Low vaccination rates for the flu, RSV and COVID-19 are putting Americans at higher risk for severe illness and hospitalization this winter, a new government alert warned Thursday. There is an “urgent need” to boost vaccination rates as the trio of viruses spread through the country, the U.S. Centers of Disease Control and Prevention said.… read on > read on >
People who’ve lost a leg due to injury or disease are often plagued by what’s known as phantom limb pain — discomfort arising in the area, despite the absence of the limb. Now, researchers report that people who wear a prosthetic leg after amputation may have that pain eased, as well as improved sensation in… read on > read on >
Most women know that their menstrual cycle can affect their mood. Now, new research suggests suicidal thoughts may peak at certain points during the monthly cycle. The finding could have an upside, helping people pinpoint when they might be most vulnerable to suicide, so they can better prevent it. “As clinicians, we feel responsible for… read on > read on >
American physicians have mixed feelings on the advent of artificial intelligence (AI) into mainstream medical practice, a new survey shows. The survey of nearly 1,100 doctors, conducted by the American Medical Association (AMA) in August, found 41% of physicians saying they were “equally excited and concerned” about AI in the workplace. “Physicians are optimistic about… read on > read on >
Hours plunked down in front of the TV or staring at a phone screen in childhood could bring poor heart health decades later, a new study shows. Finnish researchers say kids who were largely sedentary tended to turn into young adults who battled high cholesterol and other health troubles. “Our study shows increased sedentary time… read on > read on >
“Long COVID” has become a well-known potential consequence of COVID infection, with symptoms that can last weeks, months or even years. Now it appears that “long flu” is also possible, with some patients developing long-lasting health problems following a severe infection, a new study finds. But before panicking, know that “long flu” isn’t as bad… read on > read on >
Allowing women to schedule their own mammography appointments increases the likelihood they’ll follow through on the screening, a new study reports. “Self-scheduling helps make the path to mammogram completion a little smoother, where you don’t have to find the time to call a scheduling line, wait on hold, or go back and forth trying to… read on > read on >
Smoking shrinks the human brain, and once that brain mass is lost then it’s gone for good, a new study warns. Brain scans from more than 32,000 people strongly link a history of smoking with a gradual loss of brain volume. In fact, the more packs a person smoked per day, the smaller their brain… read on > read on >
Regular exercise appears to enhance and even grow crucial areas of the human brain, new research using MRI scans shows. It’s long been known that physical activity is a brain-booster, but this international study illustrates ways this could be happening. “With comprehensive imaging scans, our study underscores the interconnected synergy between the body and the… read on > read on >
A loaded revolver left out on a nightstand, a curious child — and unimaginable tragedy. Moments like this have occurred in American homes hundreds of times over the past two decades, killing 1,262 children, according to a sobering new report from the U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. “Overall, firearms used in [these] unintentional… read on > read on >
