Folks who start using weed to cope with anxiety, depression or pain might end up with a worse mental state than before, a new study says. People self-medicating with marijuana had higher levels of paranoia, anxiety and depression, researchers reported recently in the journal BMJ Mental Health. By comparison, those using weed for “fun” or…  read on >  read on >

Florida may soon become the first state in the U.S. to eliminate all vaccine mandates, a major shift in health policy that may increase risk of disease outbreaks. The plan was announced this week by State Surgeon General Dr. Joseph Ladapo, who described current vaccine rules as “immoral.” “People have a right to make their…  read on >  read on >

Community hospitals don’t often transfer severely injured patients to higher-level trauma centers that could provide the care they need, a new study says. Fewer than half of severely injured people are transferred from a low-level trauma center to larger or more advanced hospitals, researchers reported in the Journal of the American College of Surgeons. The…  read on >  read on >

A single dose of RSV vaccine might protect seniors for two cold and flu seasons in a row, a new study says. Vaccination reduced seniors’ risk of hospitalization by 58% during two RSV seasons, researchers reported Aug. 30 in the Journal of the American Medical Association. “These results clearly demonstrate that the RSV vaccines prevent…  read on >  read on >

As people enjoy the waning days of summer outdoors, a Virginia Tech veterinary expert reminds pet owners about a potentially deadly hazard: Toxic blue-green algae. “Toxic cyanobacteria, commonly known as blue-green algae, can be fatal to pets within minutes of exposure,” said Dr. Alexandra Reddy, a veterinarian at the Virginia-Maryland College of Veterinary Medicine in…  read on >  read on >

The shingles vaccine not only protects against the painful skin infection, but also might provide heart health benefits, a new study says. Shingles vaccination also appears to lower a person’s risk of heart attack and stroke, according to an evidence review presented Thursday at the European Society of Cardiology’s annual meeting in Madrid. “We looked…  read on >  read on >

Shifting to a plant-based diet can help keep people from being plagued by multiple health problems as they age, a new study says. People whose diets included more veggies, fruits, whole grains, legumes and plant-based foods had 32% lower odds of developing two or more chronic illnesses, researchers report in The Lancet Healthy Longevity. Specifically,…  read on >  read on >