It’s commonly thought that having a companion animal — be it a dog, cat or bird — is good for the owner’s mental health. A new study suggests that’s not so, at least for people with severe mental illness and for pets that aren’t trained therapy animals. Pets may, however, be an important part of… read on > read on >
All Health and Wellness:
COVID Infection in Women Having Ovary Stimulation Lowered Chances for Pregnancy
Testing positive for a COVID-19 infection during a particular phase of fertility treatment could reduce the odds for a successful pregnancy, a new study says. That phase of treatment is called controlled ovarian stimulation — a technique used to induce ovulation during in vitro fertilization (IVF). Researchers led by Fen Tian, of Central South University… read on > read on >
AHA News: Loss of Executive Function With Aging Can Make Learning New Skills Hard
FRIDAY, July 14, 2023 (American Heart Association News) — Technology is designed to make life easier and more efficient. People can autopay their bills, order food and download movies right on their phones or tablets. They can even ask a virtual assistant to do it all for them. But performing these daily tasks requires continuous… read on > read on >
WHO Agency Declares Aspartame a Possible Carcinogen
In findings that are likely to fuel the debate over the safety of aspartame, one World Health Organization (WHO) agency announced Thursday that the artificial sweetener is a possible carcinogen while another stood firm in saying that aspartame is safe in recommended doses. “Cancer is one of the leading causes of death globally. Every year,… read on > read on >
Could the Bacteria in Your Gut Play a Part in How Clogged Your Arteries Are?
Your gut bacteria could affect your risk for the fatty deposits in heart arteries — and future heart attacks, researchers say. A new study finds a link between the levels of certain microbes in the gut and these coronary atherosclerotic plaques. Led by researchers from Uppsala and Lund Universities in Sweden, the study analyzed gut… read on > read on >
Ticks May Be Spreading ‘Wasting Disease’ Among Wisconsin Deer
Ticks may be responsible for the spread of chronic wasting disease (CWD) in Wisconsin’s deer population, according to a new study. Researchers at the University of Wisconsin-Madison have found that ticks can harbor transmissible amounts of the protein particle that causes CWD, a fatal neurological disease seen in deer, elk and moose. The pathogen, prion,… read on > read on >
Glaucoma: Spotting It Early Is Crucial
Treatment can control the symptoms of the most common type of glaucoma and save someone’s vision. The catch is that a person can’t feel the changes in eye pressure that can damage vision, so they often won’t know they even have it before it’s too late. That is, unless they’ve been seeing an eye doctor… read on > read on >
Could Carpal Tunnel Syndrome Fuel Heart Failure Risk?
Call it a hand signal of sorts. New research from Germany shows that the common nerve disorder carpal tunnel syndrome (CTS), may be a harbinger for heart failure among older folks. In a study of 164,000 people, those 60 years or older who had the condition, which causes pain, weakness and numbness in the hand… read on > read on >
Nearly 1 in 10 U.S. Children Has a Developmental Disability: CDC
More kids in the United States are getting a developmental disability diagnosis, with prevalence close to 9% in 2021, the U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention reports. Among 3- to 17-year-olds, 8.56% have ever been diagnosed with a developmental disability, compared to 7.4% in 2019, according to the agency’s National Health Interview Survey. The… read on > read on >
Low-Dose Eyedrops No Better Than Placebo for Nearsightedness Among Kids
Low doses of the eyedrops ophthalmologists use to dilate your pupils during an eye exam are not able to slow the progression of nearsightedness (myopia) in children, a new clinical trial has found. Atropine eyedrops at a concentration of 0.01% did not outperform placebo drops in slowing either myopia progression or elongation of the eye… read on > read on >