In a finding that’s sure to ruffle some fur and feathers, scientists report that having a pet doesn’t fend off age-related declines in physical or mental health. “Our results showed that in this sample of almost 9,000 people — average age 67 years — for those who owned a pet, no health benefits were found,”… read on >
Many people insist their joints ache more when it rains. But that popular notion might be all wet, a new study suggests. The study of more than 1.5 million older Americans found that people were no more likely to visit the doctor with joint or back pain during rainy weeks than sunny ones. Even among… read on >
Emergency room doctors must think fast — and video games might help boost their decision-making, new research suggests. A study led by the University of Pittsburgh School of Medicine found an adventure video game improved ER doctors’ ability to assess the level of care needed by trauma patients. “Physicians must make decisions quickly and with… read on >
Raising one particular tax just might have a public health benefit. The tax in question? States’ alcohol excise tax. In the United States, those taxes have not kept pace with inflation, which could limit their public health benefits, researchers report. In inflation-adjusted dollars, the average state alcohol excise tax has fallen by 30 percent for… read on >
Finding the perfect holiday gift for everyone on your shopping list is a major source of stress. To help relieve seasonal gift-giving woes, the American Psychological Association suggests: Keep a “to do” gift list, and check it often. Set realistic expectations for the holidays. Be aware of holiday stress, and adjust your schedule accordingly. Get… read on >
When it comes to kids with cancer, most health care providers who care for them say they’d help their patients get medical marijuana. That finding stems from an analysis of survey responses from 288 doctors, nurse practitioners, physician assistants, psychologists, social workers and registered nurses. The survey respondents — in Boston, Chicago and Seattle —… read on >
Children born to mothers with rheumatoid arthritis are at increased risk for the disease and other chronic health problems, a new study suggests. The finding comes from an analysis of long-term follow-up data on all children born in Denmark in a 25-year period. That included more than 2,100 children born to women diagnosed with rheumatoid… read on >
The chance of dying from a common heart rhythm disorder is higher for people treated at rural rather than urban hospitals, a new study finds. The researchers analyzed data from hospitalizations for the heart ailment known as atrial fibrillation — or a-fib — in the United States between 2012 and 2014. A-fib can lead to… read on >
Some thiings never change: Scientists say the bacteria circulating in the International Space Station are similar to those in homes on Earth. That’s the conclusion of researchers at the University of California, Davis, who analyzed bacteria collected by astronauts. “So ‘is it gross?’ and ‘will you see microbes from space?’ are probably the two most… read on >
Hospital operating rooms produce thousands of tons of greenhouse gases each year, but changing the type of anesthesia used in surgery can help lower those emissions, researchers report. For the study, investigators assessed the carbon footprint of operating rooms at three hospitals: Vancouver General Hospital in Canada; University of Minnesota Medical Center in the United… read on >
