The number of Americans undergoing gender-affirming surgery is on the rise, new research reveals, almost tripling between 2016 and 2019 alone. During that period, more than 48,000 patients — about half of them between 19 and 30 years of age — underwent some form of gender-affirming (GAS) surgery, researchers found. About 4,500 of those procedures… read on > read on >
All Health and Wellness:
AHA News: Promotores Create a Bridge Between Healthier Living and a Growing Hispanic Population
WEDNESDAY, Aug. 23, 2023 (American Heart Association News) — Patricia Guevara enjoys doing things with her 5-year-old daughter, Miranda, especially painting and drawing and taking an occasional walk in the park. After a promotora, or community health worker, stopped by their Pittsburgh-area home, their lives became more active. Guevara signed up for a promotora-led program… read on > read on >
AHA News: A Lifetime of Challenges – Including a Spinal Stroke – Leads Dancer to Infinite Possibilities
WEDNESDAY, Aug. 23, 2023 (American Heart Association News) — As a Japanese American girl growing up in Irvine, California, Marisa Hamamoto felt like an outsider in her predominantly white community. Her schoolmates picked on her because she looked different. She wasn’t one of them. But when she entered the dance studio, everything changed. “I discovered… read on > read on >
ALS Robbed Her of Speech, But Technology Is Changing That
Many people with Lou Gehrig’s disease, also called amyotrophic lateral sclerosis (ALS), first start to lose the ability to move their arms and legs. That’s not Pat Bennett. She can move just fine. She can still dress herself, and she can even use her fingers to type. But ALS has robbed Bennett, 68, of her… read on > read on >
To Keep Depression at Bay, Fighting Negative Thoughts Is Key
Millions of Americans who experience major depression will suffer a relapse, but a new study suggests that learning to focus on the positive, rather than the negatives in everyday life, might help reduce those odds. “What we started to realize is it’s not just about how people with depression process negative information but there’s something… read on > read on >
Don’t Use Dr. Berne’s and LightEyez Eye Drops Due to Bacteria, Fungus, FDA Says
Tainted eye drops are back in the news, with federal regulators warning consumers not to use certain eye drops because of contamination concerns. The U.S. Food and Drug Administration on Tuesday advised people to avoid purchasing and immediately stop using Dr. Berne’s MSM Drops 5% Solution and LightEyez MSM Eye Drops—Eye Repair because the drops… read on > read on >
‘Couch Potato’ Childhoods Could Mean Heavier, Less Healthy Hearts Later
Children need to get up off the sofa and move more, according to a new study that linked childhood sitting time with heart damage in young adulthood. That was true even when the adult’s blood pressure and weight were healthy, according to researchers. “All those hours of screen time in young people add up to… read on > read on >
Too Few Kids Are Getting Regular Eye Tests, and Insurance Is Key
Eye tests are an important way to catch potential eye-related issues in children, but more than two-thirds of kids in the United States are not receiving them at their checkups. Those with Medicaid and other public health insurance were far less likely to receive these vision checks in the past year at their primary care… read on > read on >
Space Travel Takes Toll on Astronauts’ Blood, Bone
When astronauts travel to space, the experience depletes their red blood cells and bone, according to a new study. Fortunately, it appears their bodies can eventually replenish them after they’ve returned to Earth, thanks to fat stored in the bone marrow. “We found that astronauts had significantly less fat in their bone marrow about a… read on > read on >
Another Source of Lead Exposure for Kids: Secondhand Smoke
One source of lead exposure in children may surprise you. It’s secondhand smoke, according to a Texas A&M University study. “Further research will likely paint a clearer picture of this exposure route, especially in younger children, but the findings here can inform current efforts to eliminate low-level lead exposure in children,” said co-author Dr. Genny… read on > read on >