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A sense of hearing, a divine gift

A first sentence warning. This scientific, educational article about hearing is going to mention God. The sense of vision, hearing, taste, touch and smell are remarkable abilities built into humans and other creatures. These five senses are dramatic evidence that a designer was involved in how ...

Raynaud’s Syndrome is more than just a case of cold feet

If you’ve ever felt an intense sting in your nose or a sharp bite in your toes while out in the cold, it could be more than just normal discomfort. These sensations might be signaling a condition called Raynaud’s phenomenon, also known as Raynaud’s syndrome or disease. This condition ...

US deaths are down and life expectancy is up, but improvements are slowing

NEW YORK (AP) — U.S. life expectancy jumped last year, and preliminary data suggests there may be another — much smaller — improvement this year. Death rates fell last year for almost all leading causes, notably COVID-19, heart disease and drug overdoses, according to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention report released Thursday. That translated to adding nearly a year to the estimated lifespan of Americans. Experts note it’s part of a bounce-back from the COVID-19 pandemic. But life expectancy has not yet climbed back to prepandemic levels, and the rebound appears ...

Tips for a safe, merry and bright holiday season

The holiday season is a wonderful time filled with family gatherings, festive decorations and plenty of treats. But the season also brings certain risks for kids, from choking hazards to potential injuries with holiday decor. Here are some simple safety tips to keep your holiday joyful and ...

Is expired medication safe? Before you take your medication, check the date

How many bottles of unused or expired medication do you have in your medicine cabinet right now? Like leftover antibiotics or other prescriptions — or unused cold medicine or NSAIDs. So, when you have a headache, should you reach for the expired Tylenol or skip it entirely? You may want ...

Some breast cancer patients can avoid certain surgeries, studies suggest

Some early breast cancer patients can safely avoid specific surgeries, according to two studies exploring ways to lessen treatment burdens. One new study, published in the New England Journal of Medicine, examines whether removing lymph nodes is always necessary in early breast cancer. Another in the Journal of the American Medical Association suggests a new approach to a type of breast cancer called ductal carcinoma in situ, or DCIS. The research was discussed Thursday at the San Antonio Breast Cancer Symposium. DCIS and active monitoring Every year, about 50,000 women in the ...