A day at the beach or pool is a great way to beat the summer heat — but it can also be risky if you’re not careful. Dr. Eric Costanzo of Hackensack Meridian Jersey Shore University Medical Center has some valuable advice to help families stay safe this summer, whether at the shore or at…  read on >  read on >

People typically don’t suffer severe withdrawal symptoms or fall into depression immediately after they stop taking antidepressants, a new evidence review says. There had been concerns that people who quit antidepressants would suddenly fall prey to depression or develop what’s known as antidepressant discontinuation syndrome. But those fears aren’t warranted, researchers write in JAMA Psychiatry.…  read on >  read on >

A drug used to treat seizures, nerve pain and restless leg syndrome might be linked with increased risk of dementia, a new study says. Regular gabapentin use appeared to increase risk of dementia by 29% and mild cognitive impairment (MCI) by 85%, researchers reported July 10 in the journal Regional Anesthesia & Pain Medicine. What’s…  read on >  read on >

Folks who breathe in more air pollution have a higher risk of developing a common non-cancerous brain tumor, a new study says. Several different types of air pollutants, including particle pollution and nitrogen dioxide, appear to increase risk of meningiomas — tumors that form in the layers of tissue that cover the brain and spinal…  read on >  read on >

Loneliness dramatically increases a person’s risk of depression and poor health, a new study says. Half of folks who say they always feel lonely (50%) have clinical depression, compared with just 10% of those who report never feeling lonely, researchers reported July 9 in the journal PLOS One. They also have many more days when…  read on >  read on >

According to the U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC), in 2022, the majority of the 28.8 million U.S. adults who smoked cigarettes wanted to quit; approximately half had tried to quit, but fewer than 10% were successful. Many folks say quitting smoking was the hardest thing they have ever done. This includes people…  read on >  read on >