America’s kids are safer now than a decade ago when it comes to many types of injury, with two glaring exceptions: drugs and guns. That’s the crux of a new study that looked at injury trends among U.S. children and teenagers between 2011 and 2021. It found that nonfatal injuries from accidents and assaults fell… read on > read on >
All Health and Wellness:
Diabetes Diagnosis by Age 30 Could Shave 14 Years Off Your Life
Rates of diabetes in younger adults are rising globally — and it could be shortening life spans. A diagnosis of type 2 diabetes at age 30 can cut life expectancy by up to 14 years, according to findings from a new study. Even a diagnosis at age 50 can shorten life expectancy by six years.… read on > read on >
Why So Many Americans Aren’t Getting COVID Boosters
More than 80% of eligible Americans did not get a COVID-19 booster shot last fall. Now, a new study reveals the reasons for the hesitation. Nearly 40% of survey participants said a prior COVID-19 infection factored into their decision to not get the booster. Another 31.5% were worried about side effects. And an additional 28%… read on > read on >
Scientists Produce ‘Bioprinted’ Human Skin for Wound Healing
People recovering from wounds or severe burns might one day be treated with fully functional “bioprinted” skin created in a lab, a new study suggests. Researchers say they “printed” skin samples containing all six major human cell types found in skin. The result was multi-layered, full-thickness skin containing all three layers present in normal human… read on > read on >
‘Boarding’ Patients for Days, Weeks in Crowded ERs Is Common Now
When Hannah, a California marketing professional, showed up at her local emergency room in March 2023 for a pregnancy-related complication, she wasn’t prepared for what happened next. “I arrived at 2 p.m. and finally saw the obstetrics team at midnight,” she recalled. After an exam, doctors scheduled her for a procedure on the following day,… read on > read on >
Seniors With ADHD Face Higher Car Crash Risk
While studies of ADHD and driving usually target teens, a new one focused on seniors found they have a significantly higher risk of car crashes. Older adults with attention-deficit/hyperactivity disorder (ADHD) were also more likely to slam on the brakes and get traffic tickets, the study found. “Little is known about ADHD in seniors,” said… read on > read on >
Over 75,000 Kaiser Permanente Union Workers Go on Strike
Health care workers who serve millions of Americans began a three-day strike on Wednesday after contract negotiations over staffing levels stalled. More than 75,000 members of the Coalition of Kaiser Permanente Unions began walking off their jobs as early as 6 a.m. in Virginia and Washington, D.C., the Washington Post reported. The union, whose contract… read on > read on >
Shorter Course of Radiation May Be Safe for Women Undergoing Breast Reconstruction
Breast cancer patients who undergo a mastectomy can probably benefit from a shorter course of more intense radiation therapy, a new study indicates. Hypofractionated radiation therapy — which provides a higher dose each session over three weeks — provides the same protection against breast cancer recurrence and post-surgical complications as a standard course of lower-dose… read on > read on >
Stem Cell Therapy Could Be Breakthrough Against Type 1 Diabetes
People with type 1 diabetes lack functional islet cells in their pancreas to produce the hormone insulin and must take daily insulin via injections or a continuous pump to compensate. But if new research pans out, some folks with type 1 diabetes may no longer need to take insulin. The study of six people with… read on > read on >
CPAP Helps Cut Heart Risks — But You Have to Actually Use It
For sufferers of sleep apnea, continuous positive airway pressure (CPAP) machines may guard against having a second heart attack, stroke or other cardiovascular crisis, but they have to use it consistently, a new study finds. CPAP works by keeping your airways open during sleep, but because it requires wearing a mask, many people find it… read on > read on >