Strengthening Family Ties Through Online Gaming

THURSDAY, March 21, 2019 -- Video games provide unlimited entertainment, and interactive ones can even help you burn off calories.

But you may not know that playing games -- either in person or through shared online networks -- can unite family members from many generations in meaningful ways.

Stretches to Strengthen Your Core

THURSDAY, March 21, 2019 -- Ever had a bad spasm from bending down to pick up your child or tie your shoes?

Keeping your core muscles -- the workhorses that stabilize your spine -- flexible with a stretching routine can help prevent this common occurrence and protect your back in general.

Drug Combo Does Double Duty Against Common Skin Lesions, Cancers

THURSDAY, March 21, 2019 -- Tens of millions of Americans develop sun-linked skin lesions called actinic keratoses, which are tied to later cancer risk.

Many will get a combo of treatments to help clear the blemishes.

Three Clues to Raised Risk of Miscarriage

THURSDAY, March 21, 2019 -- A woman's age and previous pregnancy complications influence her odds of miscarriage, a new study says.

The findings suggest that miscarriage and other pregnancy complications share underlying causes that require further investigation, according to the researchers.

Overdose Deaths From Fentanyl Soaring: Report

THURSDAY, March 21, 2019 -- The number of Americans dying from overdoses of the powerful narcotic fentanyl rose 12-fold in recent years, health officials reported Thursday.

Fentanyl is a synthetic opioid that's hundreds of times more potent than heroin or cocaine. But sometimes drug users don't know they're buying it, because fentanyl is often mixed with other opioids or misrepresented as heroin.

AHA News: Culture, Paycheck, Neighborhood Key to Your Heart's Health

THURSDAY, March 21, 2019 (American Heart Association News) -- Eating a low-fat diet, getting regular exercise and watching your weight can help lower risk for heart disease and stroke.

But environmental and cultural factors also make a difference. So can how much you make for a living, especially if it barely brings in enough to pay for housing, groceries or the electricity bill.

Attention, Seniors: Drink More Water and Head Off Disease

THURSDAY, March 21, 2019 -- Not drinking enough water is a common but under-recognized problem among American seniors that puts their health at risk, researchers say.

"So many health issues are related to inadequate hydration," including urinary tract and respiratory infections, frequent falls and other problems, said study author Janet Mentes. She's a professor of nursing at the University of California, Los Angeles (UCLA).

FDA Approves First Drug for Postpartum Depression

WEDNESDAY, March 20, 2019 -- Postpartum depression is a common and often devastating condition for new mothers, but the U.S. Food and Drug Administration on Tuesday approved the first drug to help combat it.

The drug, Zulesso (brexanolone), is delivered via intravenous infusion.

Reworked Nasal Flu Vaccine Looks Good for Kids, Pediatricians' Group Says

WEDNESDAY, March 20, 2019 -- Good news for kids: Next flu season, you can avoid a painful needle jab and get the nasal vaccine spray instead, according to a leading U.S. pediatricians' group.

In recent flu seasons, the American Academy of Pediatrics recommended the shot over the nasal spray -- except if a child refused a shot -- due to questions about the nasal spray's effectiveness. However, changes to the nasal spray appear to have improved its effectiveness, and the academy is now endorsing the either/or vaccine scenario.

Heart Risks Vary Among Asian-Americans

WEDNESDAY, March 20, 2019 -- Not all Asian-Americans are equally susceptible to the deadly damage of heart disease and stroke, new research suggests.

The risk of premature death is highest among Asian Indian, Filipino and Vietnamese subgroups, the researchers found.