The U.S. Drug Enforcement Administration (DEA) is warning the public that colorfully dyed fentanyl — dubbed “rainbow fentanyl” — is readily available across the United States. “Rainbow fentanyl — fentanyl pills and powder that come in a variety of bright colors, shapes, and sizes — is a deliberate effort by drug traffickers to drive addiction… read on > read on >
All Health and Wellness:
Who’s at Higher Risk for A-Fib, Men or Women?
THURSDAY, Sept. 1, 2022 (HealthDay News) – Doctors have long thought men had more risk of developing atrial fibrillation (a-fib) than women, but the reverse may actually be the case. When researchers accounted for height differences between men and women, a new study revealed that women were 50% more likely to develop a-fib, an irregular… read on > read on >
FDA Warns of Dangers From Skin Lightening Creams
Skin lightening products can be dangerous for consumers when they contain harmful ingredients that are illegal for over-the-counter sales, the U.S. Food and Drug Administration warned Wednesday. The potentially harmful ingredients are hydroquinone or mercury, the agency said in a news release. People who have used products with hydroquinone have suffered side effects that included… read on > read on >
A Dermatologist on Recognizing the Monkeypox Rash
Anyone who gets a new, unexplained skin rash should call their doctor and get medical care in case it’s monkeypox, public health officials advise. How can you tell when it is time to worry? The American Academy of Dermatology offers some tips for helping distinguish monkeypox from other health issues that cause rashes and for… read on > read on >
Widely Used Steroid Meds Could Alter the Brain
Long-term steroid use can reshape the structure of the brain, causing some parts to shrink and others to grow, a major new study reports. People taking steroids — even inhaled steroids — appear to have less intact white matter structure in their brains compared with those not taking the drugs, brain scans reveal. White matter… read on > read on >
Lupus, MS and Other Autoimmune Disorders Raise Heart Risks
Research has linked heart disease to specific autoimmune diseases such as rheumatoid arthritis and lupus. Now, a huge study shows that autoimmune diseases as a group increase your chances of developing heart ills. Autoimmune diseases such as psoriasis, multiple sclerosis, lupus erythematosus and type 1 diabetes occur when the body engages in friendly fire against… read on > read on >
Tight Blood Sugar Control Boosts Brain Power of Teens With Type 1 Diabetes: Study
When teenagers with type 1 diabetes get better control of their blood sugar, their brains may benefit, a new clinical trial shows. Researchers found that when teenagers started treatment with a newer technology — often dubbed “artificial pancreas” systems — they were better able to avoid high blood sugar episodes than teens who stuck with… read on > read on >
Efforts to Preserve Fertility Won’t Affect Breast Cancer Outcomes
Fertility preservation procedures for women with breast cancer won’t raise the risk of their cancer returning later, a new Swedish study shows. Women who had eggs or embryos frozen before going through chemotherapy did not have any increased risk of cancer recurrence or death compared with women who didn’t get the procedures, the investigators found.… read on > read on >
U.S. Life Expectancy Fell by Nearly 1 Year in 2021 Due to Pandemic
Life expectancy in the United States dropped for the second straight year, government health officials reported Wednesday. The decline from 77 years in 2020 to 76.1 years in 2021 puts U.S. life expectancy at the lowest level since 1996, according to the report from the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. The drop of nearly… read on > read on >
With PFAS in Packaging, How Safe Is Microwave Popcorn?
Munching handfuls of microwave popcorn might be perfect for movie night, but your snack could be loading your body with potentially harmful “forever chemicals,” experts warn. Many microwave popcorn bags are lined with PFAS (perfluoroalkyls and polyfluoroalkyl substances), and evidence has shown that these chemicals will leach into the snack during popping. Studies have found… read on > read on >