dailydose

Starbucks set to post calorie counts

Tue, 18 Jun 2013 19:13:40 GMT

If you head into your local Starbucks next Tuesday, you’ll see calorie counts listed on the menu boards -- and may be shocked to see just how many calories you’re drinking in your favorite Frappuccino or iced latte.

Weekly challenge: summerproof your skin

Mon, 17 Jun 2013 19:50:47 GMT

Summer weather has finally arrived in Boston, and you’ll likely need to make some adjustments to your skin care routine as you head to the sandy beach or a chlorinated pool. Here’s how to maintain the health of your dermis.

Your brain on yoga: practice offers bigger mental boost than running

Fri, 14 Jun 2013 14:57:59 GMT

Exercise has long been hailed as an elixir for the brain, to boost your mood, improve learning, and ward off memory loss. But is yoga even better? That’s what a new study suggests.

Why Plan B isn’t yet on drugstore shelves

Fri, 14 Jun 2013 12:26:38 GMT

After a busy two weeks of court rulings, the US Food and Drug Administration has finally come to an agreement with the federal courts concerning emergency contraception. But the product still isn’t on drugstore shelves and won’t be for at least another month.

Increase in overseas travel infections: 3 ways to prevent illness this summer

Thu, 13 Jun 2013 22:50:55 GMT

If you’re traveling to an exotic destination this summer -- especially developing countries in Africa, South America, or Southeast Asia -- you’ll likely need to take certain precautions to avoid getting an exotic infection, which new research finds are on the rise.

Facebook changes policy to allow post-mastectomy photos

Wed, 12 Jun 2013 21:35:13 GMT

After facing a wave of criticism over its handling of post-mastectomy photos, Facebook has finally clarified its policy in writing.

Weekly challenge: avoid overdosing on foods that can kill

Tue, 11 Jun 2013 13:55:25 GMT

Can eating too much of a particular food in one sitting actually kill you? Actually yes, if it contains too much salt. A 19-year-old recently drank an entire bottle of soy sauce on a stupid dare and nearly died. Five other foods that could be toxic.

Chat Tuesday: Seasonal Allergies

Mon, 10 Jun 2013 15:55:59 GMT

Join Dr. Anna Kovalszki of Beth Israel Deaconess Medical Center Tuesday at 12p.m. as she answers your questions on those pesky seasonal allergies.

Is caffeine withdrawal really a mental illness?

Mon, 10 Jun 2013 12:10:13 GMT

I had a hard time believing that caffeine withdrawal is now classified as a mental illness in the new DSM-5 manual of psychiatric diagnoses, despite what news reports have proclaimed. But it is indeed listed there under the heading “Caffeine-Related Disorders.” Experts who developed it explain why.

FDA panel greenlights loosening of restrictions on diabetes drug Avandia

Thu, 06 Jun 2013 23:36:57 GMT

An independent panel of experts convened by the US Food and Drug Administration voted on Thursday for the agency to consider lifting or altering the prescribing restrictions for the diabetes drug rosiglitazone (Avandia) after reviewing the latest research data that suggests the heart attack risks associated with the drug are “modest” and “uncertain.”

Finally proof that sunscreen slows skin aging

Thu, 06 Jun 2013 19:30:59 GMT

Any dermatologist will tell you that most of the wrinkles and age spots we develop through the years can be blamed on sun exposure, but can we actually look younger by regularly using sunscreen? That’s always been assumed but never tested in a rigorous clinical trial -- until now.

Appeals court ruling will lift age restrictions on some emergency contraception pills

Wed, 05 Jun 2013 20:34:31 GMT

In a strange twist of events, a federal appeals court ruled on Wednesday that two-pill generic versions of the morning after pill should immediately be made available over the counter, without any age restrictions; the court, though, denied unrestricted sales of the Plan B One-Step product until it determines whether the government’s appeal should be upheld.

Komen cancels 3-day Boston walk for 2014

Tue, 04 Jun 2013 23:42:07 GMT

Susan G. Komen for the Cure announced that they were cancelling several of their 3-Day walk events including one planned for Boston in 2014. Here’s why.

Sudden death in Bentley player raises questions about EKG screening in athletes

Tue, 04 Jun 2013 19:47:24 GMT

The tragic sudden death of 19-year-old Joe Glynn, a Bentley University basketball player, who collapsed during a Monday night game raises the same questions that arise every time a young athlete dies far too early in life: Did he have an underlying health problem that contributed to his death? If so, could the problem have been detected earlier? Would that have saved his life?

Chat Tuesday: Dr. Jonathan Edlow on Lyme disease

Tue, 04 Jun 2013 19:30:34 GMT

Cases of Lyme disease are rising and so is the controversy on the nature of the diagnosis and methods of treating the condition, Boston Globe reporter Beth Daley writes in her special report on Lyme Disease. Dr. Jonathan Edlow, vice chair of emergency medicine at Beth Israel Deaconess Medical Center, discussed your questions on Lyme disease.

Michael Douglas blames throat cancer on oral sex: what are risks?

Mon, 03 Jun 2013 20:20:39 GMT

Michael Douglas has revealed that his stage 4 throat cancer was the result of an HPV infection, that he got from oral sex.

Weekly challenge: redouble your efforts to stop texting while driving

Mon, 03 Jun 2013 15:23:11 GMT

Nearly three years after Massachusetts implemented a no texting while driving law, nearly 40 percent of drivers in the state say they still send text messages while driving, according to a March survey of 500 drivers released on Monday.

Pills to boost sex drive? Natural alternatives to try instead

Fri, 31 May 2013 21:32:01 GMT

A New York Times magazine story last Sunday touting two new pills in the pipeline to boost a woman’s low libido made it seem as if they were on the verge of hitting the market. They’re not, but here’s what to try now.

Boston ranks 6th fittest city in US

Fri, 31 May 2013 17:30:42 GMT

We already know Boston has the number one hospital in the nation, that Massachusetts ranks 4th in the nation for overall health. But did you know that Boston folks are also among the buffest in the nation?

College women exceed their alcohol limits more than men, study finds

Thu, 30 May 2013 17:26:32 GMT

While college students are well versed on the dangers of binge drinking, many may know the health risks of exceeding too many alcoholic drinks on a weekly basis; in fact, women are more likely to do this than men, according to a recent study from Massachusetts General Hospital.

Mayor Menino’s prostate surgery uncommon but necessary for those with very large glands

Tue, 28 May 2013 22:16:36 GMT

Mayor Thomas Menino is heading to the hospital for surgery on Friday to fix a problem with his prostate that most men over age 60 experience. His enlarged prostate shows no signs of cancer, but it is likely impeding his ability to fully empty his bladder.

Weekly challenge: curb obesity in your pet

Tue, 28 May 2013 16:17:47 GMT

As Americans have gotten fatter over the years, so have their pets. About 53 percent of dogs and 58 percent of cats are overweight, according to a 2013 survey of veterinarians conducted by the Association for Pet Obesity Prevention. What to do if you think your dog or cat may be overweight.

Are you less beautiful than you think?

Fri, 24 May 2013 20:56:24 GMT

The Dove video concluding that women are “more beautiful than they think” may have gotten it wrong. Usually, we’re less beautiful than we think, according to the latest research.

Cure for distracted mind: Stare at a painting for three hours

Fri, 24 May 2013 20:27:35 GMT

Are distracting smartphones making us more stupid? New research suggests that could be the case. A Harvard art professor thinks she has a cure: Get students to stare at a painting for three hours.

Tonsil surgery reduces behavioral problems in kids with snoring condition, study finds

Tue, 21 May 2013 20:14:43 GMT

Having surgery to remove the tonsils and adenoids significantly reduces sleepiness and behavioral problems in kids who snore, but it does not improve their performance on attention and memory tests. That’s the finding from a long-awaited clinical trial conducted by researchers at Brigham and Women’s Hospital, Boston Children’s Hospital, and elsewhere.