Dirty, crowded urban environments can significantly increase a person’s risk of developing asthma, a new study says. Cleaner, better-thought-out cities could ward off 1 of every 10 asthma cases, researchers reported recently in The Lancet Regional Health – Europe. Asthma risk in both kids and adults is increased due to urban air pollution, dense development…  read on >  read on >

Making vape devices boring could help deter teens and young adults from picking up the e-cigarette habit, a new study says. Vape devices currently come in colorful packaging and all sorts of fun designs, intended to enhance their appeal, researchers said. Offering a standardized white disposable vape made the devices less appealing, compared to colorful…  read on >  read on >

WEDNESDAY May 21, 2025The U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) has decided that only seniors and people at high risk should get the latest COVID-19 booster shots this fall. The new framework, announced Tuesday, says adults 65 and older, and people with certain health conditions, can still get updated COVID-19 vaccines, The Associated Press reported.…  read on >  read on >

Bodybuilders spend countless hours in the gym to create a heart-stopping physique. But their efforts place their own hearts at risk of stopping, a new study says. Sudden cardiac death is responsible for an unusually high proportion of deaths in male bodybuilders, researchers reported today in the European Heart Journal. Further, professional bodybuilders are five…  read on >  read on >

Antibiotic resistance is a growing threat to human health, as germs like E. coli and staph gain the power to overcome even the most powerful bacteria killers. Unfortunately, the health care we provide to our dogs and cats is likely making the problem worse, researchers have reported. Steps are being taken to use antibiotics more…  read on >  read on >

Exercise and sports appear to help kids avoid mental health problems as they grow into young adults, a new study says. Young children who participated in sports teams and physical education classes were less likely to develop problems like depression, anxiety and addiction as they aged into teenagers, researchers reported May 13 in the British…  read on >  read on >

U.S. health officials are telling travelers aged 60 and older to avoid a chikungunya vaccine while they investigate possible side effects. The U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) and the Food and Drug Administration (FDA) issued the warning late last week. The concern focuses on the Valneva vaccine, known as Ixchiq, the Associated…  read on >  read on >

Any parent who has been jolted awake by the squeals of a toddler with an ear infection knows that relief won’t be swift — or sure. Kids often build resistance to the usual days-long antibiotic treatment regimen so the painful infections can come roaring back. But Cornell University researchers report encouraging results from animal tests…  read on >  read on >