Latest Health News

7Sep
2022

Air Pollution May Alter a Baby's Gut Microbiome

Air Pollution May Alter a Baby`s Gut MicrobiomeWEDNESDAY, Sept. 7, 2022 (HealthDay News) -- High levels of air pollution during the first six months of life could affect the colonies of bacteria in babies' guts, increasing their risk for allergies, obesity, diabetes and issues with brain development, according to new research.Researchers said their new study is the first to show a link between inhaled pollutants from traffic, wildfires, industry and other sources with changes in babies' gut bacteria, or microbiome. "This study adds to the growing body of literature showing that air pollution exposure, even during infancy, may alter the gut microbiome, with important implications for growth and development," said senior author Tanya Alderete. She's an assistant professor of integrative physiology at the University of Colorado...

Blood Test Shows Promise for Quick Diagnosis of ALS

7 September 2022
Blood Test Shows Promise for Quick Diagnosis of ALSWEDNESDAY, Sept. 7, 2022 (HealthDay News) -- Patients suspected of having amyotrophic lateral sclerosis (ALS) may soon be able to get a diagnosis much more quickly, not wasting the precious time many have left, new research suggests.In 2020, a blood test for ALS based on microRNA (short segments of genetic material) was developed by scientists from the company Brain Chemistry Labs, but it required precise protocols for shipping and storage of blood samples, which were maintained at −80° Celsius. That meant many doctors and neurologists couldn’t use the test. Now, researchers from the company, Dartmouth's department of neurology and the U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention report they have been able to replicate the original test with blood samples that were not...

AHA News: Educators, Other Experts Aim to Build Momentum...

6 September 2022
AHA News: Educators, Other Experts Aim to Build Momentum in Fight Against Youth VapingTUESDAY, Sept. 6, 2022 (American Heart Association News) -- For more than a decade, the cloud of vaping has encompassed more and more kids in the United States.Now, with a new school year underway, educators and health experts are building on recent progress as they enter the latest round of the vaping fight.Research into the health impact of electronic cigarettes is still unfolding, but ill effects are beginning to be revealed.There's evidence that teens who vape now may smoke later – a troubling finding that follows decades of significant progress in reducing cigarette smoking among youths. A scientific statement by the American Heart Association reported that people who use e-cigarettes may face increased risk of asthma. Using e-cigarettes also can lead to respiratory disease,...

AHA News: Triathlete's Heart Stopped at the Start of a...

6 September 2022
AHA News: Triathlete`s Heart Stopped at the Start of a Half IronmanTUESDAY, Sept. 6, 2022 (American Heart Association News) -- At 47, Mark Allen was in the best shape of his life. He was well on his way to his goal of competing in 50 events before his 50th birthday.That day, he would hit No. 21. The race – in Augusta, Georgia – was an Ironman 70.3, so named because competitors would swim, bike and run a cumulative 70.3 miles. Also known as a half Ironman, it would be his fourth such race.He just had to get past the swim. Mark never liked swimming. But this time, he was especially nervous. He'd gone out the night before to look at the Savannah River to see what he'd be up against. Before going to sleep, he told his fiancée, Tanya, "My heart is beating out of my chest. Every time I close my eyes, I just see water."It was Tanya's first half Ironman,...

With 'Chemical Imbalance' Theory in Doubt, What's Next for Depression Care?

6 September 2022
With `Chemical Imbalance` Theory in Doubt, What`s Next for Depression Care?TUESDAY, Sept. 6, 2022 (HealthDay Now) -- For Mary Christ, the idea that depression is a chemical imbalance in the brain has always felt true to her personal experience.A former educator, Christ, 57, has taken antidepressants for much of her adult life. She experienced bouts of anxiety and panic attacks from a young age, and those feelings intensified in adulthood and eventually sent her into a deep state of depression. When she started taking antidepressants in her 30s, Christ slowly regained her functioning and felt her true self return. She said the medication has helped keep her at "a level point."Christ is not alone in her opinion: According to surveys, more than 4 in 5 people believe that depression stems from imbalanced brain chemicals and, specifically, to low levels of the...

FDA Panel Skeptical of Controversial ALS Drug Ahead of Vote

6 September 2022
FDA Panel Skeptical of Controversial ALS Drug Ahead of VoteTUESDAY, Sept. 6, 2022 (HealthDay News) – A U.S. Food and Drug Administration panel will once again consider approval for an experimental drug for ALS, a rare second review for a disease that has no cure. The same panel that will meet Wednesday voted last March not to approve the drug for the deadly neurodegenerative condition that’s also known as Lou Gehrig’s disease.But getting the drug, known as Albrioza (AMX0035), approved is a rallying cause for patients, their families and members of Congress, the Associated Press reported.Still, federal regulators said in a briefing document filed on Friday that the company’s new evidence was not “sufficiently independent or persuasive” to establish effectiveness.The document did say that the experts can consider “the unmet need in...

America's Rural Roads: Quiet But Deadly, New Report Finds

6 September 2022
America`s Rural Roads: Quiet But Deadly, New Report FindsTUESDAY, Sept. 6, 2022 (HealthDay News) -- A new report reveals a hidden secret about the nation’s beautiful rural roads: They’re too often fatal for motorists. Nearly half of all U.S. crashes happen on rural roads, despite only 19% of Americans living in those areas. The report, conducted by the Governors Highway Safety Association (GHSA), details why and what can be done to prevent these fatal crashes. “Roads are the backbone of rural America, connecting far-flung communities and families. While cities and urban areas have alternatives to driving, that’s not the case for people in rural areas,” GHSA executive director Jonathan Adkins said in an association news release. “Unfortunately, the dangerous and deadly driving behaviors that have increased during the pandemic have...

Pediatricians Urge Parents to Get Kids a Flu Shot

6 September 2022
Pediatricians Urge Parents to Get Kids a Flu ShotTUESDAY, Sept. 6, 2022 (HealthDay News) -- Children should get their flu shot as soon as it is available, preferably by the end of October, a leading medical group recommends.Flu vaccination lagged last year, with 55% of children getting their vaccines, the American Academy of Pediatrics (AAP) noted. Coverage levels were 8 percentage points lower for Black children compared with white children, and the academy said the flu disproportionately affects families who are Black, Hispanic or American Indian or Alaska Native.“As a pediatrician and a parent, I consider the flu vaccine as critical for all family members,” said Dr. Kristina Bryant, lead author of a new policy statement from the AAP Committee on Infectious Diseases. It was published online Sept. 6 and will appear in the...

Jane Fonda Has Non-Hodgkin Lymphoma

TUESDAY, Sept. 6, 2022 (HealthDay News) – Actress Jane Fonda has announced she has non-Hodgkin lymphoma.Fonda, 84, said she has started chemotherapy to fight the highly treatable cancer, calling...

Could High-Dose Folic Acid Raise COVID Risks?

TUESDAY, Sept. 6, 2022 (HealthDay News) -- Folic acid, a B vitamin that's used widely to fortify foods and lower the risk of birth defects, may carry a hidden risk for those who have to take huge...
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