While they’re helping to ease reflux, some heartburn drugs may also be reducing the severity of gum disease, new research suggests. For the study, researchers assessed probing depth in the gums (the gap between teeth and gums) in more than 1,000 patients with gum disease who were or weren’t using drugs called proton pump inhibitors…  read on >  read on >

Health officials say they are trying to track down the source of 10 reported cases of Legionnaires’ disease within a one-mile radius in a Long Island, N.Y., neighborhood. The patients range in age from 35 to 96. As of Saturday, one had died, two remained hospitalized and seven had been released from the hospital, CBS…  read on >  read on >

Americans’ increasing consumption of ultra-processed foods is putting their health at risk, researchers warn. Ultra-processed foods are ready-to-eat or heat, include additives, and contain little, if any, whole foods. They include frozen pizza, soda, fast food, sweets, salty snacks, canned soup and most breakfast cereals. Previous research has shown that eating ultra-processed foods is associated…  read on >  read on >

Former U.S. Food and Drug Administration commissioner Robert Califf is under strong consideration by the White House to once again lead the agency. The FDA hasn’t had a permanent head for more than eight months and is being overseen by acting commissioner Janet Woodcock. Under federal law, President Joe Biden has until mid-November to pick…  read on >  read on >

You can add obesity and its related health risks to the long list of threats posed by climate change, researchers report. In a new review, researchers from Fox Chase Cancer Center in Philadelphia outlined the association between climate change and obesity. As global temperatures increase, people may become less physically active and less able to…  read on >  read on >

A new study confirms that fish oil supplements may raise the risk of a common heart-rhythm disorder — particularly when doses top 1 gram per day. At issue are medications and supplements containing omega-3 fatty acids, which are naturally found in fish oil. Fish is considered a generally heart-healthy food, but some studies have linked…  read on >  read on >