Latest Health News

FRIDAY, March 24, 2023 (HealthDay News) -- There’s nothing like the comfort and security of home. For many, a home is a place filled with fond memories of happy times.It’s no wonder older adults choose to extend their independence by trying to stay in their homes as they get older, an experience called aging in place.But as a person ages, what used to be ordinary in the home can be challenging or even a hazard. Almost one-third of older adults experience a fall. Among them, 55% fall inside the home and 23% fall outside the home, according to AARP.As a caregiver, it’s important to consider what you can do to make the home safe and accessible for an older loved one.“We’re hearing more from the caregivers that are modifying their home so their older relative can move in with...

FRIDAY, March 24, 2023 (HealthDay News) -- Florida has yet another new mosquito species in its midst that has migrated from the tropics, settling in at least three counties since 2018.It’s not yet clear whether this one, called Culex lactator, will contribute to transmission of mosquito-borne viruses in the state, but scientists are concerned about the rate of new mosquitoes arriving in Florida.“There are about 90 mosquito species living in Florida, and that list is growing as new mosquito species are introduced to the state from elsewhere in the world,” said lead study author Lawrence Reeves, an assistant professor and mosquito biologist at the University of Florida's Institute of Food and Agricultural Sciences Research Center in Vero Beach.Culex lactator was first discovered in...

MONDAY, March 27, 2023 (HealthDay News) -- Children with autism are less likely than their peers to receive important vision screening despite a high risk for serious eye disorders, researchers report.Only about 36% of children with autism spectrum disorder (ASD) completed vision screenings during their health checkups, a new study found. That was far fewer than the 59% rate for children without ASD.In addition, the screening rate for Black children with ASD was just under 28%, compared with nearly 40% for white and multiracial kids, the findings showed.“I noticed that many of our patients with autism have never had vision screening, even though it’s recommended for all young children,” said senior author Dr. Brittany Perry, a pediatrician at the Nemours Swank Autism Center in...

THURSDAY, March 23, 2023 (HealthDay News) -- Ask your teen about their day and try to spend more quality time together.It matters, a new study found.Teens who report better relationships with their moms and dads are healthier both mentally and physically and less likely to abuse drugs or alcohol as young adults, according to researchers.“Teens who reported higher levels of warmth, communication, time together and satisfaction with relationships and communication with parents -- when re-interviewed 14 years later in young adulthood -- reported higher levels of general health, optimism and quality of romantic relationships,” said study author Dr. Carol Ford, chief of adolescent medicine at Children's Hospital of Philadelphia.These teens also reported lower levels of stress and...