U.S. Overdose Deaths Drop 10% in Early Data

In findings that suggest inroads are being made in the battle against America's opioid epidemic, new government data shows a 10% drop in overdose deaths.

The statistics, compiled by states and posted by the U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, show just over 100,000 people died of a drug overdose during the 12-month period...

Yellowjackets and Bees Swarm in NC in Helene's Aftermath

Even as folks in North Carolina continue to clean up following the devastation of Hurricane Helene, a new health danger has emerged: The massive flooding that swept away roads and towns also uprooted the underground nests of yellow jackets, bees and other stinging insects.

That has triggered a surge in swarms that attack and sting people, ...

Minority Patients More Likely to Be Denied the Free Preventive Care Mandated by Obamacare

Two new studies show insurers continue to deny claims for preventive care that is supposed to be free under Obamacare.

And insurers are more apt to reject claims from patients who are Asian, Black or Hispanic as well as those with low incomes, researchers recently reported in the journal JAMA Network Open.

"What we document ...

PFAS 'Forever Chemicals' Could Disrupt Sleep

Researchers at the University of Southern California (USC) have broken new ground, linking "forever chemicals" in the blood to poor sleep.

Their research -- published in the October issue of the journal Environmental Advances -- is the first to explore links between blood levels of four types of per- and polyfluoroalkyl (PFAS) che...

Diverting Low-Level Criminals to Drug-Treatment Programs Instead of Jail Reaps Rewards

A Wisconsin program that sends suspects in minor drug-related crimes to treatment instead of jail is paying off, a new study shows.

Researchers who evaluated the Madison Area Recovery Initiative (MARI) found that non-violent offenders who were given a clinical assessment and six months of substance use treatment were less likely to be arre...

Phenols, Found in Many Products, Could Upset Heart's Rhythms

Chemicals called phenols include food preservatives, plastics ingredients such as BPA and the parabens in shampoos, so they are ubiquitous in everyday life.

Now, research suggests that higher exposure to phenols might trigger changes in the heart's electrical system and rhythms.

“This is the first study to look at the impact o...

Bright Light Therapy May Ease Multiple Forms of Depression

Light therapy: It's long been a go-to therapy for seasonal affective disorder (SAD), a kind of depression that can beset some people when winter looms and days shorten.

But new research is suggesting that time spent in front of light box might ease other forms of depression as well.

The new review of data was led by Artur Menegaz de...

Poor Circulation: How to Prevent It, How to Spot It

SUNDAY, Oct. 6, 2024 (HealthDay News) — Pain, tingling and cramps in your legs and feet may be giving you a warning.

They could be signs of poor blood circulation, which can lead to serious heart and health problems if left untreated, according to a doctor at Baylor College of Medicine in Houston.

"Blood delivers oxygen and oth...

What You Need to Know After a Breast Cancer Diagnosis

Breast cancer strikes 1 in 8 women in the United States, but being diagnosed with the disease can still make you feel alone.

To cope with such devastating news, breast cancer surgeons from the American College of Surgeons (ACS) offer tips on navigating the disease.

First, any treatment will depend on the stage and type of breast canc...

Hospital Drug Tests Far More Likely for Minority Teens

Teens from minority groups seeking treatment at pediatric trauma centers are more likely than their white counterparts to be tested for drugs and alcohol.

That's the takeaway from a new study led by researchers at UCLA and Children's Hospital Los Angeles. 

"While screening can positively affect patients if it is followed by coun...

Water Fluoridation May Be Less Beneficial Than in Past, Review Finds

The health benefits of fluoridated drinking water may be waning as Americans increasingly turn to using toothpastes and mouthwashes that already contain fluoride, a new review suggests.

The research, published Thursday in the Cochrane Database of Systematic Reviews, came to that conclusion after analyzing more than 157 studi...

California Reports Two Cases of Bird Flu in Dairy Workers, a First for the State

As an outbreak of bird flu among dairy cows continues to spread in the United States, two more cases have been reported in dairy workers, this time in California.

These are the first human cases of bird flu reported in that state and the 15th and 16th human cases detected in the country this year, the U.S. Centers for Disease Control and P...

Colonoscopies Among the Young Are on the Rise

Colon cancers are increasing among younger Americans, so much so that experts advised in 2021 that colonoscopy screening begin at the age of 45, not 50 as had been previously recommended.

Now, research shows the new guideline may have led to a tripling in the use of the gold-standard screen among folks ages 45 to 49.

Still, in terms ...

Trauma at Life's Beginning Can Mar Its End, Study Finds

Whether abusive parents, drug addiction or gun violence are to blame, the fallout from childhood traumas can reverberate until a person's final days of life, new research shows.

"We found that early-life trauma in particular, especially physical abuse by parents, was strongly related to end-of-life pain, loneliness and depressive symptoms,...

Mpox Vaccine's Protection Wanes Within 1 Year; Boosters Needed

Antibodies provided by mpox vaccination all but disappear within six to 12 months, new research finds, underscoring the need for boosters to maintain strong protection.

Mpox -- previously known as monkeypox -- is a fast-spreading virus transmitted mainly through close skin-to-skin contact, especially during sex. Its symptoms include fever,...

Folks With Chronic Pain & Their Doctors Often Differ on Medical Marijuana

If you're in chronic pain and believe medical marijuana to be the solution, there's a good chance your doctor might not agree.

In a new survey of people living in states where medical cannabis is legal, 71% of people with chronic pain thought the federal government should legalize the drug, but only 59% of physicians thought so.

Th...

Hearing Loss Can Raise Risks for Cognitive Decline

A new, large study from France underscores the link between adult hearing loss and dementia.

"Given the major burden of cognitive decline and the absence of curative treatment, identifying modifiable risk factors is of importance," a team led by Dr. Baptiste Grenier, of the Université Paris Cité, wrote Oct. 1 in the journal <...

Food Allergies Spur Serious Anxiety in Most of Those Affected, Survey Finds

The large majority of people with food allergy, and the caregivers of kids with such allergies, say the condition has led to psychological distress, a new study finds.

However, only about 1 in every 5 such people have ever been assessed and counseled on their anxieties, the same report also found.

“Our research highlights a maj...

Even Low Levels of Radon May Raise Children's Risk for Leukemia

FRIDAY, Oct. 4, 2024 (HealthDay News) — Growing up in a city with pockets of high radon levels, Matthew Bozigar wondered whether the radioactive gas might have anything to do with the high rates of cancer he saw around him, especially in young people. 

"As an epidemiologist, I started considering possible environmental causes," ...

This Season's Flu Vaccine Cuts Risk of Hospitalization by Almost 35%

THURSDAY, Oct. 3, 2024, HealthDay News -- The Southern Hemisphere's flu season is winding down, and new data shows this year's flu shot was 34.5% effective in keeping folks there who got influenza from needing hospital care.

Most (68.3%) of those sent to hospital had the A(H3N2) strain of flu, according to the report from the U.S. Centers ...