Middle-aged Americans are lonelier than ever, with new research showing they are even more isolated than some of their peers in Europe. That does not bode well for their health. “Loneliness is gaining attention globally as a public health issue because elevated loneliness increases one’s risk for depression, compromised immunity, chronic illness and [premature death],”… read on > read on >
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Measles Outbreaks Have CDC Tweaking Travel Guidelines
As millions of Americans prepare to travel abroad this summer and measles outbreaks increase worldwide, the U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention has tightened its guidance on how travelers should handle the potential health threat. Americans planning to fly to other countries should consult their doctors at least six weeks before they leave, if… read on > read on >
How Blood Sugar Changes Affect Thinking in Folks With Type 1 Diabetes
In people with type 1 diabetes, fluctuations in blood sugar levels can affect thinking skills in various ways, new research shows. Researchers looked specifically at what’s known as cognitive processing speed (how fast people process incoming information) and attention. “Our results demonstrate that people can differ a lot from one another in how their brains… read on > read on >
Science Has Created a Cow That Produces Insulin in Its Milk
There may be an unexpected fix for ongoing shortages of insulin: A brown bovine in Brazil recently made history as the first transgenic cow able to produce human insulin in her milk. “Mother Nature designed the mammary gland as a factory to make protein really, really efficiently,” explained study leader Matt Wheeler, a professor of… read on > read on >
Weed Plus Cigarettes Takes Toll on High Schoolers’ Grades
High school students who use tobacco and cannabis products miss more school and have lower grades than classmates who use them individually or not at all. That’s the conclusion of a study by researchers at UC Davis Health. “Substance use is a main predictor of educational outcomes, including absenteeism,” said first study author Melanie Dove,… read on > read on >
Women More Prone to Go Into Shock After Car Crashes Than Men
After a car crash, women are more likely to go into shock than men, even when their injuries are less severe, new research shows. “Women are arriving to the trauma bay with signs of shock more often than men, regardless of injury severity,” said study leader Susan Cronn, a researcher at the Medical College of… read on > read on >
Household Foods Get Less Healthy as Babies Age Into Toddlers
Over the first few years of a child’s life, foods found in a family’s fridge and cupboards tends to get less healthy, new research shows. “We found significant changes in several food categories over time,” said study lead author Jennifer Barton. “Food items such as non-whole grains, processed meats, savory snacks, candy and microwavable or… read on > read on >
Could Biofeedback Help Ease Long COVID?
Breathing and relaxation techniques may offer relief to some patients battling Long COVID. In a new, small study of 20 patients, biofeedback therapy relieved both the physical and psychological symptoms of Long COVID, researchers said. Many participants had been dealing with symptoms for more than a year. “Our biggest hope is that we’ve identified a… read on > read on >
FDA Approves First Drug for Common, Serious Liver Disease
Millions of Americans whose livers develop scar tissue due to a common disease now have the first approved drug, Rezdiffra, to treat the condition, the U.S. Food and Drug Administration announced Thursday. The condition is called non-cirrhotic non-alcoholic steatohepatitis (NASH). NASH with liver scarring is thought to affect up to 8 million Americans. It’s often… read on > read on >
Teen Pregnancy May Raise Risk of Early Death
Teen pregnancy can change the trajectory of one’s life, but now a new study suggests it could also shorten that life. Canadian researchers report that women who were pregnant as teenagers were more likely to die before they reached the age of 31. “The younger the person was when they became pregnant, the greater their risk… read on > read on >