Loneliness strikes more than a fifth of people worldwide, a new survey warns. In the Gallup survey published Wednesday, 23% of people said they felt lonely “a lot of the previous day.” Those experiencing feelings of loneliness often felt physical pain, worry, sadness, stress and anger, as well. Beyond its emotional toll, loneliness is “a… read on > read on >
Anorexia nervosa could be caused by lack of a specific brain chemical, reports a research team that has developed a possible cure for the eating disorder. Mouse studies have revealed that a deficit in acetycholine, a neurotransmitter associated with the brain’s reward system, could be linked to excessive habit formation. This deficit could be behind… read on > read on >
Women with uterine fibroids are often told hysterectomy is the best treatment, even though less invasive options are available, a new study finds. More than half (53%) of women with uterine fibroids — non-cancerous growths along the wall of the uterus — were presented hysterectomy as the preferred treatment, according to a Harris Poll survey… read on > read on >
Sleep apnea is particularly dangerous for the heart health of young adults, even more so than in older folks, a new study warns. The link between sleep apnea and risk factors for heart disease is stronger in people between 20 and 40 years of age than in those 40 and older, researchers reported recently in… read on > read on >
Colorado health officials on Tuesday confirmed a case of human plague in that state. The infection — which occurred in Pueblo County, in the southern part of the state — was first reported Friday based on preliminary test results, while the source of the infection is still being tracked down. “Plague can be treated successfully with antibiotics,… read on > read on >
The second person to receive a kidney from a genetically modified pig has died, surgeons at NYU Langone Health announced Tuesday. The 54-year-old patient, Lisa Pisano, had both kidney failure and heart failure. She received the pig kidney April 12, eight days after she had a mechanical heart pump implanted. On May 29, surgeons had… read on > read on >
Few Americans understand the health risks of drinking raw milk, a new survey shows, so experts are redoubling efforts to get the word out on its dangers. The push dovetails with the discovery this spring of bird flu virus in milk from infected cows. The H5N1 virus is widespread in wild birds worldwide and causing… read on > read on >
Many Americans like the idea of receiving hospital-level care at home, believing they’d recover from their ills faster and without safety risks. “Patients of course want the best-quality care, but often prefer to be at home, especially if technology allows them to work closely with their physician toward recovery,” said study leader Melissa Frasco, a… read on > read on >
While exposure to raw cow’s milk infected with the H5N1 avian influenza virus can make you sick, a new study suggests the virus may not spread quickly to other people. Researchers at the University of Wisconsin-Madison found that mice and ferrets got sick with influenza when H5N1 bird flu virus was dripped into their noses,… read on > read on >
An experimental “air mask” could help ward off infectious diseases while people are on the job, researchers report. The mask uses an air curtain blowing down from the brim of a hard hat to prevent airborne viruses from reaching a worker’s eyes, nose and mouth. The method can block 99.8% of viruses, lab tests show.… read on > read on >
