Holiday Flu Surge Drives Record Illness Across the U.S. — Here's What You Can Do

The holiday season brought a massive spike in influenza cases across the U.S. 

New data from the U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) indicates that the virus is spreading rapidly, with some regions reporting record numbers of infections and hospitalizations.

At least 7.5 million people had been sickened by late...

Popular Dog Treats Recalled in 7 States Over Salmonella Risk

Dog owners in seven states are being warned to check their pantries after a recall was issued for certain dog treats that may be contaminated with Salmonella.

The recall, announced Dec. 24 by Consumers Supply Distributing, includes two types of dog biscuits sold in 4-pound bags.

The products were distributed in Colorado, Iow...

Cosmetic Surgery Chains Use Misleading Ads to Market Risky Procedures, Experts Say

Glossy social media ads promising "lunchtime fat removal" and "freckle-sized" scars draw thousands of patients to cosmetic surgery chains. 

But a growing number of lawsuits and patient deaths suggest these claims often hide a much more dangerous reality.

Unlike prescription drug commercials, which are strictly regulated, cosmeti...

One Treatment Is Better For Women With Clogged Arteries, Study Finds

The best treatment for clogged arteries might be different for women than men, a new study says.

Females with heart disease are often treated with stenting, a procedure in which a tiny wire-mesh tube is slipped inside a blocked artery to keep it open.

But women might be better off if they received full-fledged bypass surgery to fix t...

Internal Body Clock Linked To Dementia Risk

Sleep problems might be an early warning sign of dementia, a new study says.

Circadian rhythms that are weaker and more fragmented are tied to an increased risk of dementia, researchers reported Dec. 29 in the journal Neurology.

In fact, people with weak circadian rhythms have a more than doubled risk of dementia, results sh...

Smaller Doses Of Peanut Effective Against Allergy, Study Shows

You might not need high doses of peanut to help your child overcome their food allergy, a new study suggests.

Smaller doses can help kids build up their allergic resistance to peanut, with fewer side effects than larger amounts, researchers recently reported in the Journal of Allergy and Clinical Immunology – In Practice.

AI Could Help Make Liposuction Safer, Experts Say

Considering some plastic surgery as part of a New Year’s makeover?

A newly developed AI model is promising to make liposuction a safer procedure by accurately predicting blood loss among patients.

Overall, the AI was 94% accurate in predicting the amount of blood a person would lose during high-volume liposuction, researchers r...

GLP-1 Drugs Help Quell Asthma Among Teens Who Are Overweight or Obese

Severe asthma attacks can be cut in half among teens with excess weight by taking cutting-edge weight-loss drugs like Ozempic and Zepbound, a new study says.

Half as many teens needed asthma treatment at an emergency room if they were on a GLP-1 drug, researchers reported Dec. 29 in JAMA Network Open.

“Our findings sug...

Opioid Use Among Pregnant Women Shows Alarming Rise, Study Says

Twice as many expecting mothers are using opioids as there were a decade ago, a new study says.

The rate of opioid use during pregnancy doubled between 2008 and 2020, researchers recently reported in the Journal of Addiction Medicine.

Such opioid use puts both mother and child at risk of dire health problems.

“Sa...

Veterans Affairs Chief on Harassment: 'Behavior is Either Acceptable or It is Not'

The U.S. Department of Veterans Affairs (VA) is drafting vets and survivors, caregivers and health workers, as well as visitors to VA centers nationwide in a war on sexual harassment and assault.

"There is no wrong door for reporting harassment or sexual assault," VA Secretary Douglas Collins wrote Dec. 29 in an email to vets and benefici...

Why Your Gut May Stall Out And What To Do About It

Does it sometimes feel like your supper is sitting like a boulder in your gut?

You may have a condition called gastroparesis.

About 1 in 4 people have symptoms of the disorder, which causes the stomach to empty slowly, according to the National Institutes of Health.

“Patients don’t come in telling you they have a ga...

Doubting Your Doubts May Help You Stick to Big Life Goals, Research Shows

When people start doubting whether they can reach an important life goal, it often feels like a sign to give up. 

But a new study suggests questioning those doubts can actually strengthen commitment.

The research — led by Patrick Carroll, a psychology professor at Ohio State University — found that people who were en...

Salmonella Outbreak Tied to Raw Oysters Sickens 64 in 22 States

Health officials are warning seafood lovers to think twice before eating raw oysters amid a salmonella outbreak that has sickened people in more than 20 states.

The U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) said 64 people have been infected with a rare strain of Salmonella Telelkebir.

The investigation is being c...

Passengers' Brain Signals May Help Self-Driving Cars Make Safer Choices

Cars from companies like Tesla already promise hands-free driving, but recent crashes show that today’s self-driving systems can still struggle in risky, fast-changing situations.

Now, researchers say the next safety upgrade may come from an unexpected source: The brains of the people riding inside those cars.

In a new study, C...

Study Finds Wildfire Smoke Releases More Harmful Gases Than Expected

Wildfires may be sending far more harmful pollution into the air than scientists once believed, according to new research.

A study published Dec. 29 in Environmental Science & Technology, a journal of the American Chemical Society, found that wildfires and prescribed burns release more air-polluting gases than earlier estimate...

Head Injuries Linked To Suicide Risk, Researchers Say

A serious knock on the noggin might substantially increase a person’s risk of suicide, a new study says.

People who’ve sustained a head injury are 21% more likely to attempt suicide than those without such an injury, researchers recently reported in the journal Neurology.

“Our findings show that the impact ...

Early IBD Linked To Changes In Gut Bacteria, Evidence Shows

Early changes in a person's gut bacteria might herald the onset of inflammatory bowel disease (IBD), a new evidence review has found.

This finding could help doctors diagnose IBD earlier, and, researchers added, potentially fuel efforts to find new treatments for the condition.

Researchers found that people with the most common types...

Where A Senior Lives Can Hinder Their Recovery From A Broken Hip, Experts Say

Where a senior resides might factor into whether they lose their independence to a broken hip, a new study says.

Elderly folks are less able to return home following a fall-related hip fracture if they live in a poorer neighborhood, researchers found.

Seniors living in the most disadvantaged neighborhoods spent about 23 fewer days at...

Visiting Abroad In The Coming Year? Antibiotics Becoming Less Effective Against Traveler's Diarrhea, Study Warns

Planning some international travel as one of your New Year’s resolutions?

Then be forewarned: Traveler’s diarrhea is becoming harder to treat.

The antibiotics typically used to treat traveler’s diarrhea are becoming less effective, researchers recently reported in JAMA Network Open.

Specifically, the ...

Gestational Diabetes Increasing Steadily In The U.S.

Gestational diabetes rose every single year in the United States since 2016, putting both mother and baby at risk during these pregnancies, a new study says.

The condition increased by 36% between 2016 and 2024, increasing from 58 to 79 cases for every 1,000 births, researchers reported Dec. 29 in JAMA Internal Medicine.

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