Air pollution is known to raise the risk of heart disease, strokes and breathing problems, but new research suggests it may also harm something else: kids’ vision. In a study of nearly 30,000 schoolchildren in Tianjin, China, researchers found that kids exposed to higher levels of fine particulate matter (PM2.5) and nitrogen dioxide (NO2) were… read on > read on >
Heart disease remains the world’s top killer, causing 1 in every 3 deaths around the globe, a new study says. Worldwide, the number of heart-related deaths has risen sharply, climbing to 19.2 million in 2023 from 13.1 million in 1990, researchers reported in the Journal of the American College of Cardiology. Heart disease, brain bleeds,… read on > read on >
People with spinal cord injuries sometimes suffer from blood pressure problems, as their brain loses the ability to manage the body’s blood pressure. This leaves them vulnerable to blood pressure drops that cause fainting or spikes that put them at risk of a stroke or heart attack. But researchers say a new implant can help… read on > read on >
The march of time may be relentless, but aging is not entirely hopeless if you have the right mindset, according to a Canadian study. Seniors who lose a step health-wise are capable of regaining their well-being, researchers reported Sept. 24 in the journal PLOS One. Nearly a quarter of folks 60 or older who initially… read on > read on >
Skin-to-skin contact might help kick-start brain development in preterm babies, a new study says. Preemies born before 32 weeks showed stronger development in brain regions tied to emotion and stress regulation if they received more skin-to-skin contact, researchers reported Sept. 24 in the journal Neurology. “Skin-to-skin contact in preterm infants has been shown to have… read on > read on >
Infections caused by bacteria that no longer respond to many antibiotics are climbing at an alarming pace in the U.S., new federal data shows. Between 2019 and 2023, these hard-to-treat infections rose nearly 70%, fueled largely by strains carrying the NDM gene, according to researchers at the U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC). … read on > read on >
The fight against America’s opioid crisis does not appear to have cost cancer patients the painkillers they need, a new study says. There was a decline in opioid prescriptions among cancer patients between 2016 and 2020, researchers reported in the October issue of the journal Cancer. But opioid prescriptions remained stable among patients in pain… read on > read on >
More people appear to die in emergency rooms (ER) after hospitals have been bought by private equity firms, a new study says. About 13% more deaths occur among Medicare patients in the emergency rooms of hospitals after their acquisition by private equity, researchers estimate in the Annals of Internal Medicine. Hospitals purchased by a private… read on > read on >
It’s back-to-school time, and young athletes are preparing to hit the field once more for their school or college. However, participation in contact sports could be costing these athletes valuable brain power, according to a new study. Repetitive head impact-related brain injuries can cause a cascade of brain cell loss as well as inflammation and… read on > read on >
Remote monitoring of cancer patients can improve their recovery after surgery, a new study says. People whose health team tracked their symptoms remotely wound up recovering more quickly from surgery, researchers reported in the journal npj Digital Medicine. “The first two weeks after discharge are critical,” researcher Tracy Crane pointed out in a news release. … read on > read on >
