WEDNESDAY, Oct. 13, 2021 (HealthDay News) – Committing to a bird is no small decision. And it’s an even bigger commitment if you choose a bird like a parrot or parakeet that’s brainy by nature. Smarter birds have more needs to stay healthy and happy in captivity, according to researchers at the University of Guelph… read on > read on >
All Lifestyle:
Your Free Cancer Screen Shows Trouble: What If You Can’t Afford the Follow-Up?
TUESDAY, Oct. 12, 2021 Just over a decade ago, the passage of the Affordable Care Act (ACA, or Obamacare) made many common cancer screenings free. But a pair of new studies caution that when those free tests turn up signs of trouble, important follow-up tests may be too pricey for some patients. The bigger concern:… read on > read on >
Climate Change is World’s Most Pressing Health Problem: WHO
Climate change is the “single biggest health threat facing humanity,” and governments must “act with urgency” to tackle the crisis, a World Health Organization (WHO) special report warns. In advance of a United Nation’s climate change summit in early November, groups representing 45 million nurses, doctors and health professionals worldwide signed an open letter urging… read on > read on >
60% of Americans Will Delay or Skip Flu Shot This Year: Survey
Experts are warning that the upcoming flu season could be severe as social distancing measures are relaxed across the United States, but a new survey finds that 6 in 10 Americans may delay or skip a flu shot. However, it also found that 98% of those who got a flu shot last season do plan… read on > read on >
Men, Women Behaved Differently During Pandemic Lockdowns
How do men and women respond to a crisis? A look at their behavior during the first COVID-19 lockdown in 2020 offers a clue: Women flocked to their phones for long conversations with a few trusted contacts. Men, chafing at being cooped up, headed out and about as soon as they could, European researchers report.… read on > read on >
Many Older Americans Who Should Be Checking Blood Pressure at Home Aren’t: Poll
If you are over 50 and you have high blood pressure or a health condition for which blood pressure control is essential, at-home blood pressure checks can avert medical emergencies. The trouble is that too few of these people actually perform them, a new survey reveals. “This poll shows that we have more work to… read on > read on >
Study Confirms Rise in Child Abuse During COVID Pandemic
FRIDAY, Oct. 8, 2021 (HealthDay News)– Physical abuse of school-aged kids tripled during the early months of the pandemic when widespread stay-at-home orders were in effect, a new study finds. Exactly what triggered the surge is not fully understood, but other studies have also reported similar upticks in child abuse. A pediatrician who was not… read on > read on >
Stimulants Like Ritalin May Be Gateway Drugs for College Students
Use of stimulants among college students was once thought to be a problem among high achievers seeking energy and focus to study. Not so, according to new research that links misuse of these so-called “study drugs” to binge drinking and marijuana use. The stereotype of students bumming a prescription medication like Adderall or Ritalin to… read on > read on >
Air and Noise Pollution May Make You Vulnerable to Heart Failure
Years of exposure to air pollution and traffic noise could make you more vulnerable to heart failure, a new study warns. “We found that long-term exposure to specific air pollutants and road traffic noise increased the risk of incident heart failure, especially for former smokers or people with hypertension, so preventive and educational measures are… read on > read on >
Picky Eating, Social Phobia Often Linked in College Students
Parents frazzled by their little ones’ finicky food choices often sigh in exasperation, thinking: “They’ll grow out of it by college.” Maybe not, suggests a new study from Bowling Green State University in Ohio. Some young people continue their picky eating into early adulthood, often restricting their diets to 10 foods or even fewer. Such… read on > read on >