The gender of your doctor may play a part in your prognosis: New research shows that hospitalized patients are less likely to die if they’re treated by a female physician. About 10.15% of men and 8.2% of women died while under the care of a female doctor, versus 10.23% and 8.4% when treated by a… read on > read on >
All Health and Wellness:
CDC Launches Online ‘Heat Forecaster’ Tool as Another Summer Looms
Last summer was a record-breaker for heat emergencies, so the U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention on Monday launched a new online heat forecaster to help folks better prepare as summer nears. The HeatRisk Forecast Tool is a joint effort between the CDC and the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration’s National Weather Service to… read on > read on >
Neosporin Ointment in the Nose Might Be Potent Antibiotic
Want to prevent a respiratory infection? A fingerful of Neosporin antibiotic swabbed inside your nose might help you fight off a range of invading respiratory viruses, a new study claims. Lab animals whose noses were treated using neomycin — the main ingredient in over-the-counter Neosporin ointment — mounted a robust immune defense against both the… read on > read on >
Physical Ills Often Plague People With Schizophrenia, Bipolar
Severe mental illness can contribute to a decline in a person’s physical health, with many chronic conditions slowly eroding their wellness, a new review finds. People with schizophrenia or bipolar disorder are more than twice as likely to have multiple chronic health problems such as heart disease or diabetes, researchers reported recently in The Lancet… read on > read on >
Taking Psilocybin for Depression? Relationship With Therapist Is Key
Many people dogged by depression are turning to the psilocybin found in “magic mushrooms” to ease the condition, and often reporting success. Now, new research suggests much of the credit for that success lies in the relationship between the patient and his or her therapist. It’s the magic of what researchers at Ohio State University… read on > read on >
Stick to Heimlich Maneuver Not ‘Anti-Choking’ Devices, FDA Says
People should rely on the well-established Heimlich maneuver to save a choking victim, rather than newfangled “anti-choking” devices, the U.S. Food and Drug Administration says. “The safety and effectiveness of over-the-counter anti-choking devices have not been established; they are not FDA approved or cleared,” the agency said in a safety communication issued Monday. The FDA… read on > read on >
Repeat Blasts Can Damage Soldiers’ Brains, Study Confirms
Soldiers can suffer brain injury if they are repeatedly exposed to explosive blasts, a new study shows. Further, the more frequently a soldier is exposed to explosions, the greater their risk for brain injury, researchers reported April 22 in the Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences. Based on this, researchers intend to develop a… read on > read on >
A-Fib More Common in Middle-Aged Folk Than Thought
The dangerous heart rhythm disorder called atrial fibrillation is becoming more common in middle-aged people, a new study warns. More than a quarter of patients at the University of Pittsburgh Medical Center (UPMC) seeking care for A-Fib during the last decade were younger than 65, researchers found. That’s much higher than the 2% prevalence of… read on > read on >
Parents, Coaches: Help Young Athletes Avoid Summer Heat Hazards
Another broiling summer looms, along with another season of kids’ summer sports. It’s a potentially harmful, even lethal combination. But experts at Nationwide Children’s Hospital (NCH) have advice for kids, parents and coaches on how to keep young athletes safe when thermometers rise. Each year, an estimated 240 people die from heat-linked illnesses, and heat… read on > read on >
Stigma, Shame Hit Many Gay Men Affected by Mpox Outbreak
A British study finds that beyond the physical pain and turmoil of an mpox diagnosis, many of the mostly gay and bisexual men infected during the 2022 outbreak faced stigma, homophobia and shame. Mpox is spread largely through skin-to-skin contact, and the outbreak in Europe and the United States was largely localized to men who… read on > read on >