Health and Wellness « Weekly Sauce

Proposal includes steps that need to be taken to strengthen preparedness, readiness, and health system functions and resilience read on >

Fewer Americans traveled out of state for an abortion in 2024, according to a new report from the Guttmacher Institute, a group that supports abortion rights. The report found that about 155,000 people crossed state lines for abortion care last year, down 9% from 2023. The total number of abortions stayed steady, however, with 1,038,100… read on > read on >

People might think they can reduce their risk of cancer by occasionally swapping their cigarettes for a vape pen — but they would be wrong, a new study says. So-called “dual users” — folks who both smoke and vape – are exposed to the same levels of nicotine and cancer-causing toxins as those who only smoke… read on > read on >

Jason Cutter had been feeling pain in his hips for years, and it had started to put a dent in his activities as an amateur hockey player and outdoorsman. Cutter, 50, chalked up his hip problems to aging, insufficient stretching and strain from the heavy tool belts he wore during his side hustle as a… read on > read on >

Children who spend more time playing outdoors or participating in different sports tend to develop better motor skills as they advance through elementary school, a new study says. Even a half-hour of independent outdoor play after a day at childcare makes a difference in kids’ motor skill development, researchers reported in the Journal of Sports… read on > read on >

Newfangled eyedrops for dogs might be better at helping them fight off infections, a new study says. Eyedrops containing hyaluronic acid helped antibiotics better coat the eyes of healthy dogs, compared to traditional eyedrop formulations, researchers recently reported in the journal Veterinary Ophthalmology. As a result, higher concentrations of the antibiotics remained longer in the… read on > read on >

A new clinical trial will soon test if a pig liver can help people whose own livers have suddenly stopped working. The hope? That animal organs can temporarily filter a patient’s blood, giving their own liver time to rest and possibly recover. The U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) has approved the first-of-its-kind study, according… read on > read on >

Folks with asthma might better control their symptoms by precisely timing when they use their inhaler, a new study says. A single daily preventive dose of inhaled corticosteroid is best taken at mid-afternoon for effective asthma control, researchers reported April 15 in the journal Thorax. That timing will suppress the usual nighttime worsening of symptoms… read on > read on >

A “smart shirt” equipped with an electrocardiogram (ECG) can help identify folks who are at higher risk of heart disease, a new study says. The shirt monitors people’s heart rate recovery after exercise, tracking the time it takes for their heart to return to a normal rhythm. “The heart’s response to exercise provides us with… read on > read on >

When officials in Wisconsin’s largest city asked the U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) for help dealing with high levels of lead in city schools, the answer wasn’t what they expected. The CDC said no — because it no longer has the staff to help. “I sincerely regret to inform you that due… read on > read on >