, a crucial time of development for your baby. More...

Mothers who want to breastfeed their baby successfully may want to hold off on giving their infant a pacifier, new research from Denmark shows. Drs. Hanne Kronborg and Michael Vaeth of the University of Aarhus found that women who gave their infant a pacifier in the first weeks of life were less likely to continue breastfeeding their babies. More...