The Real Danger of Chicken Pox Parties

Kids’ parties can be competitive (Pin the Tail, anyone?), but a little healthy competition doesn’t hurt anyone. But one party idea that gets the thumbs-down from medical experts is the “chicken pox party,” which is popular among parents who don’t want their children vaccinated against chicken pox. Party rules? Invite an infected child so kids can pick up the illness the “natural way.” That’s... 

Why Deadly Measles Is on the Rise

Measles was officially eradicated in the U.S. in 2000. But someone forgot to tell the rubeola virus, the highly contagious organism that causes this once common – and sometimes deadly – childhood disease. In fact, the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention recently announced that measles cases were on the rise in the U.S., with more infections in the last year than the previous 15. Many... 

Health Hazards of Paper Receipts for You and Your Family

The next time a cashier asks you if you want your receipt in your hand or in the bag, opt for the bag. Better yet, if you don’t need the receipt for your records, opt out of it altogether. And pay by credit or debit card so you don’t have to handle money either. Why the drastic measures? A new study, done in part by the New York State Department of Health, found that thermal receipts, paper currency... 

“Bad Air” Days Mean Breathing Problems: How to Protect Your Kids

You may have enjoyed this year’s balmy winter, but it’s a cause for alarm among scientists. All across the U.S., temperatures broke all records. March 2012 was the warmest March ever recorded — and records go back to 1895. The first quarter of the year was also the warmest, and the period between April 2011 and March 2012 was the warmest 12-month stretch on record. Across the country, there...