Several Old Spice and Secret aerosol spray antiperspirants and hygiene products have been voluntarily recalled in the United States due to the presence of the cancer-causing chemical benzene, Proctor & Gamble says. Benzene exposure can occur by inhalation, orally and through the skin. It can lead to cancers including leukemia and blood cancer of the…  read on >

Coffee lovers know a steaming cup of java can quickly deliver energy and mental clarity every morning, but new research suggests it may also guard against Alzheimer’s disease in the long run. “Worldwide, a high proportion of adults drink coffee every day, making it one of the most popular beverages consumed,” said lead researcher Samantha…  read on >  read on >

Worried about climate change? You can do something about it every time you lift your fork, a new study suggests. Folks can reduce their personal carbon footprint by eating less red meat, nibbling fewer sweets and cutting back on tea, coffee and booze, according to the findings. “We all want to do our bit to…  read on >  read on >

Merck’s experimental COVID-19 antiviral pill appears effective, but may pose risks for pregnant women, including birth defects and toxicity to developing fetuses, according to the U.S. Food and Drug Administration. On Friday morning Merck announced updated results from its molnupiravir study that showed a smaller benefit than first thought: Among more than 1,400 adults in…  read on >  read on >

THURSDAY, Nov. 25, 2021 (HealthDay News) – Add an inexpensive gout drug to the growing list of medications touted as potential COVID-19 treatments — only to offer no apparent benefit. The anti-inflammatory drug colchicine doesn’t lessen COVID severity, the risk of death or shorten hospital stays, a new study reports. Nor does it lower the…  read on >  read on >

WEDNESDAY, Nov. 24, 2021 The number of people who were hospitalized for eating disorders such as anorexia and bulimia doubled in May 2020, about two months after the COVID-19 pandemic was officially declared a national emergency. The new study didn’t look at why there was such a surge in eating disorders during that time, but…  read on >  read on >

Debate rages over access to abortion, but experts say the collected medical evidence makes one thing clear — it is a fundamentally safe procedure for women. Abortion is safer than childbirth and it’s also safer than a host of other common procedures — colonoscopy, tonsillectomy and plastic surgery, said Dr. Sarah Prager, a professor of…  read on >  read on >