ATLANTA ― Even if you’re not a parent of school-aged children, the traffic and returning road rage has signaled the beginning of a new school year.But what may not be common knowledge, even to parents, doctors say, are the risks associated with lugging around heavy backpacks.According to the U.S. Consumer Product Safety Commission, backpack-related injuries send an estimated 5,000 children a year to emergency rooms. More than 14,000 children are treated annually for injuries.Carrying a heavy bac

Compared to Western countries, more people in Korea complain of symptoms related to the gastrointestinal system. However, many people tend to dismiss such symptoms and do not see a doctor about it, which can sometimes lead to the progression of serious illnesses, such as gastric cancer. The best methods to maintain a healthy life is to practice healthy lifestyle habits and have regular checkups to diagnose conditions early. Here, we will look at gastritis, gastric ulcers and gastric cancer, whic

Infections in the female reproductive tract can be divided into lower tract infections, such as vaginitis or cervicitis, and upper tract infections, which cause pelvic inflammatory disease. The characteristic symptoms of vaginitis include itching, discharge, odor, pain during intercourse, and painful urination which are common symptoms that women visit gynecology clinics for. Bacterial vaginosis is the most common cause of vaginitis. It is not an infection by specific bacteria, but rather caused

Institute aims to promote innovation in neuroscience

Prolonged exposure of the eyes to UV light can cause acute or chronic damage. Acute damage occurs when there is excessive amount of UV exposure above a certain level in a short period of time, which can cause photo conjunctivitis or photo keratitis. Photo keratitis produces a damaged epithelial layer of the cornea together with inflammation. The patient complains of photophobia, or intolerance to light, teary eyes and pain. Photo conjunctivitis causes symptoms such as red eyes and conjunctival e

Experts point to lack of budget, manpower to control possible massive contagion

In 2007, the internationally famous American pop singer and actress Beyonce Knowles announced on television her secret to shedding more than 9 kilograms in just two weeks. For 14 days Knowles went on the liquid lemon detox diet, consuming nothing but glasses of fresh water, pure lemon juice, cayenne pepper and natural maple syrup. The news of her quick-fix diet launched a new trend in health and dieting through liquid detox and cleansing methods. This detox diet is thought to help one cleanse th

During the rainy season, the decreased amount of sunlight can cause people to feel depressed. This is similar in mechanism to the development of seasonal depression during autumn and winter when there is a decreased amount of sunlight. However, the duration of the rainy season is shorter, which means that this type of depression is not as severe.Decreased sunlight leads to decreased production of melatonin, a neurotransmitter, which disrupts the circadian rhythm and causes depression. Melatonin

For those having trouble sleeping at night, a local pillow manufacturer has applied acupressure methods to its new product. T&I said it combined the therapeutic effects of the memory foam pillow and a still point inducer to support one’s cervical spine and improve circulation of cerebrospinal fluid at the same time. While the head is resting on the pillow, raised bumps apply gentle pressure to the atlanto-occipital joint to enhance the flow of cerebrospinal fluid. A substance in cerebrospinal fl

Ewha Womans University Medical Center, one of the major general hospitals in Seoul, appointed renowned hemato-oncologist Lee Soon-nam as its new director on Wednesday, officials said. Lee replaces Suh Hyun-suk, who served as the center’s director for the last six years. Lee, a medical expert on lung cancer, melanoma and hospice care, has served as chairwoman of the Korean Society for Hospice and Palliative Care and the Korean Association of Clinical Oncology, and served as the executive board di