A new COVID variant with very few known cases but many mutations has been swiftly moved into the World Health Organization’s “variant under monitoring” classification. Four known cases of the variant, dubbed BA.2.86, have been so far identified worldwide, including one case in Michigan. The U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention said Thursday that… read on > read on >
The brain is a complex organ, and a new study — believed to be the largest ever on the brain’s genetics — identifies more than 4,000 genetic variants linked to brain structure. The research, involving some 36,000 brain scans, was led by a team at the University of Cambridge in England. Brains are quite varied… read on > read on >
Teens’ desire to start smoking, and later to keep smoking, may be linked to differences in gray matter in their brains, a new study reveals. Researchers found that reduced gray matter in the left frontal lobe was found in kids who started smoking by age 14. This area is involved in decision-making and rule-breaking. Once… read on > read on >
FRIDAY, Aug. 18, 2023 (HealthDay News) – The 15th century prince who inspired the literary vampire Dracula may have had medical issues that caused him to cry tears of blood, according to researchers unearthing this ancient mystery. The prince, who was also a military leader, was known as Vlad III, Voivode of Wallachia and as… read on > read on >
Heavy screen users often buy blue light-filtering eyeglasses to protect their eyes — but they may be wasting their money, a new study suggests. A new research review suggests these blue light-filtering glasses probably make no difference to eye strain, eye health or sleep quality, at least in the short term. And it’s still unclear… read on > read on >
Vaping CBD (cannabidiol) is on the rise among middle and high school students, according to a national U.S. survey, and health experts warn there can be serious risks involved. More than 1 in 5 students who use electronic cigarettes said they had vaped CBD, a component of marijuana that does not get people high the… read on > read on >
When Daniel Cooney and his husband Patrick Key adopted Rothko, a coonhound mix, from a shelter eight years ago, it took time to get used to his quirks. Rothko doesn’t always jell with other pups, which means the dog park is often out of the question. “There are several dogs in the neighborhood that we… read on > read on >
It’s fun to playfully toss a toddler into the air, or tote a kid piggyback-style on your shoulders. But those delightful giggles may come with a risk of head injury from a typically overlooked hazard — the room’s ceiling fan. Each year U.S. emergency rooms treat about 2,300 children for head injuries caused by ceiling… read on > read on >
THURSDAY, Aug. 17, 2023 (American Heart Association News) — Researchers have long understood that people with chronic health conditions, such as heart disease, are at increased risk for depression. The same may be true for people with COVID-19 symptoms that linger for months and sometimes years. An estimated 28% of U.S. adults who have had… read on > read on >
Public health officials are warning people about the risks of flesh-eating bacterial infections and how to avoid them after the deaths of three older adults on the northeast coast. Two of the deaths from vibriosis — an illness caused by the vibrio vulnificus bacteria — occurred in Connecticut residents. Two of the illnesses were connected… read on > read on >
