Your children’s school clothes may look neat, but are they safe to wear? Maybe not. Researchers found high levels of dangerous chemicals called per- and polyfluoroalkyl substances (PFAS) in school uniforms sold across North America. These chemicals — which can build up in people and the environment over time — can be harmful to health.… read on > read on >
An unprecedented water crisis continues to take a heavy toll on the mental health of adults in Flint, Michigan, a large survey shows. Five years after the crisis, an estimated one in five — about 13,600 people — remained clinically depressed, the survey found. And about one in four — 15,000 people — had post-traumatic… read on > read on >
Could air pollution land children with autism in the hospital? A new study found that short-term exposure to air pollution is linked to a higher risk for hospitalization among kids with the developmental disorder. People with autism spectrum disorder (ASD) are often admitted due to such symptoms as hyperactivity, aggression and self-injury. While neuro-inflammation and… read on > read on >
In what amounts to a public acknowledgement that anxiety disorders have run rampant during the pandemic, an influential expert panel is recommending for the first time that all American adults under the age of 65 be screened for the condition. “COVID has taken a tremendous toll on the mental health of Americans,” panel member Lori… read on > read on >
Contact lenses can be indispensable for those with poor vision, but if they aren’t properly cleaned and stored you run the risk of serious eye infections, experts say. Up to one out of every 500 contact lens wearers get such infections every year, which can sometimes lead to permanent blindness. Even minor infections caused by… read on > read on >
Weeks after a stay in the hospital, your bill arrives and you can barely believe the amount due. How is this even possible if you have good health insurance and, more importantly, how will you pay it? Unfortunately, you’re not alone. More than one in 10 American adults and nearly one in five U.S. households… read on > read on >
As Americans age, millions end up struggling with dementia or some level of memory impairment and diminished capacity to think clearly and make decisions. Yet a new study says that despite such serious challenges, many seniors continue to manage their own finances, often alone, and despite acknowledging difficulties in doing so. “There has long been… read on > read on >
Misusing over-the-counter medications can have dangerous consequences, but recent social media trends encouraging this could be downright deadly for gullible teens, the U.S. Food and Drug Administration warned Thursday. One concerning trend has been a challenge that encouraged people to cook chicken in NyQuil or other over-the-counter cough and cold medicines. It’s not appetizing, of… read on > read on >
While dental and medical care are thought to be related, researchers wondered what impact oral care might have on a serious heart condition. A University of Michigan team studied more than 2,000 patients who had a heart attack in 2017. The patients had either received periodontal care, dental cleanings or no oral care between 2016… read on > read on >
U.S. health officials are advising doctors not to overuse the only antiviral for monkeypox because there is a risk of the virus mutating and rendering the drug useless. TPOXX (tecovirimat) works by targeting just one protein found on monkeypox, as well as smallpox and similar viruses. Its use for monkeypox is still considered experimental, according… read on > read on >
