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THURSDAY, Oct. 20, 2022 (HealthDay News) -- Women who regularly use chemical hair straighteners may be more prone to developing uterine cancer, a new large government study suggests.The study, which followed nearly 34,000 U.S. women over a decade, found that those who frequently used hair straighteners were 2.5 times more likely to develop uterine cancer, versus non-users. "Frequent" was defined as more than four times in the past year.Experts cautioned that the findings do not prove cause and effect. And given that uterine cancer is relatively uncommon, even the increased risk linked to hair straighteners is small.Frequent users had a 4% chance of developing the cancer by age 70, versus a 1.6% chance among non-users, the investigators found."The overall risk is not large, and chemical...

THURSDAY, Oct. 20, 2022 (American Heart Association News) -- The coronavirus pandemic magnified health disparities among racial and ethnic groups. Some experts say using trusted community voices could help close gaps not only in vaccination rates but in overall health.Even before the pandemic, public health experts knew that people from historically underrepresented and underserved populations were less likely to receive preventive care, including vaccines, said Dr. Andrew T. Chan, a professor of medicine at Harvard Medical School and Massachusetts General Hospital in Boston. Often, these communities have less access to vaccines and greater mistrust of the medical system, which contributes to lower rates of vaccination, he said.Some gaps in COVID-19 vaccination rates have closed over...

THURSDAY, Oct. 20, 2022 (HealthDay News) -- "Location, location, location" works in real estate, and a new study argues that the location of your hospital room could save your life after surgery.Patients are more likely to die after surgery if they are placed in certain types of rooms to recover, researchers from the University of Michigan School of Medicine found.Specifically, the researchers said patients can expect to have a better recovery if they:Have a room to themselves rather than sharing with another patient.Are placed in a room closest to a nursing station on their floor.Are in a location that affords a clear line of sight from the nursing stationJust how big was the difference? People in rooms that included none of the positive features listed above were 50% more likely to...

THURSDAY, Oct. 20, 2022 (HealthDay News) -- Using marijuana increases the risk of developing the heart rhythm disorder atrial fibrillation (a-fib), a new study suggests.It's been known that drugs such as methamphetamine, cocaine and opiates can directly affect the heart and cause abnormal rhythms like a-fib, but weed can increase the risk by 35%, researchers found."There is a common perception that cannabis may be healthy because it's 'natural,'" said lead researcher Dr. Gregory Marcus, a professor of medicine at the University of California, San Francisco. "But as laws become more lenient in allowing use of these substances, it's important to recognize adverse consequences that may substantially impact the lives of users."This study doesn't prove drug use causes a-fib, only that users...