Alligators along North Carolina’s Cape Fear River have high blood levels of 14 toxic chemicals, along with signs of immune system damage, new research shows. The study of levels of per- and polyfluoroalkyls (PFAS) in the reptiles’ blood adds to concerns that the chemicals may cause genetic and immune system harm. Alligators are a sentinel… read on > read on >
A person doesn’t have to pack on very many extra pounds before their risk of needing a knee replacement increases substantially, a new evidence review has found. Weight gain of just 11 pounds increases a woman’s odds of needing total knee replacement surgery by one-third, and a man’s by one-quarter, researchers reported Tuesday at the… read on > read on >
The key to narrowing the gap in how long a person lives if they’re poor vs. if they’re wealthy could be as simple as adding green space to certain neighborhoods. Every 10% increase in natural space and private gardens was linked to a 7% drop in early deaths in people younger than 65, according to… read on > read on >
Substantial numbers of kids and teens are being tracked, lured and sexually abused online, and adult strangers aren’t always the perps. In many cases, it’s friends and dating partners who are doing the grooming, a new study shows. The prevailing image of online sexual abuse is an older predator who seeks out kids online, but… read on > read on >
It’s a troubling equation: Many Americans with the highest rates of hospitalization for influenza have the lowest uptake of the annual flu vaccine. That’s why the U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention is stepping up outreach to minority communities, including Black, Hispanic and American Indian/Alaska Native (AI/AN) groups, and working to reduce barriers to… read on > read on >
More than 1 million Americans with diabetes have to ration lifesaving insulin because they can’t afford it, a new study shows. Many people delayed picking up their insulin prescription, while others took lower doses than they needed, researchers found. Experts said the findings are hardly surprising: Insulin prices have skyrocketed over the past 20 years,… read on > read on >
The Atlantic seaboard could be in for faster-forming and wetter hurricanes, new research warns. Climate change is the overarching cause, experts say. As parts of the United States, Canada and Puerto Rico recover from powerful hurricanes Ian and Fiona, scientists are trying to better understand the conditions that cause storms to intensify rapidly. “Our findings… read on > read on >
Eyes may be your window to good health. Patient Barbara Krupar, a 65-year-old Ohio retiree, learned this firsthand. Krupar made an appointment with her ophthalmologist after experiencing disturbing vision changes. Dr. Nicole Bajic detected possible early warning signs of a stroke. She advised Krupar to go to the emergency room immediately to have her head… read on > read on >
Even before the U.S. Supreme Court overturned Roe v. Wade last summer, many states had already moved to limit abortion access by defunding family planning health centers. Unfortunately, these very same clinics offer a broad range of essential primary care services beyond abortion, including access to sexually transmitted infection (STI) screening and treatment. Now, a… read on > read on >
When teens and young adults go to the emergency room or are hospitalized for critical mental health issues a staggering number are not receiving quick follow-up care, new U.S. research finds. Researchers at the University of Massachusetts looked at more than 100,000 ER visits of young people ages 12 to 27 who have private insurance.… read on > read on >
