Tobacco remains the leading preventable cause of cancer death in the U.S., despite a dramatic decline in smoking, a new American Cancer Society report says. More than 80% of lung cancer deaths are linked to tobacco, according to data from the inaugural release of the American Heart Association’s U.S. Tobacco Atlas. That’s even though cigarette…  read on >  read on >

Folks using melatonin supplements as a sleep aid might be putting themselves at risk for future heart problems, a new study says. Adults with insomnia who’d been using melatonin for a year or more had 90% higher odds of heart failure, researchers are scheduled to report Nov. 10 in New Orleans at a meeting of…  read on >  read on >

A child’s future risk of depression and anxiety might be tied to their gut health. Young children whose gut microbiomes contained certain bacteria were more likely to develop a mood disorder as tweens, researchers reported Oct. 30 in the journal Nature Communications. Researchers discovered that the kids’ gut bacteria were tied to differences in connectivity…  read on >  read on >

The Trump administration is taking steps to roll back state laws that protect consumers from having medical debt appear on their credit reports. The move could impact millions of Americans already struggling with unpaid medical bills. The Consumer Financial Protection Bureau (CFPB) has drafted a rule that would give the federal government sole authority over…  read on >  read on >

Puberty is the time when children’s bodies start to make hormones that lead to physical changes and signs of maturation. It prepares the body for reproduction. It is also when significant growth occurs. In girls, it starts around age 8 and in boys, it starts around age 9, but there can be some variation. Puberty usually lasts about two to three…  read on >  read on >

Women benefit much more from exercise than men, reaping many more gains with considerably less work, a new study reports. With the same amount of exercise, women experience a three-fold reduction in their risk of death from heart disease compared to men, researchers reported Oct. 27 in Nature Cardiovascular Research. These results show that “one-size-fits-all”…  read on >  read on >

Deaths from heat and air pollution have surged as climate change continues apace, a new report says. Worldwide, the rate of heat-related deaths has risen by 23% since the 1990s, and now claim 546,000 lives each year, researchers reported today in The Lancet Countdown on Health and Climate Change. Likewise, a record 154,000 deaths occurred…  read on >  read on >

Researchers have identified a surprising source for a significant number of urinary tract infections (UTIs): contaminated meat. A new four-year study found that almost 1 in 5 UTIs detected among a group of patients in Southern California were likely caused by E. coli bacteria found on chicken, turkey, pork or beef products. In the U.S.,…  read on >  read on >

A voluntary recall has been announced for some lots of Neutrogena Makeup Remover Ultra-Soft Cleansing Towelettes. Company testing detected the presence of a potentially harmful bacterium in the wipes. Kenvue Brands, the Summit, New Jersey-based maker of the disposable wipes, is removing the affected product from shelves following an assessment by the U.S. Food and…  read on >  read on >