Some 48 million people in the United States get sick each year from contaminated food, the U.S. Food and Drug Administration says. And animal products aren’t the only culprit. Produce — such as spinach, lettuce, tomatoes and cantaloupe — also may be a source of foodborne illness, the agency warns. The FDA suggests how to… read on >
Kids are spending more time than ever in front of screens, making it more likely they’ll become overweight or obese, a new review claims. The average 8- to 18-year-old spends more than seven hours a day fixated on a screen, whether it’s a computer, smartphone, tablet, video game or TV, the latest evidence shows. Teenagers… read on >
When you’re having a barbecue or picnic, be sure you don’t invite foodborne illnesses caused by salmonella bacteria. Each year in the United States, salmonella causes about 1.2 million illnesses and 23,000 hospitalizations, according to the U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. Salmonella contamination can occur in many foods, including melons, cucumbers, chicken, eggs,… read on >
If you love fish and you’re pregnant, new research suggests eating lots of it might help you avoid delivering your baby too soon. The researchers found that women who had the lowest levels of fatty acids from fish during their first and second trimester were 10 times more likely to have a preterm birth than… read on >
The summer calendar is filled with fairs and festivals, but with the warmer temperatures comes an increased risk of food contamination, the U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention warns. The CDC suggests considering these questions when deciding to buy food from a vendor: Does the vendor’s station look clean? Does the vendor have a… read on >
Excess weight boosts the odds of flu complications, but that’s not all. Obese adults are contagious for much longer than their slim peers, researchers report. It’s known that obesity increases a person’s risk of hospitalization and death from flu, but these findings suggest extreme weight may also play a role in how the flu spreads.… read on >
In a sign that the U.S. opioid epidemic is still not under control, a new report shows that prescriptions for the highly addictive painkillers haven’t declined in the last decade. After peaking in 2012-2013, opioid use and doses leveled off. But doses were still higher in 2017 than in 2007, and opioid use was particularly… read on >
People who want to have weight-loss surgery are facing much longer wait times now than a decade ago, a new study finds. Among weight-loss surgery patients in Michigan, the typical wait time almost doubled between 2006 and 2016 — from 86 days, to 159 days, researchers reported. Delays were especially common for patients on Medicaid,… read on >
If you think your inability to control food cravings is all in your head, you’re right. Losing weight is about more than cutting calories — you also have to resist food urges. And while behavior modification is a successful long-term tool, sometimes you need a quick fix. If everyone craved broccoli, there wouldn’t be a… read on >
A new survey suggests health care professionals are giving short shrift to their older patients when it comes to explaining the risks of opioid painkillers. Researchers found that most older Americans who are prescribed opioids aren’t advised about the dangers of the drugs, how to use fewer of them, when to use non-opioid alternatives, or… read on >
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