Latest Health News

THURSDAY, June 1, 2023 (American Heart Association News) -- At a CPR class in Spanish in central Virginia, some members of the Latino community say they recognize that the technique can save someone whose heart stops beating. But they acknowledge that fear and uncertainty might keep them from providing critical care.Such apprehension has prompted trainers who have witnessed it to teach not just how to administer CPR properly to a person who goes into cardiac arrest, but also to share culturally appropriate information that can ease concerns."We address the hesitation, we address the fears," said Dr. Max Luna, a cardiologist and director of the Latino Health Initiative at the University of Virginia in Charlottesville. The CPR class is one of the initiative's programs. "We focus on...

THURSDAY, June 1, 2023 (HealthDay News) – Smokers in Canada will soon see health warnings on each and every cigarette they light up..The country will be the first in the world to print these warnings directly on individual cigarettes.“This bold step will make health warning messages virtually unavoidable, and together with updated graphic images displayed on the package, will provide a real and startling reminder of the health consequences of smoking,” Carolyn Bennett, Canada's Minister of Mental Health and Addictions, said in a Health Canada news release announcing the new labeling. “We will continue to do whatever it takes to help more people in Canada stop smoking and help young people to live healthy, tobacco-free lives.”Tobacco use kills about 48,000 Canadians each year,...

THURSDAY, June 1, 2023 (HealthDay News) -- Kids who devote some of their free time to volunteer work may not only help others, but also themselves.That's according to a new study that found U.S. kids who spend time in community service are often thriving, physically and mentally.Overall, kids who'd volunteered in the past year were in better physical health, had a more positive outlook on life, and were less likely to have anxiety, depression or behavioral problems than their peers who did not do volunteer work.The findings, published May 30 in the journal JAMA Network Open, do not answer the chicken-and-egg question, researchers noted: Kids who were already high on the well-being scale may have been more apt to volunteer."We can't say this is cause-and-effect," said lead researcher...

THURSDAY, June 1, 2023 (HealthDay News) -- Large, uncontrolled wildfires in Nova Scotia are creating unhealthy air in the Northeast region of the United States, including parts of Connecticut.This significant smoke plume is likely to cause elevated levels of fine particulate matter, the American Lung Association warned in its alert. Particulate matter contains microscopic solids or liquid droplets that are so small that they can be inhaled and cause serious health problems, according to the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency.The lung association also offered tips for everyone — but especially children, older adults and people with lung diseases like asthma and chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD) — to stay well despite the poor air quality.Start by staying indoors. If you...