As the southeastern United States begins to recover from Helene’s devastation, a new study suggests the health impact of major storms can linger for over a decade. So far, more than 120 people across six states have already been confirmed dead in Helene’s aftermath, although that number could rise much higher as rescue efforts continue.… read on > read on >
All Health and Wellness:
Scientists Get Closer to Stopping Macular Degeneration
Scientists say they’ve discovered a protein that seems crucial to the onset of age-related macular degeneration (AMD), a common cause of blindness in older people. The research is in its very early stages, but it might help lead to the first effective therapy against the vision-robbing illness, which affects up to 15 million Americans. “Current… read on > read on >
Restrictive State Laws Tied to Higher Suicide Risk for Trans Youth
In a finding that illustrates the damage that laws targeting transgender people can cause, new research shows that trans and nonbinary youth in states with such laws are more likely to attempt suicide. How much more likely? The study authors found the laws triggered up to a 72% increase in suicide attempts in the past… read on > read on >
Coffee, Water, Soda: Which Raise Your Odds for Stroke?
Want to keep a stroke a bay? Drink water, nothing fizzy and skip fruit drinks. That’s the key takeaway from a global review that also raises a red flag for people who drink more than four cups of coffee a day. “While [high blood pressure] is the most important risk factor, our stroke risk can… read on > read on >
1 in 14 U.S. Hospital Patients Fall Victim to Harmful Diagnostic Errors
One in 14 hospital patients may be the victim of damaging diagnostic mistakes, new research suggests. The finding is from a study of 675 patients admitted to one large hospital in Boston at various periods between July 2019 and September 2021. The patients were randomly selected from more than 9,000 hospitalized during that time. “The… read on > read on >
Adding Routine ‘Suicide Care’ to Primary Care Could Save Lives
More and more, primary care doctors routinely ask patients a question that may come as a surprise: Do you ever have suicidal thoughts? Now, new research shows it’s a simple intervention that can save lives. When suicide care was made a routine part of primary care visits at Kaiser Permanente clinics in Washington state, suicide… read on > read on >
Brain Zap Treatment Could Get Arms, Hands Moving After Head Injury
Patients who lose the use of their hands and arms after a stroke or traumatic brain injury could regain some function through deep brain stimulation (DBS), new research demonstrates. DBS involves surgical placement of electrodes to deliver electrical impulses to areas of the brain regulating specific activity. It is often used to treat control movement… read on > read on >
GLP-1 Weight-Loss Meds Could Interfere With Endoscopy, Colonoscopy
Food left in the stomach or stool left in the bowel can impede a doctor’s ability to successfully perform an endoscopy or colonoscopy. Now, research finds this scenario is more likely if the patient is taking popular new weight-loss meds such as Ozempic, Wegovy, Mounjaro or Zepbound. For these patients, “inadequate bowel preparation was more… read on > read on >
Helene’s Aftermath: How to Safely Enter, Clean Flood-Damaged Homes
Following the historic destruction of Hurricane Helene, many Americans must now return to their mangled homes and begin the heartbreaking task of clean-up. After making landfall in Florida near Tallahassee as a ferocious Cat 4 storm on Thursday, Helene caused record-breaking storm surges in Tampa, flash flooding in Atlanta and power outages, massive flooding and… read on > read on >
Bogus ‘Conversion Therapy’ Leads to Higher Risk of Mental Illness for LGBT People
Besides being useless in altering a person’s sexuality or gender identity, so-called “conversion therapy” or “conversion practice” can greatly raise the odds that an LGBT person experiences mental health issues, new research finds. Questionnaires completed by over 4,400 LGBTQ+ Americans found that having undergone these bogus interventions was linked to higher rates of depression, post-traumatic… read on > read on >