Teens increasingly are turning to nicotine-loaded gum, lozenges and gummies for a quick rush, a groundbreaking study warns. Tobacco-free oral nicotine products were the second-most commonly used nicotine or tobacco items among more than 3,500 Southern California ninth- and tenth-graders surveyed last fall, researchers reported Aug. 8 in the journal Pediatrics. About 3.4% of respondents…  read on >  read on >

MONDAY, Aug. 8, 2022 (HealthDay News) – Smoking and older age are the two most important risk factors for cancer, a new, large study shows. The researchers also said doctors should look at excess body fat, family history and several other factors to help patients decide if they need additional screening and preventive interventions. “Single…  read on >  read on >

Women who go into menopause when they are younger than 40 are at greater risk of heart problems, reports a new Korean study of more than 1.4 million females. Women with premature menopause had an overall 33% higher risk of heart failure and 9% higher risk of an irregular heart rhythm (atrial fibrillation) compared to…  read on >  read on >

Fewer people tried to quit smoking as the COVID-19 pandemic began, and this continued for at least a year, according to a new U.S. study. The American Cancer Society detailed pandemic smoking behavior in the report, while stressing the need to re-engage smokers in smoking cessation campaigns. “Smoking cessation is an urgent public health priority…  read on >  read on >

As a new school year begins, many students return to their favorite sports or try something new. Encouraging kids to make physical activity part of their lives has lifelong benefits, said Dr. Theodore Shybut, assistant professor of orthopedic surgery and sports medicine at Baylor College of Medicine in Houston. Shybut offered some tips for getting…  read on >  read on >

Pickleball has become a wildly popular sport for older Americans, but seniors who enjoy playing it should know about potential injuries and how to avoid them. The most common problem is with the rotator cuff tendon in the shoulder, which can cause pain. Issues can included tendonitis, bursitis and even a tear in the tendon.…  read on >  read on >

COVID-19 may be linked to a rise in bacterial brain infections in children, a new study suggests. When the pandemic hit, doctors at Helen DeVos Children’s Hospital of Spectrum Health in Grand Rapids, Mich., saw a worrisome 236% rise in these infections and wondered why. Although rare, these infections can be mild, needing only antibiotics…  read on >  read on >

Most sexually active people will contract the human papillomavirus (HPV) during their lifetimes, and about 90% will clear it from their bodies. But some women are susceptible to the cervical lesions that infection brings, raising their risk for cervical cancer. Now, a new review finds it’s possible that during surgery to remove precancerous cervical lesions,…  read on >  read on >