Here’s yet another consequence of America’s childhood obesity epidemic: New research shows that girls with type 2 diabetes can set themselves up for developing a condition known as polycystic ovary syndrome (PCOS). PCOS occurs when a woman’s ovaries or adrenal glands produce more male hormones than normal, and its many symptoms include painful cysts on…  read on >  read on >

Scientists who conducted the first gene editing in ticks say this line of research could lead to new ways to reduce tick-borne diseases in humans. Ticks can transmit a wide number of diseases to people — including Lyme disease, babesiosis and Rocky Mountain spotted fever — but genetic knowledge about ticks is currently limited. That’s…  read on >  read on >

Once they’re pregnant, women have a lot of checkups to make sure they stay healthy. But a mom’s health preconception is vitally important, too, and a growing cause for concern. Increasingly, moms in the United States are starting their pregnancies already having heart risks like high blood pressure (hypertension), diabetes and obesity. A new study…  read on >  read on >

Many women with epilepsy have breakthrough seizures when they get pregnant, and researchers say they’ve figured out why. Their new study shows that pregnancy can trigger steep drops in blood levels of certain antiepileptic drugs soon after conception. “When it comes to epilepsy, maintaining a fine-tuned medication regimen is critical. Some people mistakenly believe that…  read on >  read on >

Edibles. In adults, they can be used recreationally or to help manage pain, nausea and anxiety. But these THC-loaded products, often sold as gummies, cookies and brownies, have fueled a four-year increase in the number of emergency calls for young children who mistakenly think they’re yummy treats. In 2021 alone, the New Jersey Poison Control…  read on >  read on >

The power of COVID booster shots does fade somewhat over four months, but they still continue to provide high levels of protection against severe disease, a new government study has found. Booster effectiveness against hospitalization during the Omicron surge was 91% during the first two months after a third dose, researchers from the U.S. Centers…  read on >  read on >