While the record-breaking heat the United States is experiencing this summer can stress people to their limits, it can be particularly hard to navigate for those with mental health issues. “All mental illnesses increase with heat because it results in more fatigue, irritability and anxiety, and it can exacerbate depressive episodes,” said Dr. Asim Shah,…  read on >  read on >

The United States has more than 10 times the number of mass shootings than other developed countries, but the factors that account for these events are elusive. Now, new research suggests that stems from policy, environmental and socio-cultural factors. “I’m constantly asked, ‘What is public health doing about the rise in mass shootings?” said researcher…  read on >  read on >

People who carry a gene that’s associated with Alzheimer’s disease may lose their sense of smell long before memory and thinking problems occur, a new study suggests. This early sign of potential dementia is not seen in people who don’t carry this gene, called APOE e4, researchers report July 26 in the journal Neurology. “Testing…  read on >  read on >

President Joe Biden announced Tuesday that his administration is seeking new rules to push insurance companies to increase coverage of mental health treatment. The new rules, which still must go through a public comment period, would require insurers to study if customers have the same medical and mental health benefits and fix any disparities if…  read on >  read on >

Men’s use of personal care products has almost doubled since 2004, exposing them to some potentially harmful chemicals, a new study commissioned by the Environmental Working Group (EWG) finds. Overall, the average American adult uses 12 personal care products a day that contain as many as 112 chemical ingredients. That’s a change from the previous…  read on >  read on >

Testing children with a suspected sinus infection for three common bacteria might cut unnecessary antibiotic prescribing, a new study suggests. Only half of kids with sinusitis — inflammation or swelling of the sinuses — show any improvement with antibiotics, which target bacterial infections, not viral infections, the researchers note. “When a child comes in with…  read on >  read on >