Teenagers who’ve packed on extra pounds have a significantly increased risk of developing kidney disease as a young adult, a new study finds. Obesity increased risk of later kidney disease as much as ninefold in boys and fourfold in girls, according to results published recently in the journal JAMA Pediatrics. Even a few extra pounds… read on > read on >
All Health and Wellness:
Nicotine Study Shows Mind’s Power When It Comes to Drugs
How much a person believes in the strength of a drug might influence how powerfully that drug influences brain activity, a new study has found. Smokers told to expect a low, medium or high dose of nicotine from an e-cigarette showed a brain response that tracked with the purported dose, even though nicotine levels were… read on > read on >
Migraines Could Raise Crash Risks for Older Drivers
Migraines are not only extremely painful, but they also appear to pose a driving risk for seniors, a new study warns. Older adult drivers recently diagnosed with migraines are three times more likely to be involved in a car crash, researchers reported recently in the Journal of the American Geriatrics Society. “Migraine headaches affect more… read on > read on >
Could Inhaling a Statin Help Ease Asthma, COPD?
Drugs already used by millions to lower cholesterol might someday have a new role: Relieving asthma and COPD. That’s the hope of a new line of research underway at the University of California, Davis. A study funded by the U.S. National Institutes of Health is seeking to determine whether a “statin inhaler” might reduce the… read on > read on >
Gene Mutation Protects Against Parkinson’s Disease
A rare genetic mutation found in 1% of people of European descent appears to cut their odds for Parkinson’s disease in half, a new study finds. A better understanding of how this bit of DNA works might lead to better prevention and treatment of Parkinson’s generally, researchers at the University of Southern California (USC) said.… read on > read on >
Deaths Tied to ‘Fake Xanax’ Street Drug Are Soaring
Three twenty-somethings in Chicago took a street drug they thought was a harmless form of Xanax. All three were found collapsed and unresponsive eight hours later by one of their mothers, who had them rushed to the hospital. After multiple seizures, fever and heart damage, all three are thought to have recovered, but not before… read on > read on >
Could ‘Early Birds’ Be at Higher Risk for Anorexia?
People who are early risers appear to be at greater risk of developing anorexia, a new study claims. This differs from other disorders like depression, binge eating and schizophrenia, all of which appear to be associated with folks being “night owls,” the researchers noted. “Our findings implicate anorexia nervosa as a morning disorder in contrast… read on > read on >
New Antibiotic Slays Deadly Superbug in Early Trial
Researchers report that a new type of antibiotic has proved its mettle against a deadly superbug. Acinetobacter baumannii, a bacteria that goes by the nickname CRAB when it becomes antibiotic-resistant, can trigger serious infections in the lungs, urinary tract and blood, according to the U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. Unfortunately, it’s resistant to… read on > read on >
FDA Looking Into New Risks With Popular Weight-Loss Drugs
The U.S. Food and Drug Administration is investigating reports of additional dangers linked to several wildly popular weight-loss drugs. In a quarterly report issued this week, the agency said it is investigating cases of hair loss; aspiration (when food or other objects get into the airways); and suicidal ideation in people who used the medications. Some of… read on > read on >
Brain Zaps Can Make Folks More ‘Hypnotizable’
An electrical zap to the brain can temporarily render a person more susceptible to hypnosis, a new study shows. Participants became more easily hypnotized after paddles placed against their scalp delivered two 46-second rounds of electrical pulses to a precise location in their brain, researchers reported Jan. 4 in the journal Nature Mental Health. This… read on > read on >