MONDAY, Aug. 28, 2023 (American Heart Association News) — Patti Allbritton was born a little blue. She wasn’t particularly sad – it wasn’t that kind of blue. She was born with a rare congenital heart defect called tetralogy of Fallot with pulmonary atresia, in which the valve that’s supposed to control blood flow from her… read on > read on >
All Health and Wellness:
It Only Takes a Bite of a Marijuana Edible to Send a Child to the Hospital
Brightly colored “edibles” can be tempting for young kids and are more widely available now that many U.S. states have legalized cannabis for recreational and medical use. Unfortunately, it doesn’t take much of an edible to make a small child very sick, new research finds, which may explain an uptick in hospitalizations of kids poisoned… read on > read on >
Americans’ Spending on Mental Health Services Rose 53% Since Pandemic Began
When the pandemic began, spending on mental health services skyrocketed and it continues to rise even as use of telehealth services leveled off. That’s the key takeaway from a new study published Aug. 25 in JAMA Health Forum. Some rules for expanded payment for telehealth services have now expired, so it’s not known whether this… read on > read on >
Avoid Opioids for Short-Term Dental Pain in Kids, New Guidelines Say
Children having short-term dental pain from extractions or toothache should not be prescribed opioids but rather manage those aches with over-the-counter ibuprofen and/or acetaminophen, according to new guidelines. The guidelines detailing dental pain management strategies for kids was endorsed by the American Dental Association (ADA) after being developed by the ADA Science & Research Institute… read on > read on >
COVID Virus Is Evolving Three Times Faster in Deer Versus Humans
COVID-19 variants are evolving three times faster in white-tailed deer than in humans, according to a new study. Deer serve as virus reservoirs, places where a virus thrives and multiplies, making them the perfect host for ongoing mutation. The virus also appears to be passing between humans and deer, where genomic analysis showed at least… read on > read on >
Don’t Get Burned Grilling, and Other Hot Weather Tips
It’s always a good idea to use caution when having some summer fun — and that includes preventing burns from barbecues and other heat sources. An expert from UT Southwestern Medical Center offers tips for avoiding heat-related pitfalls, including grilling and metal playground equipment during extreme outdoor temperatures. “Concrete, metal and even plastic surfaces sitting… read on > read on >
Adult Education Classes Could Be a Buffer Against Alzheimer’s
Older people who take adult education classes may lower their risk for dementia, including Alzheimer’s disease, Japanese research suggests. Middle-aged folks and older people in adult education classes had a 19% lower risk of developing dementia within five years, the researchers found. “We also found that nonverbal reasoning performance was well preserved in the adults… read on > read on >
AHA News: Here’s the Latest on Dietary Cholesterol and How It Fits In With a Healthy Diet
FRIDAY, Aug. 25, 2023 (American Heart Association News) — For more than half a century, scientists have debated the role of dietary cholesterol in a healthy diet. Because it was often associated with saturated fat, limiting dietary cholesterol – especially by restricting egg consumption – seemed to benefit heart-health efforts. More recently, accumulating data has… read on > read on >
Sepsis Almost Killed Jake Tapper’s Daughter, Alice. Now, She’s Working to Keep Others Safe
Alice Tapper felt deathly ill, suffering from severe abdominal pain, a 102-degree fever and vomiting. Emergency room doctors found that Alice — the daughter of CNN anchor Jake Tapper — had a rapid pulse of 135 beats per minute and a very high white blood cell count, indicating her body was fighting off a severe… read on > read on >
Canadian Wildfire Smoke Caused Spikes in Asthma-Related ER Visits Across the U.S.
Smoke from Canadian wildfires sent high numbers of people suffering from asthma attacks to America’s emergency rooms this spring and summer, according to two new reports. From April 30 to August 4, 2023, smoke from out-of-control wildfires in Canada increased emergency room visits for asthma by 17% over average, according to data from the U.S.… read on > read on >