Patients suspected of having amyotrophic lateral sclerosis (ALS) may soon be able to get a diagnosis much more quickly, not wasting the precious time many have left, new research suggests. In 2020, a blood test for ALS based on microRNA (short segments of genetic material) was developed by scientists from the company Brain Chemistry Labs,… read on > read on >
Children should get their flu shot as soon as it is available, preferably by the end of October, a leading medical group recommends. Flu vaccination lagged last year, with 55% of children getting their vaccines, the American Academy of Pediatrics (AAP) noted. Coverage levels were 8 percentage points lower for Black children compared with white… read on > read on >
A new report reveals a hidden secret about the nation’s beautiful rural roads: They’re too often fatal for motorists. Nearly half of all U.S. crashes happen on rural roads, despite only 19% of Americans living in those areas. The report, conducted by the Governors Highway Safety Association (GHSA), details why and what can be done… read on > read on >
If you’re planning to have oral surgery, be prepared, not scared, an expert suggests — and stay off YouTube. “I tell all of my patients, ‘The more you know, the better it’s going to be.’ As health professionals, we’re not trying to scare patients with information; it’s just that when you’re prepared for something, when… read on > read on >
Telehealth flourished during the pandemic, and now a new study shows it saved lives: The practice meant more people struggling with opioid addiction stayed in treatment longer and thereby lowered their risk of dying from an overdose. For the study, researchers analyzed data among nearly 176,000 Medicare beneficiaries from September 2018 to February 2021. The… read on > read on >
Up to 9% of American teens say they’ve engaged in what’s known as “digital self-harm” — anonymously posting negative comments about themselves on social media. As is the case with acts of physical self-harm such as cutting, this “virtual” self-harm is associated with a higher risk for thinking about or attempting suicide, according to a… read on > read on >
Many teenagers have a hard time discerning between accurate health messages and “fake news,” a new study finds. Presented with a choice between fake and true health messages, about two in five teenagers considered both messages equally trustworthy, researchers found. Further, about one in 10 actually considered the fake message more trustworthy than the accurate… read on > read on >
Breathing in fumes from diesel exhaust may be more damaging to women than to men, a new, small Canadian study claims. “We already know that there are sex differences in lung diseases such as asthma and respiratory infections,” said lead researcher Hemshekhar Mahadevappa, from the University of Manitoba in Winnipeg. “Our previous research showed that… read on > read on >
Hours after a vaccine advisory panel to the U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention signaled its support for updated COVID boosters targeting Omicron variants, agency director Dr. Rochelle Walensky issued her endorsement as well. Walensky’s sign-off paves the way for the shots from Pfizer and Moderna to get into American arms within days. “The… read on > read on >
When the wildly popular TV show “This Is Us” wrapped up its final season this year, it did so with a storyline that showed one of the lead characters dealing with Alzheimer’s disease as her adult children disagreed over the type of care she should receive. Now, a new online survey of more than 700… read on > read on >
