Post-Dobbs bans and restrictions on abortion are having a spillover effect in reducing the use of birth control and emergency contraception in those states most affected, a new study shows. Why the troubling trend? The study’s author believes the demise of Roe v. Wade in 2022 triggered the closure of many family planning clinics. “Because… read on > read on >
All Health and Wellness:
Study Finds Multivitamins Won’t Help You Live Longer
A full third of American adults take multivitamins, despite prior studies suggesting they do little to boost health. Now, a study involving almost 400,000 people finds zero benefit from multivitamin use in helping folks live longer. Among people “without a history of major chronic diseases, we did not find evidence to support improved longevity among… read on > read on >
Drug-Resistant Fungi Found in Commercial Flower Bulbs, Compost, Soil
A tough-to-treat, drug-resistant fungal infection may be as close as your local garden center, new research shows. Investigators at the University of Georgia (UGA) in Athens found high levels of multidrug-resistant fungi in compost, soil and flower bulbs sold at popular retailers. “Gardening is a nice, stress-relieving hobby. But I’m nervous for people who may… read on > read on >
Exposure to Plastics Chemical BPA May Raise Diabetes Risk
A common plastics chemical might increase a person’s risk of diabetes, a new study warns. People fed small doses of Bisphonol A (BPA) developed significantly worse insulin sensitivity within a four-day period, researchers found. “We were surprised to see that reducing BPA exposure, such as using stainless steel or glass bottles and BPA-free cans, may… read on > read on >
Anxiety Tied to Doubling of Parkinson’s Risk
Anxiety could be an early warning sign of Parkinson’s disease, a new study finds. People with anxiety have at least double the risk of developing Parkinson’s compared to those without the mood disorder, results show. Further, specific Parkinson’s symptoms serve as warning signs of the disorder in people with anxiety, researchers found. “By understanding that… read on > read on >
Cortisol Might Play Role in Tough-to-Treat Diabetes
The stress hormone cortisol appears to play a role in tough-to-treat type 2 diabetes, a new study finds. About 1 in 4 people (24%) with tough-to-treat type 2 diabetes have elevated cortisol levels, researchers found. “These results are significant as they highlight a previously underrecognized factor contributing to the barriers when it comes to managing… read on > read on >
New Insights Into How Microbiome Helps Cause Type 2 Diabetes
A person’s gut microbiome appears to increase their risk of developing type 2 diabetes, researchers claim. Specific strains of gut microbes are more commonly found in people with type 2 diabetes, and these strains seem to heighten the risk of developing the metabolic disorder, they say. “We believe that changes in the gut microbiome cause… read on > read on >
Slow-Release Ketamine Pill Eases Depression: Study
A new slow-release pill form of ketamine can quell hard-to-treat depression without producing psychedelic side effects normally associated with the drug, early research suggests. Patients on the strongest dose of ketamine tablets saw significant improvement in their depression compared to a placebo, researchers found. On a 30-point depression scale, people taking the ketamine pill improved… read on > read on >
U.S. Surgeon General Declares Gun Violence a Public Health Emergency
Gun violence in the United States has become a national public health crisis, the U.S. Surgeon General declared Tuesday. “Today, for the first time in the history of our office, I am issuing a Surgeon General’s Advisory on firearm violence. It outlines the urgent threat firearm violence poses to the health and well-being of our… read on > read on >
Despite Falling Out of Favor With Doctors, Daily Aspirin Still Popular
For decades, millions of Americans popped a low-dose aspirin each day to lower their heart risks. Then, accumulated data prompted the nation’s two leading cardiology groups — the American College of Cardiology and the American Heart Association — to overturn advisories in 2019 and recommend against daily aspirin, citing a risk for bleeding that exceeded… read on > read on >