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States Enact Emergency Orders On Kratom While Awaiting Federal Rules

States are moving faster and further than federal regulators to get kratom off store shelves, with some banning the herb outright while a pending federal rule targets only one of its chemicals.

Massachusetts acted Thursday. Its public health commissioner, Dr. Robbie Goldstein, issued a temporary emergency order placing all forms of kratom ...

Processed Foods Linked To Prostate Cancer Risk

Ultra-processed foods might be linked to a higher risk of prostate cancer, a new study says.

Men who ate the most ultra-processed foods had as much as a 34% higher risk of prostate cancer, compared to those who ate less, researchers reported recently in the American Journal of Medicine.

“Among adult men in this nationa...

Screen Time Is Not All Bad For Kids' Brains

More screen time isn’t always bad for kids' brains.

It may even have some surprising benefits, according to a new study from Finland published in the journal Pediatric Exercise Science.

Researchers followed 260 children for eight years, tracking their physical activity, sedentary behavior and screen time from childhood...

Sleep Disturbances Linked To Genetic Alzheimer's Risk

A person’s sleep patterns could be an early sign of Alzheimer’s disease, a new study says.

A greater number of micro-awakenings during sleep is linked to a greater genetic risk for Alzheimer’s, researchers reported recently in the journal Sleep.

In fact, more frequent micro-awakenings go hand in hand with t...

Pre-K Sets Kids Up For School Success, Study Says

Parents who want their kids to do great at school should get them into pre-kindergarten, a new study suggests.

Children who attend public school pre-K perform better academically through high school compared to kids who stay home with their family, researchers reported recently in the journal Early Childhood Research Quarterly.

Expect Other Seniors To Act Their Age? Then Expect Problems With Your Own Memory, Study Says

They say you’re as old as you feel, but you also might be as old as you expect other seniors to behave, a new study says.

Older folks who have strong beliefs about “acting one’s age” tend to report more memory problems, researchers reported Aug. 10 in the International Journal of Behavioral Development.

Rare Bacteria In Coastal Waters Has Killed 7 This Summer

At least seven people in Florida and Louisiana have died in recent weeks from a rare bacteria that can destroy skin and tissue. 

Louisiana reported five deaths so far this year, while Florida recorded its second death of the year from Vibrio vulnificus, reports USA Today.

In each of the last 10 years, one perso...

Socializing: A Prescription For Healthier Brain Aging

Imagine heading to a doctor’s office for memory problems and getting a prescription to hang out with friends.

Prescriptions calling for “doses” of social engagement could help seniors’ brains age more gracefully, a new study says.

Activities like bingo, church gatherings or a trip to the movies could be the be...

Taking The Stairs May Lower Your Risk Of Dying From Heart Disease

Taking the stairs instead of the elevator may do more for your health than you think.

A large study published in the American Journal of Cardiovascular Drugs found people who regularly climbed the stairs were 39% less likely to die from cardiovascular disease. And 24% less likely to die from any cause. Their odds of heart attack, ...

Sweet Tooth? It Could Be Shaping Your Decisions, Study Says

A taste for sweets — ice cream, candy, chocolates, pastries — might provide a window into the way you make decisions, researchers say.

People with a sweet tooth are more apt to make impulsive choices — but not necessarily because they are impatient, researchers reported recently in Frontiers in Psychology.

...

Gambling Linked To Mental Health Problems Among College Students

Gambling is a powerful temptation for today’s college students, and those hooked have a greater risk of deeper mental health issues, a new study says.

Student gambling frequently occurs alongside depression, anxiety and substance use, researchers reported recently in the International Journal of Mental Health and Addiction.<...

Stressed Parents Turn To Screens For Help, Study Finds

Parents under stress are more likely to use screens to help manage their children, a new study says.

As stress levels rise, parents tend to use screens to help calm or occupy their children, researchers reported recently in the journal Family Relations.

They also are more likely to shrug it off when kids exceed family screen...

FDA Wants More Information From Food Makers On New Food Chemicals

For decades, food manufacturers have been able to decide what food chemicals were safe enough to add to their products based on general government guidelines. 

Now, the U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) wants more information first. 

A proposal announced Monday would require companies to notify FDA when they add a new...

Aspirin/Omega-3 Combo Matches Antibiotics In Treating Gum Disease, Trial Finds

People with severe gum infections might be able to forego antibiotics by taking low-dose aspirin and omega-3 fatty acid supplements instead.

Patients’ gum disease improved just as well with an aspirin and omega-3 treatment as it did with antibiotics, researchers reported recently in the Journal of Periodontology.

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Endometriosis Linked To Higher Type 2 Diabetes Risk

New research is drawing a surprising link between two conditions that affect millions of women.

A major study — published Aug. 6 in the journal Diabetologia — finds women with endometriosis face a 46% higher risk of developing type 2 diabetes.

"Previous studies largely evaluated endometriosis as a single conditio...

Experimental Pulse Oximeter Accurate Regardless Of Skin Tone, Researchers Say

Pulse oximeters became widely known during the COVID-19 pandemic, as doctors used the finger clip devices to tell whether a respiratory infection was robbing patients of needed oxygen. 

But skin tone impairs the effectiveness of pulse oximeters, causing them to overestimate blood oxygen levels of darker-toned people.

That’...

'Normal' Can Backfire During Doctor/Patient Discussions

A positive bedside manner might sometimes be the worst thing for doctors to provide patients, researchers say.

Patients might come away thinking they don’t need treatment — even if they really do — after a doctor reassures them by saying their symptoms are “normal,” according to a study published Aug. 10 in

Tamiflu Helps Keep Severely Ill Kids Out Of The ICU, Study Finds

Children with the flu who receive prompt treatment with Tamiflu are less likely to land in a hospital intensive care unit (ICU), a new study says.

Oseltamivir (Tamiflu) given as soon as possible reduced children’s risk of needing ICU care by 31%, researchers reported Aug. 10 in JAMA Pediatrics.

“After one of the ...

Executive Order Calls For Fewer Routine Childhood Vaccines, Doctors Push Back

A new executive order calls for American children to be routinely immunized against 11 diseases instead of the 17 now recommended by federal health officials.

President Donald Trump signed the order Monday — the third such order in less than a year. Whether it carries any legal force is unclear, according to The New York Times