Kids who grow up with a dog in the house may be at higher risk of developing Kids asthma if they’re also exposed to secondhand smoke or nitrogen dioxide, new research shows. Children exposed to the toxic gas and to dog allergen during their first year of life were nearly five times as likely to have asthma at age 7 compared to kids with neither exposure, while dog allergen plus secondhand smoke nearly... 

People with plenty of a B-vitamin in their blood appear to be at a reduced risk of lung cancer, even if they smoke, a European study suggests. High levels of Vitamin B6 and the amino acid methionine cut the risk by half, a study of 400,000 people suggested. These occur naturally in nuts, fish and meat or can be taken as supplements. But experts told the Journal of the American Medical Association... 

Quit Smoking President Barack Obama telephoned Philippine President-elect Benigno Aquino to pass on his congratulations — and offer advice on how to quit smoking. Aquino said he had a 15-20 minute conversation with Obama, who praised the May 10 elections as a model of transparency and a testament to the strength of democracy in the Philippines. “At some point, I attempted some humor,”... 

A pair of new studies has uncovered evidence that low levels of vitamin D Vitamin D could lead to poor blood sugar control among diabetics and increase the risk of developing metabolic syndrome among seniors. Both findings are slated to be presented Saturday at the Endocrine Society’s annual meeting in San Diego. In one study, researchers at the Johns Hopkins University School of Medicine in... 

Drug A class of drugs commonly used to treat heart problems has been linked with a “modestly” increased risk of cancer. Analysis of published data from all trials of angiotensin-receptor blockers (ARBs) found one extra case of cancer for every 105 patients treated. The US researchers said the evidence from nine trials should prompt drug regulators to investigate. But they advised people... 

Girls who eat a lot of meat during childhood tend to start their periods earlier Girl Diet than others, a study suggests. UK researchers compared the diets of more than 3,000 12-year-old girls. They found high meat consumption at age three (over eight portions a week) and age seven (12 portions) was strongly linked with early periods. Writing in Public Health Nutrition, the researchers said a ... 

Dental Care People who don’t brush their teeth twice a day have an increased risk of heart disease, scientists said on Friday, adding scientific weight to 19th century theories about oral health and chronic disease. British researchers studied nearly 12,000 adults in Scotland and found those with poor oral hygiene had a 70 percent extra risk of heart disease compared with those who brushed... 

Children who eat three or more burgers a week may be at a higher risk of Burger Diet asthma and wheezing, but a healthy diet rich in fruit and fish seems to stave off the risk, according to a large international study. Researchers from Germany, Spain and Britain who studied data on 50,000 children across the world found the link between burgers and asthma was strongest in rich nations where diets... 

Smoking For people who need more reasons to start exercising and steer clear of smoking, new research finds that moving around and rejecting cigarettes can improve urinary health in women and sexual health in men. In one study, researchers surveyed more than 2,000 Finnish women, aged 18 to 79, about smoking and their urinary health. After the investigators adjusted the statistics so they wouldn’t... 

A study in mice suggests that a preventive breast cancer vaccine might be Vaccine possible in humans, scientists say. Women may begin taking part in the next stage of research as soon as next year, they added. “We believe that this vaccine will someday be used to prevent breast cancer in adult women in the same way that vaccines have prevented many childhood diseases,” principal investigator...