Latest Health News

4Feb
2020

Online Bullies Make Teen Depression, PTSD Even Worse: Survey

Online Bullies Make Teen Depression, PTSD Even Worse: SurveyTUESDAY, Feb. 4, 2020 (HealthDay News) -- Cyberbullying can worsen symptoms of depression and post-traumatic stress disorder in young people, new research shows. That's the conclusion of a recent survey of 50 teens who were inpatients at a suburban psychiatric hospital near New York City. Researchers reported that those who had been bullied had higher severity of PTSD and anger than those who were not bullied. "Even against a backdrop of emotional challenges in the kids we studied, we noted cyberbullying had an adverse impact. It's real and should be assessed," said study co-author Philip Harvey, a professor of psychiatry and behavioral sciences at the University of Miami's Miller School of Medicine. One-fifth of participants reported being bullied online in the two months before...

Many Can Suffer Facial Paralysis -- and Its Emotional Toll

4 February 2020
Many Can Suffer Facial Paralysis -- and Its Emotional TollTUESDAY, Feb. 4, 2020 (HealthDay News) -- Each year, hundreds of thousands of Americans develop some form of facial paralysis from a variety of causes. The loss of facial control and expression that follows can bring sometimes devastating stigma, depression and anxiety, a new study shows. This seems especially true for people whose facial paralysis came later in life instead of from birth, researchers noted. There are a number of conditions that can cause facial paralysis. Some are congenital, or present at birth. Others are acquired later in life. A common cause of facial paralysis is stroke. "We were interested in the psychosocial factors that people with facial paralysis might experience, and if there were differences in people born with a condition compared to people who...

Crafting With Dry Pasta, Play-Doh Safe for Kids With...

4 February 2020
Crafting With Dry Pasta, Play-Doh Safe for Kids With Gluten Sensitivity: StudyTUESDAY, Feb. 4, 2020 (HealthDay News) -- Play-Doh and uncooked pasta are classic classroom craft supplies -- but what if the kids in the classroom have celiac disease? Gluten in these substances is not dangerous, new research finds. As long as kids with celiac disease don't eat what they're playing with, we can strike Play-Doh and raw pasta from the exposure risk list, the researchers said. Other school supplies like paper-mache and flour-based dough were linked to gluten transfer. But with handwashing and surface cleaning, residue was not detected on hands or play surfaces, the study found. "We've coached families for many years to avoid kids touching any gluten-containing school supply, which can be challenging, especially for young children," said study leader Vanessa Weisbrod,...

Texting While Walking Is Risky Business

4 February 2020
Texting While Walking Is Risky BusinessTUESDAY, Feb. 4, 2020 (HealthDay News) -- The dangers of "distracted driving" are well-known, but texting while walking may also be a road hazard, a new research review finds. Pedestrians who are busy texting are less likely to look both ways before crossing the street and have caused a growing number of "close calls" with cars, the review found. And while chatting on a cellphone or listening to music can be distracting, neither was as bad as texting. Much of the evidence comes from simulation studies -- where researchers observe people during virtual street crossings that pose no real danger. And it's not clear how often distracted walking factors into traffic crashes, the Canadian researchers said. "Controlled experiments do not necessarily reflect the real world," said Alex...

Can Siri or Alexa Help You Beat Addiction? Don't Count on It

4 February 2020
Can Siri or Alexa Help You Beat Addiction? Don`t Count on ItTUESDAY, Feb. 4, 2020 (HealthDay News) -- Virtual assistants like Alexa and Siri are little help for people seeking information about how to quit drinking, smoking, vaping or taking opioids, a new study finds. "Alexa can already fart on demand, why can't it and other intelligent virtual assistants also provide lifesaving substance use treatment referrals for those desperately seeking help? Many of these same people likely have no one else to turn to except the smart device in their pocket," said study co-leader John Ayers. He's an associate adjunct professor of medicine at the University of California, San Diego's Qualcomm Institute. About half of U.S. adults use virtual assistants, and some manufacturers plan to introduce health care advice, including personalized...

2 in 3 Americans Unaware That Heart Disease Is Leading Killer of Women

4 February 2020
2 in 3 Americans Unaware That Heart Disease Is Leading Killer of WomenTUESDAY, Feb. 4, 2020 (HealthDay News) -- More than two-thirds of Americans don't know that heart disease is the leading cause of death among U.S. women, a new survey reveals. Overall, 68% of respondents weren't aware that heart disease is the top killer of women, but the rate was much higher (80%) among millennials. A large number of respondents mistakenly believed breast cancer is the main cause of death in women, and men were more likely to think that than women (44% versus 33%), according to the Cleveland Clinic survey of 1,000 U.S. adults. Many respondents didn't know important symptoms of heart attack in women, such as: chest pain (24%), shortness of breath or sweating (28%), pain in the neck or back of jaw (43%), new or dramatic fatigue (55%) and nausea/vomiting (60%). Heart...

Medicare Could Save Billions If Allowed to Negotiate Insulin Prices

4 February 2020
Medicare Could Save Billions If Allowed to Negotiate Insulin PricesTUESDAY, Feb. 4, 2020 (HealthDay News) -- If you don't need insulin, you probably haven't paid much attention to its skyrocketing cost, but new research shows that exorbitant drug pricing eventually affects everyone. The study found that in 2017, Medicare spent nearly $8 billion on insulin. The researchers said that if Medicare were allowed to negotiate drug prices like the U.S. Department of Veterans Affairs (VA) can, Medicare could save about $4.4 billion just on insulin. "Medicare now accounts for a third of all drug spending. Legislation allowing Medicare to negotiate prices and establish a central formulary would help save taxpayers money," said the study's lead author, Dr. William Feldman. "We just looked at insulin, but other studies have shown other drugs would have...

AHA News: Persistent Asthma Linked to Increased Risk for Heart Rhythm Disorder

4 February 2020
AHA News: Persistent Asthma Linked to Increased Risk for Heart Rhythm DisorderTUESDAY, Feb. 4, 2020 (American Heart Association News) -- People with persistent asthma could be at 1.5 times higher risk of developing a heart rhythm disorder called atrial fibrillation than those without asthma, new research shows. The study used data collected on 6,615 people in six areas around the country who were followed for nearly 13 years. When the study started, none of the participants had heart disease. Researchers concluded that the 150 participants with persistent asthma – those who required medication daily to control their condition – were more likely to be diagnosed with AFib than those without asthma. Inflammation is a risk factor for both asthma and AFib, and the study found people with persistent asthma had the highest levels of inflammation. But the research...

Dentists Among Top Prescribers of Opioids

TUESDAY, Feb. 4, 2020 (HealthDay News) -- American dentists often prescribe more than the recommended supply of opioid painkillers to patients, a new study finds. Not only that, they are more...

E-Cigarettes Popular Among Recent Quitters: Study

TUESDAY, Feb. 4, 2020 (HealthDay News) -- Smokers who recently quit tobacco cigarettes are much more likely to use e-cigarettes than those who quit more than a decade ago, a new study says. The...
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