When parents talk to their toddlers, they are not only teaching them words, but may be shaping their developing brains, too, a new study suggests. Researchers found that toddlers whose parents spent a lot of time talking to them day to day showed a particular brain characteristic: a greater concentration of myelin in language-related parts… read on > read on >
Over the past two decades, premature deaths have cost Black Americans over 80 million more lost years of life, compared with white Americans, a new study finds. The study is the latest to highlight the nation’s longstanding racial disparities in health and life expectancy. And while the problem is well known, the new findings frame… read on > read on >
Public health officials are urging people at risk of contracting mpox, the virus previously called monkeypox, to get vaccinated. They are concerned that a slowdown in infections since last summer may not continue. “There’s a very real risk of there being a surge in mpox cases over the next few months. Most likely, it won’t… read on > read on >
More than 10 million people in the United States are living with bipolar disorder, according to the National Alliance on Mental Illness (NAMI). It’s characterized by severe, dramatic shifts in mood that can catch people off guard. The name captures the dramatic swing from elation to despair. With treatment, many people with bipolar disorder lead… read on > read on >
Americans will continue to be able to get free preventive health care services — at least for now. The U.S. Court of Appeals for the Fifth Circuit in New Orleans temporarily blocked a lower court decision on Monday, pausing a ruling that challenged an Affordable Care Act provision that all health plans cover certain care,… read on > read on >
Lured by promises of bigger muscles and better performance on the field, many athletes and bodybuilders turn to anabolic steroids despite their well-known side effects, including increased risk for heart disease and mood issues. Now, two new studies show these harms may persist after athletes stop taking the synthetic hormones. The message is clear when… read on > read on >
During the early part of the COVID-19 pandemic, one of the only ways to see a doctor was via video or phone appointment, and it turns out many people with cancer still prefer telemedicine visits over in-person ones. The recent end of the U.S. public health emergency will remove some of the flexibilities that were… read on > read on >
TUESDAY, May 16, 2023 (American Heart Association News) — Lower your blood pressure. Get your heart rate up. Know your numbers. When it comes to heart health, understanding all the numbers involved – and which should be up or down and when – can be confusing. But experts say it’s important to learn at least… read on > read on >
Black and Hispanic communities in the United States are more often poor — and also more likely to have harmful levels of per- and polyfluoroalkyl substances (PFAS) in their drinking water, a new study reveals. Sources of PFAS pollution — including major manufacturers, airports, military bases, wastewater treatment plants and landfills — are disproportionately sited… read on > read on >
Older adults are more easily distracted than younger folks, especially if they’re also physically exerting themselves, according to new research. “Our results suggest that older adults might have heightened distractibility,” said study co-author Lilian Azer, a graduate student from the University of California, Riverside. For the study, the researchers assessed the interaction between physical exertion… read on > read on >
