Latest Health News

FRIDAY, March 5, 2021 (HealthDay News) -- Readers pay attention when social media sites label an article as "unverified" or "suspicious," a new study suggests.But how an article is presented -- including author credentials and writing style -- doesn't affect readers' views about its credibility.The findings show that big tech companies such as Facebook and Twitter have a responsibility to combat the spread of misleading and dangerous information, according to the University of Kansas researchers."Whenever we see information that has been flagged, we immediately raise our skepticism, even if we don't agree with it. Big tech companies have a very important role to play in ensuring a healthy, clean information environment," said study co-author Hong Tien Vu, an assistant professor of...

FRIDAY, March 5, 2021 (HealthDay News) -- Seizures of illegal drugs fell sharply in the United States during early COVID-19 lockdowns, but spiked once stay-at-home orders eased.Researchers studied seizures of marijuana, cocaine, methamphetamine, heroin and fentanyl in five locations between March 2019 (a year before the pandemic began in the United States) through September 2020, six months into the pandemic.During that time, law enforcement officers made more than 29,500 drug seizures in Washington/Baltimore, Chicago, Ohio, New Mexico and North Florida.Seizures -- particularly of marijuana and methamphetamine -- declined sharply in March and April 2020, when stay-at-home orders went into effect across the nation.But after falling to a low point in April, drug seizures rose through the...

FRIDAY, March 5, 2021 (HealthDay News) -- You might decide your frizzy locks aren't so bad after all, given a new warning from the U.S. Food and Drug Administration that most hair straightening/smoothing products release formaldehyde gas, a human carcinogen. Being exposed to formaldehyde for longer periods of time and at higher concentrations increases the health risks, according to the FDA. Formaldehyde exposure can cause a host of complaints, including eye problems or irritation; nervous system problems such as headaches and dizziness; and respiratory problems such as sore or scratchy throat, cough or wheezing. Nausea, chest pain, vomiting and rashes are also associated with formaldehyde exposure.Long-term effects can include chronic headaches, asthma, contact dermatitis (a red,...

FRIDAY, March 5, 2021 (HealthDay News) -- Can money buy you happiness? Maybe not, but a new study suggests it's linked to greater feelings of confidence and pride.Researchers analyzed five past studies that included a survey of more than 1.6 million people in 162 countries.They found that higher income predicted whether people felt good about themselves, including feelings of confidence, pride and determination. The studies didn't find a consistent link between income level and people's feelings toward others, including love, anger and compassion."Having more money doesn't necessarily make a person more compassionate and grateful, and greater wealth may not contribute to building a more caring and tolerant society," said lead researcher Eddie Tong, an associate professor of psychology...