Latest Health News

FRIDAY, April 21, 2023 (HealthDay News) – Growing numbers of people have MRI brain scans to find out what's causing their headaches, see if they have a concussion or for another reason, when a doctor may spot the tell-tale lesions of multiple sclerosis (MS).Called radiologically isolated syndrome, this occurs in people who have no MS symptoms but whose scans show abnormalities that are similar to those seen with MS. For doctors, the question has always been: Should these folks be treated or is it better to watch and wait?Now, a new study suggests that the disease-modifying MS drug Aubagio (teriflunomide) may delay the onset of MS symptoms in people with this syndrome. This drug is approved to treat several other types of MS, an autoimmune disease in which the body's defense system...

FRIDAY, April 21, 2023 (HealthDay News) -- The number of kids who attempted suicide using over-the-counter or easily accessible medications is up sharply, a new study shows.This research spotlights a pediatric mental health crisis, said researchers from the University of Virginia Health System, who reviewed data on reported suicide attempts that were reported to the National Poison Data System in 2021.“This significant increase in suicide attempts during the pandemic surprised us,” said Dr. Christopher Holstege, medical director of the Blue Ridge Poison Center at UVA Health. “We are alarmed at the dramatic increase in suicide attempts in such a young population, which continues to escalate according to our data.”Suspected suicide attempts by poisoning in 10- to 19-year-olds...

FRIDAY, April 21, 2023 (HealthDay News) – Taking a particular sleep medication may help stave off Alzheimer’s disease, but it’s too soon to say for sure after a preliminary study.Researchers at Washington University School of Medicine in St. Louis found that participants who took a sleeping pill called suvorexant before bed had a drop in levels of key Alzheimer’s disease proteins.“This is a small, proof-of-concept study. It would be premature for people who are worried about developing Alzheimer’s to interpret it as a reason to start taking suvorexant every night,” said senior study author Dr. Brendan Lucey, an associate professor of neurology and director of Washington University’s Sleep Medicine Center. “We don’t yet know whether long-term use is effective in...

THURSDAY, April 20, 2023 (HealthDay News) -- Have you heard the old wives’ tale that knuckle cracking will enlarge your knuckles? What about the one that cracking your knuckles causes arthritis?There are many beliefs about this common behavior, but it's time to debunk the myths about knuckle cracking.Why do people crack their knuckles?Harvard Health cites several possible reasons. "Knuckle cracking is a common behavior enjoyed by many," said Dr. Robert Shmerling, a rheumatologist and senior faculty editor at Harvard Health. "It can become a habit or a way to deal with nervous energy; some describe it as a way to 'release tension.' For some, it’s simply an annoying thing that other people do."Sometimes people crack their knuckles out of habit. Like cigarette smoking, excessive...