The actual number of opioid overdose deaths in several U.S. states is likely far higher than death certificates suggest, a new study says. Incomplete reporting of overdose deaths can hamper efforts to fight the nation’s opioid epidemic, according to the University of Pittsburgh researchers. They said that as many as 70,000 opioid overdose deaths were…  read on >

Slow down and savor your ice cream sundae or smoothie — it’s the best way to prevent the dreaded head pain commonly known as “brain freeze.” “When you consume cold foods or drinks too fast, it cools down the carotid artery located just behind your jawline. Doing that chills the blood going to your brain,”…  read on >

People who party hard in their 20s could wind up paying for it later with a higher risk of heart disease, a new study suggests. Young adults who binge drink are more likely to have heart risk factors such as high blood pressure, elevated cholesterol levels and higher blood sugar levels, researchers found. “They are…  read on >

Has that week-old yogurt really gone bad? Did the chicken you bought just three days ago already spoil? Your smartphone might one day be able to tell you, new research suggests. A group of scientists is developing a portable, inexpensive and easy-to-use electronic tag to send wireless alerts to smartphones when a telltale gas is…  read on >

Using an artificial pancreas can help hospitalized patients with type 2 diabetes maintain good blood sugar control, a new study suggests. That’s important because when diabetes isn’t managed well, high blood sugar levels can lengthen hospital stays and increase the risk of complications and even death, the researchers said. The artificial pancreas — an automated…  read on >

When kidney cancer strikes, surgical removal of the organ is often the standard course of action. But new research supports a nonsurgical approach for some patients: using a needle to “zap” kidney tumors away with either heat or cold. The procedure — known as percutaneous ablation — isn’t applicable to all kidney cancer patients. But…  read on >

For many families, summer means longer days, less routine and more time outside. That’s not all good news, one expert says, because it could jumble a family’s sleeping habits. Even without the rigorous and often hectic school-year schedule, it’s important to ensure that everyone gets enough sleep, according to Dr. Cheryl Tierney, chief of behavior…  read on >

Allergy shots help ease symptoms for people who have chronic allergies. The shots contain small amounts of allergens to which the recipient reacts. After repeated exposure to the allergens, the immune system is better able to fight the things that make the person sneeze, wheeze and cough. The American Academy of Family Physicians offers this…  read on >

Young American children are being sickened — and even dying — after being poisoned by a drug used to fight opioid addiction, a new report contends. Investigators reported that between 2007 and 2016, more than 11,000 emergency calls were made to U.S. poison control centers after a child or teen was exposed to buprenorphine, a…  read on >