Pedestrian deaths have surged on U.S. roads in recent years, and they are climbing again. Pedestrian deaths hit a 40-year high in 2021, and numbers for the first half of 2022 were up about 5% over the same period in 2021, according to a new Governors Highway Safety Association (GHSA) analysis. It cites a variety… read on > read on >
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People Get More REM Sleep During the Winter
The changes in temperature and daylight brought by winter may make a person feel like hibernating. It turns out that humans do get longer REM sleep in wintertime and less deep sleep in autumn, even in an urban setting, German researchers reported Feb 17 in Frontiers in Neuroscience. REM sleep is the stage when vivid… read on > read on >
U.S. Tourists in Northern Mexico Are Buying Counterfeit Pills Containing Fentanyl
Researchers have uncovered groundbreaking evidence that pharmacies in tourist areas of Northern Mexico are selling counterfeit pills containing fentanyl, heroin and methamphetamines. The pills, mainly sold to U.S. tourists without a prescription, were passed off as controlled substances, including oxycodone, percocet and Adderall, the study found. This could add to the already high number of… read on > read on >
How Ice & Snow Can Harm Your Wrists, Hands
Winter’s icy beauty can also be dangerous. An orthopedic expert offers some tips for avoiding serious injuries on slippery ground or hazards hidden by snow. “When people have injuries during the winter, it commonly involves tripping over an object or slipping on ice,” said Dr. Richard Samade, an assistant professor of orthopedic surgery who specializes… read on > read on >
Wintertime Wandering: A Real Danger for People With Alzheimer’s
Winter weather can add a layer of danger to the wandering behavior common in people with dementia. The Alzheimer’s Foundation of America (AFA) offers some suggestions to help prevent wandering and prepare folks to react quickly if it occurs. “During the winter, it’s especially important for families living in areas affected by cold weather, snow… read on > read on >
About 1 in 3 American Adults Has an Allergy
If it seems as though everyone you know struggles with some sort of allergy, new research suggests you are not mistaken. As many as 1 in 3 adults and 1 in 4 kids suffers from a seasonal allergy, a food allergy or eczema, the latest government data shows. Caused by a reaction to plant pollen,… read on > read on >
The Time Is Now to Curb Spring Allergies
Send yourself some love this Valentine’s Day by setting a reminder to start taking your spring allergy medications. It’s important to begin allergy meds two weeks before symptoms are expected to appear when possible, according to the American College of Allergy, Asthma and Immunology (ACAAI). “It’s not the most romantic idea in the world, but… read on > read on >
‘Climate Trauma’: Brain Changes Seen in Survivors of California’s Deadliest Wildfire
When the deadly Camp Fire swept through Northern California in 2018, it may have damaged more than the landscape. University of California, San Diego researchers studying survivors’ mental functioning in the wake of the deadliest and most destructive wildfire in the state’s history have uncovered evidence of “climate trauma.” The November 2018 fire burned 239… read on > read on >
Winter Wonderland? Not for Your Skin
Winter is no friend to the body’s delicate skin, but an expert offers three key tips: moisturize, moisturize, moisturize. “It’s pretty intuitive, but it bears repeating,” said dermatologist Dr. David Pearson, an assistant professor at the University of Minnesota Medical School, in Minneapolis. “The environment treats our skin differently in the winter, and that means… read on > read on >
Plane Wastewater Study Shows How COVID Travel Restrictions Failed
Wastewater research isn’t for the squeamish, but it can get to the bottom of questions about such things as the effectiveness of COVID-19 air travel restrictions. Tests of toilet tank water from flights entering the United Kingdom helped Welsh scientists determine that steps meant to keep the virus from traveling among countries appear to have… read on > read on >