WEDNESDAY, Nov. 27, 2024 — Thanksgiving travel is a must for millions of Americans, but those plans will be complicated for some because they’re traveling with a loved one who has Alzheimer’s disease or dementia. “A family trip to visit a loved one, friend, or favorite destination can be a great way to spend Thanksgiving,… read on > read on >
All Travel:
Winter’s Onset Brings Mood Changes to Many Americans, Poll Finds
Many Americans experience a “winter funk” as the days grow shorter and temperatures turn colder, a new American Psychiatric Association poll reports. Two-fifths of Americans (41%) said their mood declines during the winter months, according to the APA’s Healthy Minds Poll. Midwesterners and Northeasterners are most affected, where 52% and 46%, respectively, said they tend… read on > read on >
Drowsy Driving: Not Taken as Seriously as Drunk Driving, But It Can Kill
Folks are more likely to drive drowsy than drive drunk, even though both raise the risk of a fatal crash, a new survey shows. About 4 in 10 adults say they’ll find alternative transportation when they haven’t gotten enough sleep, according to the poll from the National Sleep Foundation (NSF). By comparison, nearly 7 in… read on > read on >
Private Balcony Hot Tubs Spread Legionnaires Disease on Cruise Ships
Next time you’re on a cruise, be wary of your (or your neighbor’s) private balcony hot tub, researchers warn. These luxe cabin features were pinpointed as a source of outbreaks of the respiratory illness Legionnaires disease that broke out on two ships. The Legionella bacterium thrives in wet, warm conditions, so “hot tubs offer favorable… read on > read on >
Flesh-Eating Bacteria Cases Rise in Florida in Wake of Storms
MONDAY, Oct. 21, 2024 (Healthday News) — Following the devastation of hurricanes Helene and Milton, a new health danger has emerged in Florida: A spike in cases of flesh-eating bacteria. In a statement issued by the Florida Department of Health earlier this month, officials urged residents to avoid floodwaters where the Vibrio vulnificus bacteria, which causes the… read on > read on >
Planes’ Air Ventilation Can’t Spread Nut Allergens to Passengers: Study
Folks with peanut allergies don’t have to worry that someone might be munching on the nuts during an airline flight, researchers report. It turns out there’s no evidence to the commonly held belief that nut allergens can be spread through aircraft ventilation systems, a new review concluded. “In fact, food-induced allergic reactions are around 10–100… read on > read on >
Florida Hospitals Brace for Hurricane Milton’s Arrival
WEDNESDAY. Oct. 9, 2024As Hurricane Milton barreled toward the west coast of Florida, hospitals in its path were making ready. Milton is projected to make landfall a bit south of the Tampa area late Wednesday night. Long-term care facilities in counties where mandatory evacuations have been issued have taken their patients elsewhere, while some hospitals… read on > read on >
Be Alert to Carbon Monoxide Dangers During, After Hurricane Milton
High winds, torrential rain: All dangerous, but there’s a silent killer lurking in the aftermath of hurricanes like Milton — carbon monoxide. Experts at the U.S. Consumer Product Safety Commission (CPSC) are warning of the potentially lethal effects of carbon monoxide (CO), emitted by the gas generators folks may use to power their homes during… read on > read on >
Heat Stress in Pregnancy Might Affect a Babies’ Development Later
Hot weather can be more than just uncomfortable and annoying: New research finds it can impact an infant’s development both before and after birth. Babies are more likely to be delivered at low birth weight as an expecting mom’s average daily heat stress increases during the first trimester, researchers found. What’s more, growing infants regularly… read on > read on >
Deadly Legacy of Storms Like Helene Can Linger for Over a Decade
As the southeastern United States begins to recover from Helene’s devastation, a new study suggests the health impact of major storms can linger for over a decade. So far, more than 120 people across six states have already been confirmed dead in Helene’s aftermath, although that number could rise much higher as rescue efforts continue.… read on > read on >