The opioid addict you know might not be the college kid who has always dabbled in alcohol and drugs. It could be your grandparent. Opioid misuse doesn’t discriminate by age — and rates are rising steadily among adults aged 55 and up, new research shows. “You can still use recreational drugs at an older age.… read on > read on >
Binge drinking on Super Bowl Sunday or other special occasions could put you at risk for a dangerous heart rhythm disorder called atrial fibrillation (a-fib), even if you’ve never had it, researchers warn in a new study. “Worldwide, alcohol is the most popularly consumed drug, and it now is clear that alcohol consumption is an… read on > read on >
Is your teen staring at their smartphone all day? There’s many things parents can do to protect kids from the potentially negative effects of social media, experts say. While there are positive aspects to social media, there’s evidence it can pose risks to teens’ mental health due to issues such as bullying, body image concerns… read on > read on >
A few hours of exercise a week may help slow Parkinson’s disease, even if it’s just moderate activity such as walking or gardening, a new study suggests. The key is to be consistent, the researchers found. “Although medications can provide people with Parkinson’s some symptom relief, they haven’t been shown to slow the progression of… read on > read on >
A drug used to treat several types of cancer is also an effective treatment for aggressive forms of endometrial cancer, the second most common cancer in women worldwide, a new clinical trial shows. The endometrium is the inner lining of the uterus. “These findings suggest a long-term benefit to patients,” said lead researcher Dr. David… read on > read on >
Wildfires and rising temperatures are exposing more and more Americans to an air pollution double-whammy of smoke and smog, a new study warns. Researchers found that over the past 20 years, a growing number of people in western states have been simultaneously exposed to high levels of two kinds of air pollution: Fine-particle pollution generated… read on > read on >
In a sign that the highly contagious Omicron variant is sparing no one, a new report shows that new COVID-19 cases among U.S. children spiked to a high of more than 580,000 for the week ending Jan. 6, a 78% increase from the week before. “Since many children remain unvaccinated — or are too young… read on > read on >
A new report offers hope on the lung cancer front: Patients are being diagnosed at an earlier stage in their disease and living longer due to better access to care, higher screening rates and improved treatments. And that is driving overall cancer rates down, researchers discovered. Still, lung cancer remains the leading cause of cancer… read on > read on >
People on bone-protecting drugs often take breaks from them for a few years. Now a new study finds that a “holiday” from the medication risedronate (Actonel) may come with a slightly increased risk of hip fracture. Researchers found that compared with a drug holiday from alendronate (Fosamax), taking a few years off from risedronate came… read on > read on >
The chance of someone who is covered by Medicaid surviving cancer may depend in part on where they live, a new analysis finds. In states that had lower Medicaid income eligibility limits, cancer survival rates were worse for cancers both in early and late stages compared to states with higher Medicaid income eligibility limits, American… read on > read on >
