U.S. approval of over-the-counter emergency contraception like “Plan B” has had an unintended but positive side effect for America’s hospitals, a new study shows. Emergency room visits related to “morning-after” contraception plummeted after the pills became easily available to adults in 2006, according to the report published Jan. 24 in the journal JAMA Network Open.… read on > read on >
Pregnant women exposed to flame-retardant chemicals could face an increased risk of premature birth, a new study warns. Organophosphate esters (OPEs) are commonly used as flame retardants in products like furniture, baby items, electronics, clothes and building materials, researchers said. The chemicals also make plastics more flexible. Manufacturers started using OPEs after flame retardants containing… read on > read on >
High school students who smoke, drink or use weed are more likely to be emotionally troubled and have suicidal thoughts, a new study finds. Teens who turn to nicotine, alcohol or marijuana are more likely to think about suicide, feel depressed or anxious, have psychotic episodes and exhibit inattention or hyperactivity, researchers report Jan. 29… read on > read on >
If your preteen or teen skips school activities and social events, it may be more than the typically moody behavior of adolescence, new research warns. Being socially withdrawn and having physical discomforts such as headaches, nausea or stomachaches as a preteen may boost the risk of having suicidal thoughts by age 16, researchers report. Dr. John Duffy,… read on > read on >
Babies born even slightly early have a higher long-term risk of developmental difficulties that could affect their behavior and learning ability, a new study finds. Infants born moderately (32-33 weeks) or late preterm (34-36 weeks) are more likely to have epilepsy or problems with brain function, motor skills, vision or hearing, according to analysis of… read on > read on >
“Stay in school” slogans tend to focus on the money, status and freedom that more education can provide. Now there’s another argument for getting as many degrees as you can — having a longer life. The higher a person’s level of education, the lower their risk of premature death, claims a new global study published… read on > read on >
Exposure to toxic heavy metals could cause middle-aged women to have more health problems as they grow older, a new study finds. The study links toxic metal exposure to women having fewer eggs in their ovaries as they approach menopause. This condition — known as diminished ovarian reserve — could cause worse health problems during… read on > read on >
Ultrasound scans that pick up “microstructural” changes in a woman’s cervix could point to her having a higher risk for preterm birth, researchers report. The scans were done as early as week 23 of pregnancy and could help assess risks for “preemie” delivery, even among first-time moms. Between 10% and 15% of births occur before… read on > read on >
THURSDAY, Jan. 25, 2024 (HealthDayNews) — In the 14 states with abortion bans, there have been nearly 65,000 pregnancies resulting from rape during the time since those bans went into place, a new study estimates. To arrive at that troubling number, researchers turned to data from federal surveys on crime and sexual violence. Their findings… read on > read on >
Women are suffering more anxiety and depression in states that banned abortion after the Supreme Court overturned Roe v. Wade, a new study shows. The court’s Dobbs decision in June 2022 triggered laws banning abortion in 13 states. In the six months after, symptoms of anxiety and depression increased among women living in those states,… read on > read on >
