A self-administered test can help empower women in identifying risks for cervical cancer. A new study published Dec. 12 in the journal PLOS Medicine shows the self-test for human papillomavirus (HPV) infection accurately identified women who either had cervical cancer or precancerous cells in their cervix. “About 40% of women in our high-risk group had… read on > read on >
All Lifestyle:
Colon Cancer Rates Are Up Among the Young Worldwide
More young people around the world are falling prey to colon cancer, a new study shows. Colon cancer rates in young adults have risen in 27 out of 50 countries around the world, including the United States, researchers found. These rates among young adults are rising even as they’ve remained the same in middle-aged folks… read on > read on >
Friendships Are Especially Powerful Late in Life, Poll Says
Close friendships are incredibly important to the mental health of middle-aged folks and seniors, a new study finds. Older adults with worse mental or physical health were twice as likely to say they don’t have any close friends, according to results from the University of Michigan National Poll on Healthy Aging. “With growing understanding of… read on > read on >
Prenatal Exposure to Air Pollution May Hurt Baby’s Brain
Air pollution could be harming the brain development of children before they are even born, a new study warns. A 10 parts-per-billion increase in ozone exposure during the second trimester of pregnancy was associated with a 55% increased risk of intellectual disability among children compared to their siblings, researchers found. “Ozone exposure during pregnancy is… read on > read on >
Air Pollution Could Be Raising Your Odds for a Blood Clot
Breathing in smoggy air over time can significantly raise a person’s chances for dangerous blood clots, new research shows. “What’s striking from our study is the increase in serious blood clotting disease with exposure to some of the most common types of pollutants in the air we breathe,” said study lead author Pamela Lutsey. “It’s… read on > read on >
Who’s Most Likely to Get the Mpox Shot in U.S.?
When an outbreak of mpox first hit the United States in 2022, a vaccine called Jynneos was available to help protect the most vulnerable population, gay and bisexual men. Now, there’s new data showing which individuals in the LGBTQ+ community were most likely to get vaccinated against the virus. According to the U.S. Centers for Disease… read on > read on >
Study Warns That Cats Might Be Bird Flu Carriers
Picture this: a beloved cat, playful and healthy one day, falls mysteriously ill the next. Soon after, the shocking culprit is revealed — bird flu, a virus that most people associate with poultry and wild birds. Now, scientists are warning that domestic cats could potentially prompt a public health crisis. According to a new study… read on > read on >
Only a Third of U.S. Kids Have Gotten Flu Shots
Despite a record number of American children dying from the flu last year, the percentage of kids getting their flu shots keeps falling. In new data posted this week by the U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, only 37% of kids had received the vaccine as of Nov. 30 — down from 43% at… read on > read on >
Are You a ‘Late Gift-Giver’? Study Finds Folks Mostly Don’t Mind
It can feel like a shameful moment, bracing yourself to hand over a Christmas or birthday gift that’s days or months overdue for one reason or another. But slackers take heart — a new study has found that your friend or loved one likely won’t be as upset about getting that late gift as you… read on > read on >
Women With Cancer Can Safely Use Rogaine to Curb Hair Loss
Women worried about losing their locks during chemotherapy can safely take hair-loss drugs during breast cancer care, a new study says. Minoxidil – the active ingredient in the over-the-counter Rogaine — is commonly prescribed for hair loss, but is also used to dilate blood vessels as a treatment for high blood pressure. Because of this… read on > read on >