The percentage of older Americans reporting serious problems with memory and thinking has declined in recent years — and higher education levels may be part of the reason, a new study finds. Researchers found that between 2008 and 2017, the proportion of older U.S. adults reporting “serious cognitive problems” declined from just over 12% to… read on > read on >
Nearly all countries agree: Smoking is bad, and getting people to kick the habit is a worthy public health goal. But no country has ever attempted what New Zealand is about to try: an outright ban on all cigarette sales. The plan is to let those who already smoke retain the right to keep buying… read on > read on >
You’re watching the Omicron variant race around the world and think it might be time to upgrade your mask to a gold-standard N95 or K-N95 model. A quick search on Google should find you one, right? Not so fast, experts say. According to Anne Miller, executive director of the nonprofit group Project N95, the masks… read on > read on >
Economic status appears linked to increased risk of being born with a cleft palate or lip, new research suggests, building on past evidence that it can also result in delayed care and poorer outcomes. Cleft palate and cleft lip are the terms that describe openings or splits in the roof of the mouth and lip,… read on > read on >
THURSDAY, Dec. 30, 2021 (HealthDay News) – A leading medical group has updated a guideline for treating pain and numbness caused by diabetes. The problems, which affect the hands and feet, are the result of nerve damage, also known as diabetic neuropathy. The new guideline from the American Academy of Neurology (AAN) aims to help… read on > read on >
Researchers have confirmed that some white-tailed deer in Texas have COVID-19. The scientific community has been alarmed by the prospect of deer becoming new hosts for COVID since July, when the U.S. Department of Agriculture found antibodies in white-tailed deer in Illinois, Michigan, New York and Pennsylvania. The new study suggests that deer should not… read on > read on >
Researchers are still trying to figure out what will happen with both the Delta and Omicron variants of COVID-19 spreading simultaneously. Now new lab-based data is suggesting that the newer variant, Omicron, might bring one silver lining: It could help folks who contract it defend against the prior variant, Delta. Scientists in South Africa found… read on > read on >
Red-meat lovers may raise their risk of heart disease through a chain of events that plays out in the gut, a new study suggests. Many studies over the years have tied diets heavy in red and processed meats to a heightened risk of heart disease and stroke. That type of evidence does not, however, prove… read on > read on >
COVID-19 patients are at risk for serious long-term kidney damage, according to the results of a new investigation. The damage appears to come from the virus’ ability to directly infect the kidneys. And in some cases, the scarring and damage may last well beyond the COVID infection itself, German, Dutch and American researchers said. The… read on > read on >
Some smokers who take up vaping may give up tobacco cigarettes altogether — without ever intending to, a new study suggests. The researchers see this as a hopeful sign that daily use of e-cigarettes can play a role in helping people quit smoking. “Our study focused on smokers who were not planning to ever quit… read on > read on >
