A healthy lifestyle — especially getting enough sleep — may offer substantial protection against depression, new research suggests. The study, of more than 287,000 British adults, found that several lifestyle factors seemed to curb the risk of developing depression over the next nine years. Among them were eating a healthy diet, getting regular exercise, staying… read on > read on >
All Health and Wellness:
Can You Still Get COVID Tests for Free?
COVID-19 hospitalizations and deaths are gradually increasing in the United States, as two new variants gain a foothold in the nation. And with that rise, more people are looking for COVID test kits. Hospitalizations rose by nearly 9% and deaths by nearly 11% in late August/early September, according to the latest tracking data from the… read on > read on >
Even a Mild Head Injury Raises the Odds for Stroke
Any head injury — even a mild one — raises a person’s risk of later having an ischemic stroke. Having multiple injuries increases that risk, even more so than the severity of a single traumatic brain injury (TBI), researchers report. “Our study found that those who experience two or more head injuries, including even mild… read on > read on >
Gene Test Spots Those Vulnerable to Rare but Severe Side Effect of Drugs for MS, Other Conditions
A large number of drugs used to treat everything from multiple sclerosis to blood cancers to rheumatoid arthritis may cause a rare but often-fatal condition called progressive multifocal leukoencephalopathy (PML). But a simple genetic test can determine who has a 10-fold higher risk for developing this condition, which means those patients could discuss safer treatment… read on > read on >
CDC Backs New COVID Booster Shots
Following an approval granted Monday by the U.S. Food and Drug Administration, the U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention on Tuesday signed off on new COVID boosters for Americans. “We have more tools than ever to prevent the worst outcomes from COVID-19,” CDC Director Dr. Mandy Cohen said in an agency news release announcing… read on > read on >
FDA Panel Says Common OTC Decongestant Is Useless
For decades, sick people have been taking essentially worthless over-the-counter cold remedies to clear their stuffy noses, a key advisory panel for the U.S. Food and Drug Administration said Tuesday. The panel voted unanimously that nonprescription oral medications containing phenylephrine — including Sudafed PE, Vicks Sinex and Benadryl Allergy Plus Congestion — don’t do anything… read on > read on >
Most Folks Who Need Colon Cancer Screening Aren’t Reminded by Doctors
Many Americans are behind on recommended colon cancer screenings — and their doctors often fail to remind them, a new study suggests. The study, by the American Cancer Society, focused on a nationwide sample of more 5,000 Americans who were overdue for colon cancer screening. All had been to a routine checkup in the past… read on > read on >
Dementia Risk Rises as Activity Rates Fall
Bolstering the notion that a strong body equals a strong mind, new research indicates that the more inactive seniors are, the higher their risk for dementia. The finding stems from a look at the onset of dementia among nearly 50,000 Brits. All were at least 60 years old when information about typical daily activity routines… read on > read on >
In Rare Cases, Blood Transfusion Might Cause Brain Hemorrhage
It’s possible that the cause of spontaneous, recurring brain hemorrhages can be passed through blood transfusion, researchers say. The likelihood of this happening is very slim, however. Still, “blood transfusions are relatively common, which makes possible negative effects an important public health issue,” said study co-author Gustaf Edgren, a researcher at the Karolinska Institute in… read on > read on >
Bacteria at Day Care Might Raise Kids’ Odds for Asthma
Certain combinations of bacteria found in dust in children’s day care settings may have an impact on their young lungs. Researchers are trying to understand whether attending day care can affect children’s lung health. Their aim is to lower the risk of asthma. “We find mixtures of different bacteria and other microbes living everywhere —… read on > read on >