Global vaccination efforts have saved an estimated 154 million lives, including 101 million infants, a new study led by the World Health Organization (WHO) shows. Immunization has contributed more to the health and survival of newborns than any other medical advance, researchers concluded. The measles vaccine has had the most significant impact on reducing infant… read on > read on >
Researchers have conclusively identified the genetic cause of a rare, progressive movement disorder. A rare extra-long version of a gene appears to cause nerve cells to become poisoned by toxic proteins in people with spinocerebellar ataxia 4 (SCA4), researchers report. SCA4 causes muscle weakness and difficulty coordinating body movement, most notably resulting in a jerky… read on > read on >
Current and former smokers might lower their risk for emphysema if they adopt a highly nutritional plant-based diet, a new study shows. People with a history of smoking who adopted a plant-based diet had a 56% lower risk of developing emphysema, compared to those who ate more meat, researchers report. Further, the more veggies and… read on > read on >
The U.S. Department of Agriculture is clamping down on salmonella bacteria found in breaded, stuffed raw chicken products, with the agency issuing a final rule on the issue Friday. The agency’s Food Safety and Inspection Service (FSIS) has declared salmonella an “adulterant” if the amount of it in a product exceeds a very low level.… read on > read on >
Bits of bird flu virus have been discovered in roughly 20% of retail milk samples tested in a national survey, the U.S. Food and Drug Administration said Thursday. The finding suggests that bird flu has spread far more widely among dairy cows than officials first thought. Samples from parts of the country that have infected… read on > read on >
FRIDAY, April 26, 2024 (HealthDay) — Between 2018 and the spring of 2023, a cluster of clients who had gotten ‘vampire facial’ microneedling skin treatments at a New Mexico spa were diagnosed with HIV, probably via poorly cleaned instruments, a new report finds. When HIV arises among people without known risk factors, doctors “might consider… read on > read on >
Want to live longer? Choose the stairs over the elevator, a new review suggests. Folks who regularly climb stairs have a 24% reduced risk of dying from any cause, and a 39% reduced risk of dying from heart disease, compared to those who always take the elevator, researchers found. Stair climbing also is associated with… read on > read on >
Each year, thousands of Americans head home after a surgery clutching prescription opioids to help ease post-surgical pain. Trouble is, most won’t use all those pills, and that could lead to a lot of misuse and addiction, one study found. And with National Prescription Drug Take Back Day slated for Saturday, it’s time yet again… read on > read on >
Cancer survivors in the throes of loneliness are more likely to die compared to those with companionship, a new study finds. Further, people who are the most lonely are the most likely to die, results show. “Loneliness, the feeling of being isolated, is a prevalent concern among cancer survivors,” said lead researcher Jingxuan Zhao, a… read on > read on >
The emotional turmoil caused by a stolen dog is akin to that of a parent losing a child, a new study finds. The findings support the idea that pets truly become family members to their owners, researchers said. When faced with the theft of a pet, owners tend to feel a similar sense of powerlessness,… read on > read on >
