WEDNESDAY, Jan. 25, 2023 (HealthDay News) – It’s well known that obesity fuels an increase in a person’s risk for other chronic health conditions. Now, a new study shows that weight-loss surgery could set that person’s health, and longevity, on a different path. Utah researchers who followed patients for up to 40 years after they…  read on >  read on >

Teens who regularly fail to get a good night’s sleep may face a higher risk for developing multiple sclerosis (MS) as adults, new research suggests. “We found that sleeping too little or experiencing poor sleep quality [as a teen] increased the risk of later developing MS by up to 50%,” said study author Dr. Anna…  read on >  read on >

Nearly 20% of American adults use a drug to help them sleep, either occasionally or regularly, health officials reported Wednesday. Sleep medications, sold both over-the-counter and by prescription, are a common treatment for sleep problems, said senior report author Lindsey Black, a health statistician at the U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention’s National Center…  read on >  read on >

Memory loss is the most common symptom associated with Alzheimer’s disease — the terrifying prospect of slowly forgetting yourself and everything around you. But people who exhibit memory loss early on in their dementia actually have a slower rate of decline than those who develop other symptoms earlier, a new study reports. Difficulty forming sentences,…  read on >  read on >

When it comes to tobacco control, some states do a far better job than others of preventing and reducing smoking. A new report from the American Lung Association (ALA) notes that California, Maine, Massachusetts and Washington, D.C., are doing the best job of putting proven tobacco control policies in place. Conversely, those who have the…  read on >  read on >

Send yourself some love this Valentine’s Day by setting a reminder to start taking your spring allergy medications. It’s important to begin allergy meds two weeks before symptoms are expected to appear when possible, according to the American College of Allergy, Asthma and Immunology (ACAAI). “It’s not the most romantic idea in the world, but…  read on >  read on >

The U.S. Food and Drug Administration has proposed stricter limits on levels of lead in infant food products. The agency announced draft guidance for manufacturers that would lower allowable lead levels in processed foods meant for infants and children 2 years and younger. The change could reduce dietary exposure to lead, which can cause neurological…  read on >  read on >