The countdown to summer has some people thinking about getting in shape. For moms, there may be an added motivation. Active mothers are more likely to have active children, according to a study from the University of Cambridge published in the journal Pediatrics. (MORE: States with the WORST Healthy Habits) The downside: The study also found that many mothers do not choose to exercise, leading their children to make the same choice. The study of more than 500 mothers found...

Sunny California is home to three of the top 10 happiest cities in the nation, according to recent data from the Gallup-Healthways Well-Being Index. After this brutal winter, it might make sense that a warmer state has happier residents, but that’s not usually the case, Patrick Bogart, director at Gallup, told weather.com. In fact, this year’s happiest city is not known for a warm climate — though it is surrounded by beautiful mountains, canyons and rivers. Meanwhile, the happiest state,...

Winter has a reputation for being a bummer of a season.But yet suicide rates don't spike during the coldest, darkest season of the year. Instead, more suicides happen in spring, that sunny season that's supposed to symbolize the rebirth of the natural world. Researchers aren't exactly sure what accounts for the seasonal spike, but there's ample evidence that exists. Studies going back to the1880sdemonstrate a spring peak in intentional self-harm,according to LiveScience.com.One 1995 study found this trend in 25 countries...

If you’re like millions of Americans, your sniffling and sneezing starts in February or March and continues well past the months when the temperature should turn chilly. Allergy seasons have been lengthening the past few years, making many wonder if allergy season is now a year-round event. Some allergists and experts say that is almost the case and climate change may be to blame. (MORE: Get Your Pollencast | Pollen Hot Spots) “Due to climate change we’re seeing warmer temperatures...

Bacteria that cause foodborne illnesses continue to be a growing concern, and that could impact your summer barbecue plans. Common food bacteria are becoming even more dangerous because of antibiotic resistance, according to a report from the European Food Safety Authority. (MORE: FDA Plan to Lessen Antibiotics in Food Overdue, Scientists Say) Testing on bacteria that cause foodborne infections — such as salmonella and campylocbacter — showed resistance to common antibiotics. This development could cause foodborne illness outbreaks to be...

Popular Medical Conspiracies Americans love a good conspiracy theory. When it comes to the environment, the legitimacy of manmade global warming spurs spirited debate. Our health, and the way we interact with the world around us, is also controversial to some. In fact, half of Americans believe in at least one medical conspiracy theory, according to a recent survey published in JAMA Internal Medicine. “[These theories] can lead to patient harm,” Alan Mensch, M.D., senior vice president of medical affairs...

An outbreak of the Ebola virus has claimed at least 63 lives in the African nation of Guinea. To combat the spread of this deadly disease, Guinean officials have taken the unusual step of banning the consumption of bat soup, grilled bat and other local delicacies. "We discovered the vector [infectious] agent of the Ebola virus is the bat," Remy Lamah, the country’s health minister, toldBloomberg News. "We sent messages everywhere to announce the ban. People must even avoid consumption...

Finishing a 1.2-mile ocean swim, a 56-mile bike ride and a half marathon (13.1 miles) — at one time — for any person would be a feat. The accomplishment becomes even more impressive when you consider that Steve Walker, 31, is legally blind. He finished this race, IRONMAN 70.3, in 6 hours, 23 minutes and 6 seconds the last weekend in March in Oceanside, Calif. Walker, who lives in Redondo Beach, Calif., has retinitis pigmentosa, a degenerative, genetic eye disease...

More evidence that all-natural foods from the Earth are the best for your health: Regular consumption of seven or more servings of fruits and vegetables a day is linked to a lower risk of dying from cancer or heart disease, according to an epidemiological study published in the Journal of Epidemiological Community Health. Population-based studies such as this one just show an association; they do not prove a casual relationship. Still, this is not the first study to show a...

You Won't Believe What Happened During Typhoon Haiyan Standy Stewart (R) and her pregnant daughter-in-law Robyn Rojas have their dinner at what left of their tornado devastated home on May 21, 2013 in Moore, Oklahoma. (Getty Images/AFP/JEWEL SAMAD) It’s one of the worst nightmares for an expecting mother: The baby is ready, but the mother is not. This situation does not arise very often, but pregnant women have to cross their fingers whenever there is a hurricane, winter storm or...

After a long and dreary winter, most people probably can’t wait to get a little sunlight. The additional exposure could be worth the wait, especially if you have low levels of vitamin D. Researchers have found that the sunshine vitamin might be able to decrease your risk of mortality from heart disease and cancer, according to an analysis of observational studies and randomized trials from the University of Cambridge published in BMJ. The evidence seems to confirm the importance of...

A rare case of Lassa fever — a zoonotic disease — has sickened a Minnesota man who returned from West Africa late last month, health officials reported. (ABOVE: A Look at Ebola) The U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention confirmed this case through a blood test Thursday. This is the first case of Lassa since 2010, when a Pennsylvania man returned from a trip to Liberia with the disease, the agency reported. The Minnesota patient is said to be...