A rare strain of the parasite Toxoplasma has killed four sea otters along the California coast, raising concerns about a potential public health risk. “The appearance of this lethal type of Toxoplasma in coastal California is concerning for two main reasons: First, because of potential population health impacts on a threatened species, and second, because… read on > read on >
If you’ve been suffering from caregiver stress, you’ve got plenty of company. It affects about 36% of the 53 million unpaid family caregivers in the United States, according to a recent report by the AARP and the National Alliance for Caregiving — and it can ultimately lead to caregiver burnout. To give you some tools… read on > read on >
It’s a controversial notion, but couples undergoing fertility treatments may soon be able to select the sex of their baby — with an 80% chance of success, doctors say. Sperm-sorting techniques have been tried and offered before, but the new procedure — which separates sperm cells based on weight — appears much more accurate and… read on > read on >
Sometimes a person may not be able to make it to the bathroom on their own, either because they are recovering from surgery or have long-term health issues. It’s likely that many people will need to think about being able to change a loved one’s bedpan at home. Research published recently in the journal Health… read on > read on >
If you feel like the pandemic made you a permanent couch potato, a new study shows you’re not alone: Well after lockdown measures were relaxed, many Americans were still taking fewer steps each day. Researchers found that, on the whole, Americans’ daily step count plummeted at the beginning of the pandemic in 2020 — an… read on > read on >
Anxiety disorders are no small matter, but knowing which symptoms point to trouble may help you navigate your intense fears and worries. First, you are not alone: Anxiety disorders are estimated to plague nearly 40 million people in the United States each year, according to the Anxiety & Depression Association of America. James Maddux, an… read on > read on >
When waiting for medical test results, days can feel like an eternity. In a new survey, patients overwhelmingly say they’d like their results immediately — even if their provider has not yet reviewed them and even if the news is bad. In April 2021, new rules went into effect requiring health care providers in the… read on > read on >
Sometimes an anxiety disorder feels like worry and ruminating about lots of little and big things. Other times it’s focused on a specific phobia, such as a fear of flying or being in social situations. It can also be expressed as intense feelings about separation from loved ones. What’s clear is that someone experiencing anxiety… read on > read on >
Anxiety attacks can seem overwhelming when you’re in the middle of one, but with the right coping tools you can come out the other side. What is an anxiety attack? According to the Detroit Medical Center, an anxiety attack is a stretch of time during which you experience “intense” anxiety symptoms, especially fear. It can… read on > read on >
In more bad news about antibiotic resistance, new research suggests that people and their pets may be able to transmit multidrug-resistant germs to each other. Still, cases of cross-transmission are rare and it’s not clear if pets are giving germs to people or people are giving germs to their pets, the study authors noted. “In… read on > read on >
