Latest Health News

WEDNESDAY, July 8, 2020 (HealthDay News) -- Penicillin allergy is often unconfirmed in hospital patients, meaning many unnecessarily receive other antibiotics that may be less effective and even harmful, a new study finds. The researchers analyzed records of nearly 11,000 patients at 106 U.S. hospitals and found that 16% of those with a self-reported penicillin allergy were twice as likely to be prescribed alternative antibiotics. But the substitutions were probably unnecessary, according to a study published recently in JAMA Internal Medicine, because more than nine out of 10 reported penicillin allergies have not been confirmed. "Too often clinicians are making inferior antibiotic decisions based on unverified penicillin allergy histories that may date back to a patient's...

WEDNESDAY, July 8, 2020 (HealthDay News) -- Probiotic supplements might help ease depression symptoms in some people, a new research review suggests. Researchers found that across seven small clinical trials, various probiotics seemed to improve symptoms in patients with clinical depression -- at least in the short term. The studies build on a growing research interest in the role of gut health -- specifically, the balance of bacteria dwelling there -- and brain health. But experts stressed that the probiotic trials had a number of limitations, and it's too soon to draw any conclusions. For one, a "placebo effect" cannot be ruled out, according to Sanjay Noonan, the lead author on the research review. And, he said, besides being small, the trials did not look at the longer term:...

WEDNESDAY, July 8, 2020 (HealthDay News) -- New research is suggesting links between street lights, neon signs and other forms of nighttime outside lighting and sleeplessness and mood disorders among teens. The study of more than 10,000 American kids aged 13 to 18 couldn't prove cause and effect. However, it found that teens living in areas with high levels of artificial outdoor light at night went to bed about 29 minutes later, on average, and got 11 fewer minutes of sleep, compared to teens in areas with the lowest levels of outdoor nighttime light. What's more, greater levels of artificial light were also associated with increased risk of a teen developing a mood or anxiety disorder. Specifically, teens exposed to higher levels of artificial light at night were more likely to...

WEDNESDAY, July 8, 2020 (American Heart Association News) -- If you've been keeping a healthy distance from other people because of COVID-19, you probably feel smart. But if you're also feeling lonely and stressed, it doesn't mean anything is wrong. It could simply mean you're human. The need to be around people is hard-wired into our brains, researchers say. We crave company in the same way we hunger for food or thirst for water. When that craving isn't satisfied, the long-term health consequences can be serious. Luckily, the need for togetherness can be met even at a distance. The idea that our brains drive us to be around one another has gained popularity in recent decades, said Louise Hawkley, senior research scientist at NORC at the University of Chicago. We evolved to be around...