The United States is in the middle of an opioid crisis, yet new research shows that only about 7% of Americans on Medicaid who have opioid use disorder receive residential treatment. This means that many people who could potentially benefit from what is more commonly known as “rehab” aren’t getting the care they need to…  read on >  read on >

Be forewarned: High blood pressure in your 30s may lead to poorer brain health in your 70s. A new study suggests that treating the condition in young and middle-aged adults may help prevent dementia and Alzheimer’s disease later on, especially in men. For the study, researchers examined brain scans of older adults who had high…  read on >  read on >

(HealthDay News) – The Environmental Protection Agency on Tuesday proposed limiting the use of a chemical used to clean medical equipment in sterilizing plants because it also raises cancer risks for workers. The agency plans to slash emissions of the odorless gas, called ethylene oxide, by about 80% at 86 medical sterilization facilities. “EPA’s number…  read on >  read on >

Mosquitoes appear to be affected by artificial light at night, but whether that’s a good or bad thing is an open question. New research finds that urban light pollution may disrupt the winter dormancy period of the mosquitoes that transmit the West Nile virus. That could be good because they may not fatten up in…  read on >  read on >

Spring brings with it the joy of baseball, but too much of a good thing can lead to elbow injuries in young pitchers. An expert from UT Southwestern in Dallas offers some tips for youth baseball players, their parents and coaches about avoiding and being aware of injuries, including tears or ruptures of the ulnar…  read on >  read on >

Sexually transmitted infections (STIs) are surging in the United States, with notable increases seen in case counts of syphilis, gonorrhea and chlamydia. Overall, STIs grew by 7% in 2021, reaching 2.5 million cases, according to the latest data from the U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. “The U.S. STI epidemic shows no signs of…  read on >  read on >

Over the past few years the escalating opioid crisis has touched off a complex debate about how best to reign in suicide risk among patients who are prescribed the addictive painkillers. The question: Could rapidly cutting back on legal opioid prescriptions help, or might patients’ desperation over lack of access inadvertently drive up suicide risk?…  read on >  read on >