Some furniture fabrics are coated with questionable PFAS compounds — often called ‘forever chemicals’ — to repel stains, but a new study suggests they may not even do the job they’re supposed to. The chemicals, widely believed to have a negative impact on human health, don’t seem to keep furniture any more or less stain-resistant… read on > read on >
All Lifestyle:
Lithium in Water Supply Linked to Uptick in Autism Risk
There’s no single known cause for autism, but researchers now point the finger at higher lithium levels in drinking water. Their new study found that pregnant women in Denmark whose household tap water had higher levels of lithium were more likely to have kids with autism, compared to pregnant women living in areas where tap… read on > read on >
Half of U.S. Drivers Say They Often Use Cellphones Behind the Wheel
Texting and driving can be deadly. Holding your phone in your hand to talk and surfing the internet while behind the wheel is dangerous, too. This is widely known, but a new survey finds that about half of all respondents still use an electronic device most or every time they drive. “I’d say it’s not… read on > read on >
Pope Francis Discharged From Hospital, Leads Palm Sunday Service
(HealthDay News) – Pope Francis was back delivering Mass on Palm Sunday, just one day after he was released from the hospital following a three-day stay for bronchitis. Francis, 86, celebrated in St. Peter’s Square in Rome as about 60,000 people looked on, carrying palm fronds or olive tree branches, CBS News reported. The evidence… read on > read on >
Low Vaccination Rates Put U.S. at High Risk of New Mpox Outbreaks
U.S. public health officials want high-risk individuals who haven’t been vaccinated for mpox — previously called monkeypox — to do so before a potential resurgence of the virus in the coming months. That surge could be worse than last year, federal modeling has found, but only about 23% of those at high risk for the… read on > read on >
Suspicious Mammogram? Out-of-Pocket Costs Keep Some Women From Follow-Up
Breast cancer screening may be free for women with health insurance, but high costs may still keep some from getting needed follow-up tests, a new study finds. The study, of more than 230,000 U.S. women who underwent screening mammography, found that those in insurance plans with higher out-of-pocket costs were less likely to get follow-up… read on > read on >
Talking to Your Kids About School Shootings: Experts Offer Guidance
Children should feel safe at school, but learning of a mass shooting — like this week’s tragedy at Covenant School in Nashville — can threaten their sense of security. For parents, it can be challenging to know what to tell them. Two children’s mental health experts from UT Southwestern Medical Center in Dallas offer some… read on > read on >
FDA Approves Drug for Cats With Allergic Skin Disease
Cats constantly licking and chewing because of a skin condition called feline allergic dermatitis may benefit from a new generic treatment approved by the U.S. Food and Drug Administration. The FDA approved Modulis for Cats on March 29, making it the first generic cyclosporine oral solution for cats with skin conditions resulting from this allergic… read on > read on >
Telehealth for Opioid Use Disorder Helped Curb Fatal ODs During Pandemic
Telehealth appointments — meetings with a doctor through a phone or video call — are valuable tools in the fight against opioid use disorder in the United States, researchers say. The use of telehealth during the COVID-19 pandemic, along with medications for addiction, reduced the risk for fatal overdose among Medicare recipients, a new study… read on > read on >
Remodeling Your Home for Wheelchair Access
Millions of Americans get around with the help of wheelchairs, from those born with disabilities to those who have been struck with disabilities later in life. Home is a sanctuary for many — a place where comfort, safety and ease are especially important — so remodeling a house for wheelchair access makes sense. Like with… read on > read on >