A short but intensive approach to “talk therapy” can help many combat veterans overcome post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD), a new clinical trial has found. The study tested “compressed” formats of a standard PTSD treatment called prolonged exposure therapy, in which patients learn to gradually face the trauma-related memories they normally avoid. Traditionally, that has meant… read on > read on >
Generous parental leave policies at work can do wonders for a new mom’s mental health. This is among the key messages from a new review of 45 studies examining how parental leave policies affect mom and dad’s mental health and well-being. Mothers working for companies with generous parental leave policies were less likely to experience… read on > read on >
A new study on pigs shows promise for repairing penile injuries in humans. Scientists in China developed a synthetic tissue that reportedly repairs injuries and restores normal erectile function in pigs. This artificial tunica albuginea (ATA) mimics a fibrous sheath of tissue that is necessary to maintain erections. “We noticed that this is an area… read on > read on >
Herbal cigarettes: They carry a certain “coolness factor” and sound like they might be a healthier alternative to tobacco, but are they really safer to smoke? Not really, experts say. “Even herbal cigarettes with no tobacco give off tar, particulates and carbon monoxide, and are dangerous to your health,” according to the American Cancer Society… read on > read on >
College students who routinely cram at the last minute may not only see their grades suffer, but their health, too, a new study suggests. Researchers found that of more than 3,500 college students they followed, those who scored high on a procrastination scale were more likely to report certain health issues nine months later. The… read on > read on >
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 >
A Pennsylvania man who persuaded desperate pet owners that he could help cure their dogs’ cancer was convicted by a federal jury of wire fraud and interstate shipment of misbranded animal drugs. Jonathan Nyce, 73, of Collegeville, Pa., was charged in February 2020 in a years-long scheme to defraud pet owners by falsely claiming to… 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 >
