While people might assume suicide is more common in the darker months of winter, it actually peaks in spring and early summer. Researchers investigating what’s happening have found that suicidal thoughts peak in December but then take a few months to reach a “tipping point.” People are also most vulnerable to ending their lives between… read on > read on >
All Lifestyle:
Severe Obesity Could Mean Faster Decline of Immunity From COVID Shot
Severely obese people may need more frequent COVID-19 booster shots to keep their immunity going, new research suggests. Protection from the shots declines more rapidly in those who are severely obese compared to those at a normal weight, according to scientists at the Universities of Cambridge and Edinburgh in the United Kingdom. “Because of the… read on > read on >
ER Visits by Teens in Mental Health Crisis Have Declined: CDC
There’s a glimmer of good news when it comes to the mental health of America’s adolescents: Visits to U.S. emergency departments for psychiatric troubles declined among kids aged 12 to 17 by the fall of 2022, compared to a year prior. Overall, mean weekly adolescent emergency department (ED) visits for mental health conditions fell by… read on > read on >
Seat Post Defect Spurs Recall of 2 Million Peloton Exercise Bikes
People who use a Peloton exercise bike at home should check their model number immediately. A recall of 2 million bikes with the model number PL01 was issued Thursday. People should stop using them immediately because of fall and injury hazards, the U.S. Consumer Product Safety Commission said. The new recall follows reports of seat… read on > read on >
Vaccine Slows Return of Pancreatic Cancer in Early Trial
(HealthDay News) – A gene-targeted personalized vaccine may delay the return of pancreatic cancer according to a small, but promising, trial. The mRNA vaccine, which was tailored to the genetic makeup of each patient’s tumor, worked in half of those who received it during 18 months of follow-up, researchers reported May 10 in the journal… read on > read on >
Scans Suggest Sleep Apnea Could Be Harming Your Brain
Poor sleep brought on by sleep apnea may ultimately undermine the brain health of older men and women, new research suggests. The concern stems from a new brain scan investigation that involved 140 sleep apnea patients. “Sleep apnea is a medical condition in which patients … stop breathing during sleep, which can affect their sleep… read on > read on >
VA Hospitals Offer Quality Surgical Care: Review
While the U.S. Veterans Affairs health system has been criticized for long appointment wait times and limited access to specialists, the quality of care and access to a range of surgical services is as good as or better than at non-VA health centers on several measures, new research reveals. “Surgery involves many steps of care,”… read on > read on >
COVID in Cats Mirrored What Was Happening in People
Cats who became infected with COVID-19 had the same variants as their owners throughout the different phases of the pandemic, new research finds. Scientists looked at retrospective samples to assess COVID-19 infections in U.K. cats from April 2020 to February 2022. The cats had been infected with the Alpha and Delta variants following their emergence… read on > read on >
DEA Extends Telemedicine for Prescribing Controlled Meds as Pandemic Measures End
(HealthDay News) – The U.S. Drug Enforcement Administration on Wednesday issued a six-month extension for people seeking to fill controlled medication prescriptions via telehealth. That ability had been set to expire along with the ending of the pandemic public health emergency on May 11. “These medications, including those used to treat opioid use disorder, are… read on > read on >
Toxins From Grilling, Smoking & Car Exhaust Could Raise Odds for Rheumatoid Arthritis
Toxic chemicals that develop from car exhaust, smoking and backyard grilling might increase your risk of developing the autoimmune disease rheumatoid arthritis, a new study suggests. These chemicals are called polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons (PAHs). They form as coal, oil, gas, wood or tobacco burn. Flame grilling of meat and other foods also contribute to PAH… read on > read on >