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 >

You might not think much about it when turning on a light in your home, but faulty wiring and electrical products can lead to fire, injury and even death. That’s why it’s important to check for and fix potential problems before they happen. The U.S. Consumer Product Safety Commission suggests taking time to go room-by-room…  read on >

Middle-aged people who drink moderately — no more than a glass of wine a day — may have a relatively lower risk of developing dementia later in life, researchers report. The study, which followed 9,000 British adults for over two decades, found that both heavier drinkers and abstainers had a higher dementia risk than moderate…  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 their quest to unravel the secrets of human puberty and health, scientists are betting naked mole-rats can help. The hairless rodents reportedly have a lifespan of more than 30 years — nearly eight times that of mice — and an exceptionally low mortality risk. So researchers worldwide have been asking how the odd little…  read on >

THURSDAY, Aug. 2, 2018 (American Heart Association) — A virus that infects millions of Americans every year may on occasion cause heart defects during the early stages of pregnancy, a new study in mice suggests. The findings may give researchers further insights into the causes of congenital heart disease. The effects of the virus, called…  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 >

Hot summer weather can lead to itchy skin rashes, the American Academy of Pediatrics says. Clogged sweat glands, bug bites and exposure to certain plants, chlorine and fungi are just a few of the common triggers for rashes. The AAP offers this list of rashes to watch for during summer: Heat rash. Poison ivy and…  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 >