Eczema can be maddening, causing thick, scaly patches of dry skin that itch like the devil. There’s no cure for the skin condition, but a new study shows that self-guided talk therapy can help a person deal with the itching. Online self-guided cognitive behavioral therapy (CBT) that teaches patients how to respond to their itching… read on > read on >
A woman’s binge drinking might be related to her hormones. The female hormone estrogen appears to promote binge drinking in women, a new mouse study published recently in the journal Nature Communications shows. Specifically, estrogen causes women to “pre-game,” or consume large quantities of alcohol within the first half-hour after it’s offered, results show. This… read on > read on >
MONDAY Dec. 30, 2024The number of homeless individuals in the U.S. increased by 18% between January 2023 and January 2024, according to the U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development (HUD). The HUD’s 2024 Annual Homelessness Assessment found that some 770,000 people were experiencing homelessness on a single night in January 2024, a significant increase… read on > read on >
If you’re a mom right now, you are likely tearing your hair out as you juggle the sizable scheduling demands of the holiday season. Maybe you feel like you are carrying the load alone. New research suggests you are not imagining things, and that it happens all year long to many moms. The study, published… read on > read on >
Norovirus, a highly contagious stomach bug, is surging across the United States this winter, according to the latest data from the U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC). The data shows 91 outbreaks of norovirus during the week of Dec. 5, a sharp rise from the 69 outbreaks recorded the previous week. For context,… read on > read on >
Federal health officials have confirmed unsettling new details about the first United States case of severe bird flu, reported recently in a hospitalized patient in Louisiana. Genetic samples from the patient contained mutations that could, in theory, help the virus better infect human cells. Importantly, these mutations were observed in the later stages of infection… read on > read on >
The United States is lagging behind dozens of nations in its preparation for dealing with its aging population. The U.S. ranks 24 among 143 countries when it comes to ensuring seniors’ well-being, productivity and security, according to results published Dec. 27 in the journal Nature Aging. By comparison, Switzerland tops the rankings, Singapore is at 10,… read on > read on >
Blue Christmas, anyone? Holiday time can be wonderful, worrisome, energizing and depressing — all at the same time. There is no doubt about it: The holidays can be darn hard, especially when the season dredges up painful feelings or memories. Rather than stirring merry and joyful feelings, the end of the year can feel sad,… read on > read on >
Should you cut back on doom scrolling in 2025? Worries about money, gun violence and hate crimes ranked high among many people’s lists of worries at the end of 2024, according to a poll that is part of American Psychiatric Association (APA) Healthy Minds Monthly opinion poll series. The survey included 2200 U.S. adults. Reducing… read on > read on >
A devastating bird flu outbreak has killed 20 big cats at the Wild Felid Advocacy Center of Washington, a nonprofit animal sanctuary in Shelton, Wash. The deaths, which include four cougars and a half-Bengal tiger, have led the sanctuary to declare a quarantine to prevent further spread of the virus. “Our sanctuary is under quarantine… read on > read on >
