Premature births dropped during lockdowns in the early months of the COVID-19 pandemic. A groundbreaking study, which included a group of mostly high-income countries — including the United States, Belgium, Canada, Chile, Denmark and Switzerland — found there were about 4% fewer preterm births than would have been expected in spring 2020. That’s nearly 50,000… read on > read on >
Many Americans are not getting recommended cancer screenings, and a new study hints at one way to push the needle: paid sick leave from work. Researchers found that in areas of the United States that passed mandates on paid sick leave, cancer screening rates inched up in the years afterward. Breast cancer screening rose by… read on > read on >
One group of Americans drinks more caffeinated beverages than all others. That’s people who smoke cigarettes and also have serious mental illness, including schizophrenia and bipolar disorder, according to new research. While Americans overall are drinking more caffeinated beverages than ever, this group consumes the highest amount and also has the highest risk of negative… read on > read on >
A new study links high blood pressure during pregnancy with cognitive issues later in life, adding to known risks such as stroke and heart disease. Women with preeclampsia — high blood pressure during pregnancy that may be accompanied by kidney or other organ damage — may have even more cognitive decline later compared to those… read on > read on >
For decades, people turned to cigarettes in times of stress. Now, a preliminary study hints that young people are using vaping in the same way. The study, of nearly 2,000 U.S. teenagers and young adults, found that those who vaped nicotine or marijuana were more likely to report anxiety, depression or suicidal thoughts. In fact,… read on > read on >
Most food and water contains “nano-sized” microplastics, and new animal research suggests these tiny particles pass from pregnant rats to their unborn offspring and may impair fetal development. The same could be true in humans, the study suggests. “Much remains unknown, but this is certainly cause for concern and follow-up study,” said Philip Demokritou, a… read on > read on >
When expectant or new moms experience depression, known as perinatal depression, loneliness may be a driving factor. “We found that loneliness was central to the experiences of expectant and new mothers with depression. We know that depression and loneliness are often interconnected — each one can lead to the other — and this may be… read on > read on >
Common pregnancy complications like gestational diabetes and preeclampsia may slow infant development in the womb, according to a new study. This leads to newborns being biologically younger than their gestational age, according to researchers from universities across the United States who contributed to the study. Researchers estimated the infants’ biological or “epigenetic” age based on… read on > read on >
Public health officials are warning about an increase in drug-resistant strains of the bacteria shigella. About 5% of shigella infections reported to the U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention last year were caused by the drug-resistant XDR strain. That compares to 0% in 2015. Limited treatment options exist for people infected with XDR strains.… read on > read on >
Many women experience blinding migraine headaches around their monthly period, and now researchers have a clue about why. Levels of the female hormone estrogen fluctuate during menstruation, which may lead to increases in calcitonin gene-related peptide (CGRP). This protein widens blood vessels in the brain, which is part of the cascade of events that cause… read on > read on >
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