Coupons for tobacco products appear to have a big impact on relapse rates for smokers who have recently kicked the habit, researchers report. A study of more than 5,000 former smokers who participated in a national survey found double the relapse rate for those who received cigarette coupons by direct mail or email. “We hypothesized… read on > read on >
It might not seem like constipation or difficulty swallowing could signal a neurological problem, but new research suggests that these gut conditions could be an early indicator of Parkinson’s disease. Gastrointestinal symptoms are also thought to precede the development of cerebrovascular disease, including stroke, brain aneurysm or Alzheimer’s disease. It has previously been suggested that… read on > read on >
AI might not always be your most accurate source of health information, especially when it comes to cancer care, new research finds. Two new studies assessed the quality of responses offered by AI chatbots to a variety of questions about cancer care. One, published Aug. 24 in JAMA Oncology, zeroed in on the full-sentence conversational… read on > read on >
The American middle-class squeeze has grown even worse in recent years, with many in the “forgotten middle” facing financial pressure and poor health as they near retirement age, a new study reports. Essentially, the U.S. middle class has split in two, and those relegated to the lower-middle are facing tough times in retirement, said lead… read on > read on >
For the first time in a decade, the rate at which American adolescents received the human papillomavirus (HPV) vaccine has not increased, new data show. Current guidelines from the U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention recommend that both girls and boys receive the vaccine at ages 11 or 12, although vaccination can begin as… read on > read on >
Stroll past the supplements in any drugstore and you’ll find broad claims about fish oil helping everything from heart and brain health, to joints, eyes and immune systems. But you just might be wasting your money, according to a new study. “We know from recent large, randomized trials that fish oil supplements do not prevent… read on > read on >
Public health officials have detected the new BA.2.86 variant of COVID-19 in U.S. wastewater, giving rise to concerns about the highly mutated variant in the United States. The U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention announced the detection on Wednesday. It was found as part of routine wastewater sampling. Officials did not specify where the… read on > read on >
With 2023 predicted to be the hottest year on record, a new study is pointing to another potential consequence of heat waves: faster declines in older adults’ memory and thinking skills. The study, of nearly 9,500 older U.S. adults, found that those with greater exposure to heat waves over 12 years also showed a steeper… read on > read on >
THURSDAY, Aug. 24, 2023 (American Heart Association News) — Holly Page was having a great day. She got her hair done, then enjoyed a long dinner catching up with friend Lisa Stillings. They were walking out of the restaurant when something strange happened. Page tried to speak but couldn’t. “When I got under a streetlight,… read on > read on >
Bystander aid using CPR and a defibrillator can be critically important for saving lives when someone has a cardiac arrest — even when an ambulance arrives quickly, say researchers. A new study finds that when a bystander uses a defibrillator, on top of CPR, on someone who has had a cardiac arrest, that patient’s 30-day… read on > read on >
