Sometimes it really does “take a village” to help you meet life’s challenges, and quitting smoking can be one of the toughest challenges out there. That’s why specially designed smoking-cessation programs can make all the difference, experts say. Many programs employ a combination approach, one that treats the physical and the psychological addictions you’re trying…  read on >  read on >

Ransomware attacks on America’s health care systems have more than doubled in recent years, disrupting needed medical care and exposing the personal information of millions, a new study reports. These attacks — in which computer systems are locked down by hackers until the victim agrees to pay a ransom — hit all levels of health…  read on >  read on >

Social media’s impact on young people is a hot topic, with most kids and teens wanting to do whatever their friends are doing and parents worrying about setting limits. A new study examines whether frequent checking of social media sites (Facebook, Instagram and Snapchat) is associated with changes in functional brain development in these early…  read on >  read on >

It’s safe for kids to take the COVID-19 vaccine after they’ve suffered a rare complication from a prior COVID infection, a U.S. National Institutes of Health-supported study has concluded. Multisystem inflammatory syndrome in children (MIS-C) affects about 1 in every 3,000 to 4,000 kids who contract COVID-19, according to the U.S. Centers for Disease Control…  read on >  read on >

Giving up cigarettes can be excruciating, with cravings and withdrawal symptoms lingering for weeks, especially if you aren’t strongly motivated. Yet, just minutes after that first smoke-free breath, your body starts to change for the better. And with all the healthy breaths you take in the weeks and months that follow, the benefits only multiply.…  read on >  read on >

TUESDAY, Jan. 3, 2023 Older women with urinary tract infections (UTIs) often experience delirium along with them, and researchers may have found a solution. Estrogen, often given as part of hormone replacement therapy after menopause, may prevent these mental changes, according to researchers from Cedars-Sinai Medical Center in Los Angeles, who studied the condition in…  read on >  read on >

Cervical cancer is preventable, but people often feel uncomfortable talking about it because of its link to the sexually transmitted human papillomavirus (HPV). Don’t be embarrassed, a cancer expert advises. Not only does your doctor want to help you, but the virus is incredibly common, affecting most American adults, according to Dr. James Aikins Jr.,…  read on >  read on >