America’s college students seem to be more stressed than ever, with a new report finding a sharp rise in cases of post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD) and acute stress disorder (ASD) on campuses across the country. In a “national sample of U.S. college students, we found a notable increase in the prevalence of PTSD and ASD,”… read on > read on >
All Lifestyle:
Suicide Rates Among Cancer Patients Are Falling
Even as suicide rates have risen among Americans generally, one group appears to be bucking that trend: People diagnosed with cancer. Experts are crediting improved access to counseling and other “psychosocial care” with easing the emotional toll of cancer and keeping more patients from making tragic decisions. Nevertheless, cancer patients still face elevated risks for… read on > read on >
Cancer Patients Get Poorer Care at Hospitals Serving Minority Communities
Cancer patients receive less effective treatment at hospitals that mainly serve minority communities, a new study shows. More than 9% of cancer patients are treated at hospitals where a significant percentage of patients are from minority groups, researchers say. Those patients are less likely to get the best care for breast, prostate, lung and colon… read on > read on >
AI Implant Allows Stroke Survivor to Communicate in Both Spanish, English
A bilingual brain implant has allowed a stroke survivor to communicate in both Spanish and English, scientists report. Turning to an AI method known as a neural network, researchers trained the patient’s implant to decode words based on the brain activity produced when he tried to articulate those words, and then display those words and… read on > read on >
For Minor Health Issues, Pharmacist Care May Be the Low-Cost Option
Allowing pharmacists to treat minor illnesses could potentially expand health care access to more people and save millions of dollars, a new study suggests. Care for a range of minor health issues — urinary tract infections, shingles, animal bites and headaches — would cost an average of about $278 less when treated in pharmacies rather… read on > read on >
Vaccines Will Be Best Defense Against Bird Flu, Experts Say
Humanity’s best protection against bird flu will be the development of effective vaccines, a new study says. The H5N1 avian flu has been raging through cattle and poultry in the United States, increasing fears that the virus will make the leap into humans and potentially cause another pandemic. Only two people to date are known… read on > read on >
Scientists Developing mRNA-Based Vaccine Against H5N1 Bird Flu
An experimental mRNA vaccine against the H5N1 avian flu is highly effective in preventing severe illness and death in lab animals, researchers report. The vaccine could help fight the H5N1 bird flu outbreaks now spreading in wild birds, poultry and cows in the United States, researchers said. Stopping those outbreaks is key to preventing the… read on > read on >
Weighted Blankets May Not Help Troubled Children Sleep
Weighted blankets are trendy items, largely based on the idea that the pressure of a heavy blanket will help a person more easily slip into slumber. But they do little to help troubled children sleep better, a new study has found. There was no difference in sleep between weighted and normal blankets among a group… read on > read on >
CDC Warns Again of Salmonella Tied to Backyard Poultry
Backyard chickens are causing outbreaks of salmonella across the United States, the U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention warns. About 109 people in 29 states have gotten sick from salmonella after touching or caring for backyard poultry, the CDC said in a health advisory. Of those, 33 people have been hospitalized, the CDC said.… read on > read on >
Are You a ‘Stress Bragger’? It’s Probably Backfiring
“Ugh, I’m so busy these days I can barely think straight. It’s so crazy.” No doubt some friend or coworker (maybe even yourself) has moaned about how stressed and overworked they are. Sometimes its fully justified, but in many cases folks see it as “stress bragging,” or “busy bragging,” signaling how important and needed the… read on > read on >