Traits particular to certain dog breeds — the distinctive spots of a dalmatian or the stubby legs of a dachshund — are often achieved through inbreeding. But most breeds are now highly inbred, increasing a dog’s risk of health problems, a new study confirms. “It’s amazing how inbreeding seems to matter to health,” study leader… read on > read on >
In a sign that the expansion of Medicaid has really worked, new research finds that death rates have declined in states that expanded the public health insurance program. Medicaid expansion began in 2014 as part of the Affordable Care Act (also known as “Obamacare”) and has provided health coverage for an additional 12 million Americans.… read on > read on >
Genetic testing can help guide management and treatment of unexplained epilepsy in children, new research suggests. “A genetic diagnosis impacted medical management for nearly three out of four children in our study,” said study author Dr. Isabel Haviland. She’s a postdoctoral research fellow in neurology/neurobiology at Boston Children’s Hospital and Harvard Medical School. In the… read on > read on >
Nearly 235,000 pounds of fully cooked ham and pepperoni products were recalled by Michigan-based Alexander & Hornung on Sunday due to possible listeria contamination. There are no confirmed reports of illness associated with the products that were sold across the United States, according to the U.S. Department of Agriculture’s Food Safety and Inspection Service (FSIS).… read on > read on >
MONDAY, Dec. 6, 2021 Yet another pandemic-related health woe has come to the fore: rising blood pressure. Data covering almost half a million middle-aged Americans shows that about 27% saw their blood pressure go up significantly in 2020 after COVID-19 restrictions unfolded compared to the prior year. Women appeared to be particularly vulnerable. Still, “the… read on > read on >
Starting college can be a time of fun, new experiences and growth. Yet it can also be a rough transition for many students who struggle with mental health issues. A new study from researchers in the United Kingdom and Canada found about one-third of first-year students have or develop moderate to severe anxiety or depression.… read on > read on >
Viagra, a drug long used to treat erectile dysfunction, may double as a potential weapon against Alzheimer’s disease, a new study suggests. Looking at data on more than 7 million Americans, researchers found that those taking the drug were 69% less likely to develop Alzheimer’s, when compared to non-users. Then, in lab experiments, the investigators… read on > read on >
MONDAY, Dec. 6, 2021 (American Heart Association News) — When belongings pile up on the curb from an eviction in Maryland’s western Anne Arundel County, Abraham Shanklin Jr. sees more than a housing crisis. When people with low incomes can’t find a reliable way to get to work, he sees beyond transportation problems. Since 1994,… read on > read on >
Tony Head was depressed and fearing death from stage 4 prostate cancer when, as part of a supervised scientific trial, he took a large dose of the psychedelic agent in “magic mushrooms,” psilocybin. Head donned a mask and headphones to shut out the world around him, and had an experience that changed the course of… read on > read on >
The Omicron variant appears to spread at twice the rate as the Delta variant does, due mostly to a combination of contagiousness and an ability to dodge the body’s immune defenses, scientists report. The degree to which each factor contributes to the spread of Omicron is still unclear, according to the findings of an analysis… read on > read on >
