Are you typically getting only a few hours sleep each night? Besides leaving you groggy all day, your insomnia could also be raising your odds for type 2 diabetes, new research shows. Compared to people who slept the recommended seven/eight hours per night, folks who habitually slept five hours per night had a 16% higher…  read on >  read on >

Just one dose of the antibiotic doxycycline taken after sex halved the number of chlamydia and syphilis cases in San Francisco, promising new research shows. In the study, gay and bisexual men and transgender women who had a history of sexually transmitted infections or multiple sex partners were given a supply of the antibiotic and…  read on >  read on >

A new robotic hip exoskeleton could help stroke patients improve their walking stride, a new study shows. More than 80% of stroke survivors develop problems walking, often because their step is shorter on one side than the other, researchers explained in background notes. The hip exoskeleton helps people adapt their stride by forcing both legs…  read on >  read on >

A new smartphone app can help doctors more accurately diagnose ear infections in babies and small children, potentially reducing unnecessary antibiotic use in kids, researchers report. Ear infections — known by doctors as acute otitis media (AOM) — can be difficult to diagnose, as they require a trained eye to detect subtle clues from a…  read on >  read on >

Long COVID might be triggered by low iron levels in the blood from the person’s initial infection, a new study claims. It’s remained a mystery why an estimated three out of 10 people infected with COVID go on to suffer lingering symptoms like fatigue, shortness of breath, muscle aches and “brain fog” problems with memory…  read on >  read on >

People with recurring urinary tract infections frequently have persistent pain, even after antibiotics have cleared the harmful bacteria from their system. Now, researchers have figured out why this perplexing problem occurs. It appears that an overgrowth of highly sensitive nerve cells can occur in the bladder as a result of frequent UTIs, researchers report March…  read on >  read on >

Sleep apnea could have detrimental effects on the brain, causing memory or thinking problems, a new study suggests. People suffering from sleep apnea are about 50% more likely to also report having memory or thinking problems, compared to those without sleep apnea, researchers say. “These findings highlight the importance of early screening for sleep apnea,”…  read on >  read on >

The vast majority (84%) of Americans with pets say their animal companion brings a positive mental health impact to their lives, a new poll shows. The poll of more than 2,200 adults conducted early last month also found about two-thirds of respondents calling their pet “a true friend,” a “companion” and someone who “provide[s] unconditional…  read on >  read on >