You might decide your frizzy locks aren’t so bad after all, given a new warning from the U.S. Food and Drug Administration that most hair straightening/smoothing products release formaldehyde gas, a human carcinogen. Being exposed to formaldehyde for longer periods of time and at higher concentrations increases the health risks, according to the FDA. Formaldehyde… read on > read on >
Can money buy you happiness? Maybe not, but a new study suggests it’s linked to greater feelings of confidence and pride. Researchers analyzed five past studies that included a survey of more than 1.6 million people in 162 countries. They found that higher income predicted whether people felt good about themselves, including feelings of confidence,… read on > read on >
Opioids and arthritic knees are a costly mix, new research claims. “These data offer new evidence of the magnitude of the societal burden generated by opioid use and misuse, and could be used to educate health care providers and health policy decision makers on the best alternatives to opiate use,” said lead investigator Elena Losina.… read on > read on >
Many women suffer through countless urinary tract infections (UTIs), but a new study in mice offers hope that a vaccine could one day bring their nightmares to an end. “Although several vaccines against UTIs have been investigated in clinical trials, they have so far had limited success,” said senior study author Soman Abraham, a professor… read on > read on >
Toddlers whose mothers took certain epilepsy drugs during pregnancy are unlikely to have development delays, researchers say. The study may help clear up lingering doubts about use of the drugs by moms-to-be. Controlling seizures is crucial, of course. “Having a seizure during pregnancy may not only harm the mother but possibly the baby as well,… read on > read on >
There’s new evidence that fast-spreading variants of the coronavirus that causes COVID-19 are more resistant to antibody treatments and vaccines. Researchers assessed variants first identified in South Africa, the United Kingdom and Brazil and found that they can evade antibodies that work well against the original version of the coronavirus that triggered the pandemic. This… read on > read on >
Some people given the Moderna COVID-19 vaccine may develop a reaction at the injection site that can first appear more than a week after they get the shot, research shows. A minority of patients may experience a large, red, sometimes raised, itchy or painful skin reaction, according to researchers at Massachusetts General Hospital (MGH) in… read on > read on >
Fireworks, skateboards and button batteries are among the products associated with increased trips to the emergency room during the early months of the coronavirus pandemic, according to the U.S. Consumer Product Safety Commission (CPSC). While ER treatment of product-related injuries fell by about a quarter between March and September of last year, a new report… read on > read on >
While strokes strike many Americans, a new study shows the risk is particularly high among American Indians. Researchers already knew that American Indians had the highest risk of atrial fibrillation, which is an irregular heartbeat (“arrhythmia”) that can increase the risk of blood clots and stroke. The new study found that American Indians had a… read on > read on >
In some reassuring news for professional athletes, a new study finds very few develop inflammatory heart disease after being infected with COVID-19, and most can safely return to play. In fact, of nearly 800 professional athletes who had tested positive, less than 1% were barred from returning to play because of heart damage from COVID-19,… read on > read on >
