Fewer U.S. adults are smoking cigarettes, as rates dropped again last year, according to federal health officials. In all, 1 in 9 American adults smoked cigarettes last year, an all-time low, and a significant change from the 1960s when 42% smoked. The results weren’t all positive, the Associated Press reported, as vaping rose to about…  read on >  read on >

Menopause symptoms are costly business, with billions spent on treating hot flashes, night sweats and lost sleep, a new study finds. The research, published Wednesday in the journal Mayo Clinic Proceedings, found that women living with these symptoms needed to see their doctor more often and missed more work. “A full 13% of the women…  read on >  read on >

Walking your dog gets you moving and out in the fresh air, but head injuries and fractures are very real possibilities, especially for older dog owners, researchers say. The most common injury from walking a leashed dog that sends folks to the ER is fractured fingers, a new study from Johns Hopkins University found. But…  read on >  read on >

Those TV ads for juicy burgers may trigger your emotions, making you believe you’ll be happier if you run out and get one for yourself. Unfortunately, a similar ad for salad does not appear to have the same emotional impact, according to new research from the University of Michigan. “Many people think that eating highly…  read on >  read on >

Dealing with discrimination at work — from bosses or coworkers — may be enough to send your blood pressure through the roof, a new study suggests. Researchers found that among more than 1,200 U.S. workers, those who felt they often faced on-the-job discrimination were 54% more likely to develop high blood pressure, versus workers with…  read on >  read on >

Women have heard for decades that cranberry products help prevent urinary tract infections. A new study appears to confirm that longstanding advice. About 60% of women over age 18 will suffer one or more urinary tract infections in their lifetime. About 30% will have recurrent UTIs, averaging two to three episodes a year, according to…  read on >  read on >

You had a rough day at work and got stuck in traffic on the way home, and suddenly your head starts pounding. Stress headaches can be debilitating in the moment, but you don’t have to suffer indefinitely. If you’re struggling with stress, you’re not alone. More than one-quarter of adults in the United States reported…  read on >  read on >

Patients hospitalized with pneumonia typically stay on IV antibiotics until they’re stable, after about three days, but a new study suggests a different option. Researchers report that more patients who have community-acquired pneumonia could switch sooner to oral antibiotics. Antibiotics given as pills were also linked with earlier release from the hospital. They were not…  read on >  read on >

Heard of gonorrhea? Most likely. What about gonococcal arthritis? Maybe not. Most folks are familiar with what is gonorrhea, but few may know about gonococcal arthritis, a rare side effect of this sexually transmitted disease (STD). Unfortunately, gonorrhea cases are on the rise, according to the U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, especially among…  read on >  read on >