The notion that depression is caused by a chemical imbalance in the brain has become widespread among the general public. But there’s actually no hard evidence that the brain chemical serotonin – the main suspect in this theory – is linked in any way to depression, a new review finds. Studies involving more than 100,000… read on > read on >
With 19,000 cases now reported in 75 countries, the World Health Organization declared the monkeypox outbreak a global “public health emergency,” its highest level of health alert. The day after that announcement, New York City’s Bronx High School of Science opened its doors to temporarily serve as one of a handful of large-scale monkeypox vaccination… read on > read on >
Lots of older folks are turning to alternative medicine to help them with the pains of aging – but they don’t necessarily think that’s any of their doctor’s business. About 40% of older adults use at least one alternative medicine practice to help with body aches or mental strains, be it chiropractic care, massage therapy,… read on > read on >
They are called “forever chemicals” because they linger in the human body and can contribute to the risk of everything from cancer to childhood obesity. Now, new research on per- and polyfluoroalkyl substances (PFAS) finds they also exact a huge financial toll, costing the U.S. health system billions every year. “Our findings add to the… read on > read on >
Your fitness tracker, pedometer or smartwatch may motivate you to exercise more and lose weight, Australian researchers say. In a large research review, the investigators found that tracking your activity might inspire you to walk up to 40 minutes more a day (about 1,800 more steps). And those extra steps could translate to the loss… read on > read on >
As monkeypox continues to spread, with nearly 3,500 cases now reported in the United States, the Biden administration is weighing whether to declare the outbreak a public health emergency. The administration may also name a White House coordinator to supervise the response, all in an effort to keep the virus from becoming endemic in the… read on > read on >
Black patients should start screening early for glaucoma, because they have a high risk of vision loss caused by elevated pressure levels inside the eye, researchers say. A team from New York Eye and Ear Infirmary of Mount Sinai found that African heritage was an independent risk factor for primary open angle glaucoma, the most… read on > read on >
Seeing their doctors via telehealth instead of in person during the COVID-19 pandemic appears to have been as good, and sometimes even better, for pregnant women and new moms. Researchers from Oregon Health & Science University reviewed 28 randomized clinical trials and 14 observational studies that included more than 44,000 women. The goal was to… read on > read on >
People who have weight loss surgery often see improvements in type 2 diabetes and other diseases, but these surgeries and the lifestyle changes they require can also have spillover effects on other aspects of life, including relationships. Compared to the general U.S. population, folks who have weight loss surgery are more than twice as likely… read on > read on >
