The first new type of medication in decades to help fight against schizophrenia was approved on Thursday by the U.S. Food and Drug Administration. Cobenfy (xanomeline/trospium chloride) could bring patients what they’ve long hoped for: A means of easing the hallucinations and “voices” that disrupt their lives without the weight gain and sluggishness of current… read on > read on >
All Health and Wellness:
At Two Dallas Hospitals, Kids’ ER Visits for Heat Illness Nearly Tripled Over Last Decade
In a sign that climate change may be fueling heat illnesses in kids, a new study reveals that such visits to two Texas children’s emergency rooms spiked 170% between 2012 and 2023. Study leader Dr. Taylor Merritt, a resident pediatrician at UT Southwestern Medical Center in Dallas, is to present the findings Sunday at the… read on > read on >
U.S. E-Bike and Scooter Injuries are Soaring
Folks who depend on e-bikes and powered scooters to get around know they might get hurt, but they might be surprised by just how likely that really is. Rates of injury on the trendy transportation devices skyrocketed between 2019 and 2022, Columbia University researchers report. E-bike injuries jumped 293%; those involving powered scooters were up… read on > read on >
Grandma, the Family Dog: Unexpected Sources of Opioid Tragedies for Young Kids
Grandma’s pill organizer. Fido’s pain medication. A tossed-away tissue. All are potential sources of opioid poisoning for young children, researchers at the New Jersey Poison Control Center report. Their five-year look at 230 cases of opioid exposure in children between 1 month and 6 years of age shows how easily they get their hands on… read on > read on >
Upping Dose of Anti-Opioid Drug Might Work Better to Curb Addiction
Patients with opioid use disorder who receive higher doses of a drug to treat their addiction are more likely to have positive results, a new study finds. Daily doses of the drug buprenorphine is a standard treatment for opioid use disorder, and the findings suggest that higher doses may be a better way to manage… read on > read on >
Babies Who Got Only Breast Milk in Hospital Have Lower Asthma Rates
If you think it isn’t important to start breastfeeding your newborn while still in the hospital, think again. New research shows that infants who were exclusively fed breast milk during their hospitalization right after birth were 22% less likely to develop asthma in early childhood. The findings, to be presented Sunday at the American Academy… read on > read on >
One Gun Law Reduces School Shooting Deaths
Laws that ban assault weapons do indeed protect children from dying in mass shootings, but the same can’t be said for more common types of gun restrictions and regulations, new research shows. “Mass shootings are horrific events. We found that large capacity magazine bans may have the biggest effect on reducing child deaths in mass… read on > read on >
U.S. Suicide Death Rate Is Rising Again
U.S. suicide rates are ticking back upward again after a dip during the pandemic, new statistics show. Suicide deaths per 100,000 people had fallen from 14.2 recorded in the pre-pandemic year of 2018 to 13.5 in 2020. However, by 2022, the latest year for which statistics are available, the rate had climbed once more to… read on > read on >
Airports Take Big Toll on Sleep of Those Living Nearby
As people living near airports probably already know, all that overhead traffic can take a huge hit to their sleep, a new study confirms. Night-time aircraft noise increases a person’s risk of tossing and turning in bed as engines roar overhead, researchers reported Sept. 25 in the journal Environmental Health Perspectives. Airplane noise also appears… read on > read on >
Being a ‘Weekend Warrior’ Can Cut Your Odds for 200 Diseases
There’s good news for folks who struggle to fit regular exercise into their busy workweek. “Weekend warrior” workouts are just as beneficial as daily exercise to a person’s overall health, a new study says. People who get all their weekly recommended exercise in one or two days are about as healthy as those who spread… read on > read on >