An opioid addiction treatment program for Rhode Island prison inmates appears to have significantly reduced overdose deaths among those who are released, researchers say. The program screens all inmates for opioid addiction and provides medications to treat the addiction. It was launched in 2016 and is the only program of its kind in the United… read on >
Smokers who think cigars or pipes are somehow safer than cigarettes may want to think again, new research indicates. The study tracked the health and habits of more than 357,000 Americans from 1985 to 2011. It found that, compared to people who had never smoked, people who regularly smoked only cigarettes had double the risk… read on >
There’s some good news for expecting moms who are trying to weather a brutal flu season — a new study shows that getting the flu vaccine during pregnancy causes no harm to newborns. Researchers reviewed records on more than 400,000 infants born between 2004 and 2014, and found no increased risk of infant hospitalization or… read on >
An electronic health record, or EHR, is the digital version of the paper records documenting your health care. These online records are an advance in health management in many ways. These records mean fewer and shorter forms to fill out at appointments. Your information gets to all of your providers so they can coordinate your… read on >
American parents are less likely to seek early dental care for their children if they don’t receive guidance from a doctor or dentist, a new national survey finds. The poll of 790 parents with at least one child aged 5 or younger found that one in six of those who did not receive dental advice… read on >
Vaccination is the best way to prevent whooping cough, the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention says. Whooping cough (pertussis) is a very contagious disease that causes about half its victims aged 1 or younger to end up in the hospital, the agency says. The CDC offers these suggestions to help protect your baby: Vaccinate… read on >
Traditional soaps are made by combining fats or oils with an alkali, such as lye. Most body cleansers, however, are actually synthetic detergent products, the U.S. Food and Drug Administration says. There are very few pure soaps on the market today, the agency says. The product’s ingredients and marketing determine how it’s regulated, the FDA… read on >
You already know that smoking causes lung cancer. But tobacco use can lead to other major health problems, too, experts warn. “Cigarette smoking is probably the single most harmful thing you can do to your health,” said Jonathan Foulds, a professor of public health sciences and psychiatry at Penn State College of Medicine. “It’s hard… read on >
People who, as young kids, either bullied their siblings or were bullied themselves by siblings face an increased risk for psychotic disorders, a new British study suggests. By age 18, those who’d been either the victim or the bully several times a week or month were two to three times more likely to have a… read on >
A thin test strip — similar to a pregnancy test — can detect whether a street drug contains the dangerous opioid fentanyl, according to a new report. Fentanyl — one of strongest types of opioid painkillers — is often mixed into street drugs, such as heroin and cocaine. That makes it hard for users to… read on >
