One hundred years ago, the deadliest influenza pandemic of all time made a ravaging march across the globe. The “Spanish” flu of 1918-19 infected an estimated one-third of the world’s population and killed between 50 million and 100 million people, modern epidemiologists estimate. That raises the inevitable question as the United States battles its way… read on >
Herpes infection rates are dropping among young Americans, and safer sex practices may be one reason why. Roughly 12 percent of adults were infected with genital herpes (HSV-2) in 2015-2016, down from 18 percent in 1999-2000, a new government report found. The same promising trend was seen with HSV-1, a form of herpes that causes… read on >
“Exergaming” — playing video games that get you off the sofa and into the action — has positive fitness benefits that span the generations. It can be a way to introduce sedentary kids to exercise and even keep seniors fit. Because it engages the mind, it also may lead to better cognitive function in your… read on >
Most dogs are excited to hear the words “Want to go for a walk?” But one-third of pug dogs have an abnormal gait, and this may be a more serious health problem for this breed than previously thought, researchers say. The finding was based on survey responses from 550 owners of pugs registered with the… read on >
Your pet rat could make you very sick by transmitting a virus that’s newly emerged in North America, U.S. health officials warn. Seoul virus is a rat-borne hantavirus that typically causes symptoms that resemble the flu — fever, headache, muscle pain. In rare cases infection can lead to hospitalization with hemorrhagic fever and kidney failure.… read on >
A colonoscopy can save your life by detecting and removing colon cancer, but it might also trigger appendicitis, a new study suggests. Experts aren’t sure exactly why that happens, and, fortunately, it’s rare. And it shouldn’t stop you from getting a colonoscopy, according to lead researcher Dr. Marc Basson. “Having a colonoscopy, or something about… read on >
If the constant stream of bad news from around the world gets to you, one psychiatrist suggests that helping others might make you feel better. “The sheer volume of stressful events occurring on a near-daily basis can make people feel pessimistic or fearful,” said researcher Emanuel Maidenberg, a clinical professor of psychiatry at the University… read on >
The United States is in the grip of a tough flu season, no doubt. It might seem as if every other person you know has fallen prey to influenza. Actually, though, health experts say this flu season is pretty much on par with other severe seasons. Here’s what else they have to say: How bad… read on >
Maybe there’s some truth in the long-standing belief that dogs can sense fear in a human. According to a new British study, anxious people may be at increased risk for dog bites. The finding came from a survey of nearly 700 people in northern England, done by researchers from the University of Liverpool. As part… read on >
While a brutal flu season is felling humans by the score, veterinarians warn that there have also been outbreaks of canine flu in some parts of the United States. Which dog owners need to worry? According to Dr. Amy Glaser, director of the Molecular Diagnostic Laboratory at Cornell University’s Animal Health Diagnostic Center, there have… read on >
