HEALTH & MEDICINE

It is the underlying hypertension of the mother, rather than the use of antihypertensive drugs in early pregnancy that increases the risk of birth defects, research findings show.

Four million children undergo surgical procedures in the United States every year. And when it comes to postsurgical pain in pediatric patients, which may last weeks or months, it has been generally overlooked, unlike those of treated adults.

More often than not, people frown upon having gapped teeth. But as far as trends and celebrities are concerned, having gapped teeth may be a blessing in disguise.

Persons who drink more than three cups of coffee a day has a lesser risk of getting a type of skin cancer known as basal cell carcinoma (BCC).

Pacemakers are expensive and valued at £15,000 to £35,000. However, these are considered useful and some specialized versions can even help in rectifying heart failure, according to some doctors in the U.S.

A WA man has won $2 million in compensation from James Hardie after the Western Australian Supreme Court found the building materials company negligent in dumping asbestos that caused him to develop mesothelioma.

American researchers are claiming that supposed human encounters with aliens and unidentified flying objects (UFO) may just be dreams based on results of a sleep experiment.

Ascariasis, an intestinal infection caused by a parasitic roundworm, has plagued man for the longest time, affecting over one billion people in China, South East Asia, South America, and in Africa.

When preparing to deliver a baby, physicians look at fetal heart rate patterns to guide them in deciding whether or not to perform a C-section. But without a standard to guide physicians during those critical hours, doctors and nurses often resort to guessing.

Better management of data could substantially raise vaccination rates, U.S. public health researchers say. A group of researchers from the Johns Hopkins Bloomberg School of Public Health estimated that the coverage of vaccination around the world could be significantly improved by combining administrative data with survey data.

Young people at risk of depression are more likely to listen habitually and repetitively to heavy metal music. University of Melbourne researcher Dr Katrina McFerran has found.

Watch out! Consuming large amounts of soda may not be advantageous to the health because of four hazardous ingredients.

A group of college undergraduates from the Johns Hopkins University has developed yeast - an ingredient which helps bread rise - that has been tweaked to contain vitamins, called VitaYeast.

Who would have thought that just by having cataract surgery, patients with Alzheimer's would not only improve their vision, but also their lives?

Some sceptics may view hypnosis as a hoax, but a multidisciplinary group of researchers may have found proof that there is such a thing.

Beginning next week some patients in South Australian hospitals will have bedside touch screen computers under a $36.7 million deal between Telstra and the medical institutions.

Cannabis, which is popularly known to have a lot of names, have either been used medicinally or as a recreational drug. But research suggests that it can leave its users schizophrenic.

Ever hear of the expression “follow your gut feeling?” As it turns out, scientists have found a way to literally follow what your gut is feeling.

Strawberries, those ruby-red fruits that have always been known to give us antioxidants and vitamin C, now have a new benefit – treating ulcers.

More time spent outdoors reduces the risk of nearsightedness, or myopia, in children and adolescents, says a study from the University of Cambridge.

Who would have thought that living in rural areas could lead to women getting diagnosed with late-stage cancer?

Rats exposed to antidepressants just before and after birth manifest behaviors that mimic the symptoms of autism, according to a new study that was partially funded by the National Institute of Mental Health (NIMH).

The Australian Beverages Council, representing the Australian non-alcoholic beverage industry, has criticised the recent US study attempting to link increased soda consumption with violence.

Mothers who are with child have a good reason to be concerned about what they buy as proven by a recent study.

Two new but separate studies on popular drinks showed positive and negative news for drinkers.

Gallium Nitride, or GaN, a material usually used for LED lighting and optic sensors, can now be used as implants.

On the surface Foldit doesn't seem to be any different from any video game. It has cute graphics and a peppy sound. Players have to figure out a puzzle before moving on to another level. However Foldit isn't just some puzzle game, it actually masquerades as a scientific tool that helps fight real life problems, namely viruses.

Halloween is just a week away. To help children protect their teeth from decay caused by excessive candy consumption, Ohio dentist Craig Callen devised an incentive system which kids may find sweeter than their Halloween loot.

Experts doing research on sexually-transmitted diseases have made some progress with the discovery of a vaginal gel that could possibly lessen the frequency of genital herpes among females.