Constipation might increase a person’s risk of having a heart attack or stroke, particularly if they also have high blood pressure, a new study warns. People who are constipated have twice the risk of a major heart health problem compared to those with normal bowel habits, researchers report. Specifically, they are 2.7 times more likely… read on > read on >
McDonald’s Quarter Pounder beef patties have tested negative for E. coli contamination as an outbreak that has sickened 75 people in 13 states continues, the company announced Sunday. Federal health officials had already identified slivered onions that had been used on the burgers as the likely culprit in the outbreak, which has landed 22 people… read on > read on >
The weight-loss drug Ozempic can guard against kidney disease in obese people, a new study shows. Patients taking semaglutide — the active agent in Ozempic and Wegovy — had as much as a 52% reduction in kidney damage, as measured by urine testing, researchers reported Oct. 25 in the journal Nature Medicine. The results will… read on > read on >
More than 20% of people in the continental United States might have drinking water contaminated with “forever chemicals,” a new study suggests. Between 75 and 95 million Americans rely on groundwater that contains detectible concentrations of these chemicals, known as PFAS (per- and polyfluoroalkyl substances), the U.S. Geological Survey (USGS) estimated in the Oct. 24… read on > read on >
An outbreak of E. coli illness linked to onions used in McDonald’s Quarter Pounders has expanded to now include 75 cases across 13 states, U.S. health officials announced Friday. That’s up from 49 cases in 10 states reported on Monday. The three new states with illnesses are Michigan, New Mexico and Washington. “Of 61 people… read on > read on >
As the popularity of GLP-1 meds like Wegovy and Zepbound grows, fewer Americans are turning to weight-loss surgeries to trim their waistlines, a new report finds. Prescriptions of this GLP-1 class of diabetes and weight-loss medications more than doubled between 2022 and 2023, a new tally finds. “In contrast, there was a 25.6% decrease in… read on > read on >
With onions from one supplier implicated as the source of E. coli illness linked to McDonald’s Quarter Pounders, other fast food chains are now pulling the onions from their menus. Representatives for Burger King, Taco Bell, KFC and Pizza Hut all told NBC News that some of their restaurants will remove the onions from their menus.… read on > read on >
Certain gut microbes might be linked to a person’s risk of developing Parkinson’s disease, a new study suggests. People prescribed multiple courses of penicillin antibiotics have a modestly lower risk of developing Parkinson’s, researchers found. Those antibiotics might be affecting bacterial populations in the gut, which in turn might play into Parkinson’s risk, researchers say.… read on > read on >
Just days after an E. coli outbreak tied to McDonald’s Quarter Pounders was first announced, a company producing onions used in the burgers said it has issued a recall for its diced, peeled and whole onions. The onions were produced at Taylor Farms Colorado and have been pinpointed by McDonalds as the source of the… read on > read on >
Anxiety is driving more children with potentially dangerous food allergies to seek out psychological care, a new study finds. Focusing on one Ohio hospital, the researchers found a more than 50% jump in psychology referrals for kids with food allergies between 2018 and 2023. “Our center has devoted significant resources to address the psychosocial support… read on > read on >
