Get Healthy!

Experiment Shows Many Seniors Falling Prey to 'Impostor Scams'

Many older adults are savvy about telephone scams, but a sizable minority remain vulnerable, a new study suggests.

Researchers found that when they simulated a "government impersonation" scam -- contacting seniors and pretending to be federal employees -- over two-thirds knew how to handle the situation: They ignored it.

The rest, ho...

Breast Cancer Drug Could Trigger Dangerous High Blood Sugar

For certain patients with advanced breast cancer, a drug called Piqray (alpelisib) may extend survival. But new research confirms the medication often causes seriously high blood sugar levels.

“This is a very effective drug that we should be using to treat breast cancer, but the problem is that it causes high blood sugar, which also can ...

Heat-Related Deaths Could Break Records This Year in Phoenix, America's Hottest City

Phoenix, already the hottest major city in the nation, experienced its most scorching summer on record this year, new data shows. And that will likely prompt the highest number of heat-associated deaths ever reported in the city in one year.

At this point, Maricopa County public health officials have confirmed 289 heat-associated deaths, t...

Playtime With Dad Brings Kids Better Grades at School

Most parents want to help their kids do well in school, and for dads the answer may be found in something simple and fun.

A new study from the United Kingdom finds that kids do better in elementary school when their fathers regularly spend time interacting with them through reading, playing, telling stories, drawing or singing.

Resea...

Water Beads Can Expand Inside Body, Causing Kids Serious Harm. Should They Be Banned?

Ashley Haugen’s 13-month-old daughter, Kipley, woke up projectile vomiting in their Texas home one morning in July 2017.

The Haugens took her to the doctor after it became apparent she wasn’t keeping anything down. After not responding to medication, Kipley was whisked to a nearby children’s hospital for emergency surgery.

“I...

Psychotherapy May Help Ease Fibromyalgia Pain

"Talk therapy" may help people with fibromyalgia manage their chronic pain -- and alter the brain's pain-processing circuitry along the way, a new study shows.

Researchers found that after eight sessions of cognitive behavioral therapy (CBT), patients with fibromyalgia felt less burdened by their pain and other symptoms in daily life. And ...

President Biden Gets COVID, Flu Shots

MONDAY, Sept. 25, 2023 (HealthDay News) – President Joe Biden has been freshly vaccinated for three major respiratory viruses that could spread widely this fall and winter.

Biden got both the updated COVID booster and his annual flu shot on Friday, White House physician Kevin O’Connor wrote in a White House memo. The president received...

Surgeons Perform Transplant of Gene-Tweaked Pig Heart Into Second Patient

A second human patient has received a genetically altered pig heart as he battles the ravages of end-stage heart disease.

The 58-year-old man, Lawrence Faucette, received the pig organ at the University of Maryland Medical Center in Baltimore.

The medical team was the same one that performed the first pig transplant with another pati...

Your Wrist Could Give Clues to Future Health

One day, it may be possible to monitor people for risk of disease through continuously measuring skin temperature.

Researchers have found in a new study that wrist temperature is associated with future risk of disease.

“These findings indicate the potential to marry emerging technology with health monitoring in a powerful new way,�...

Tear Gas Might Harm a Woman's Reproductive Health

Researchers in Minnesota have uncovered a new link between tear gas exposures and negative effects on reproductive health.

The study was prompted by anecdotal reports of irregular menstrual cycles among protestors who were exposed to tear gas during the nationwide protests that followed the May 2020 murder of George Floyd.

“This st...

Weight-Loss Surgery Could Lower Odds for Blood Cancers

Weight-loss surgery can deliver a host of health benefits, but new research reveals an unexpected one: Getting the surgery was associated with a 40% lower risk of blood cancers.

Being overweight or obese is a risk factor for several types of cancer, and women with obesity have a higher risk of cancer than men do.

In the study, resea...

Unsafe Neighborhoods Have Higher Levels of Child Abuse

Having safer neighborhoods, where families feel less stress, can help prevent child abuse, according to new research that supports this long-suspected theory.

When parents feel higher levels of stress or hopelessness about their surroundings, they may have a harder time caring for their children, the study confirms.

“To get the bes...

Ginger May Ease Inflammation of Autoimmune Diseases

Ginger supplements may help those with certain autoimmune diseases, such as lupus and rheumatoid arthritis, control inflammation.

New research has added evidence to support the impact of ginger on white blood cell function, particularly a type of cell called a neutrophil.

The researchers were particularly interested in neutrophil ext...

How to Care for a New Body Piercing

Piercings can be a fun way to express yourself, but they can also cause complications — particularly in areas that aren’t the earlobes — and need proper care.

“The first step to caring for your piercing is choosing a qualified piercer,” said Dr. Steven Daveluy, an associate professor and program director at Wayne State Dermatolog...

Talking to a Loved One Battling Substance Abuse: Staying Positive Is Key

A conversation with a family member or loved one struggling with addiction can be the catalyst for getting help.

But it’s important to choose your words carefully when discussing possible addiction to controlled substances with your loved one, said Dr. Aleksandra Zgierska, a professor of family and community medicine at Penn State Colleg...

RSV Vaccine Given in Pregnancy to Help Shield Newborns Receives Full U.S. Approval

Women may soon have a vaccine they can take during a pregnancy to help protect their newborn from respiratory syncytial virus (RSV).

Following approval one month ago by the U.S. Food and Drug Administration, the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention on Friday also approved the shot, called Abrysvo. That marks the last hurdle needed fo...

Many Americans Frustrated in Search for Low-Cost COVID Boosters

Americans seeking out the new COVID boosters are finding themselves held back by insurance entanglements and supply delays.

Some insurers have balked at covering the vaccines, with people arriving at shot appointments only to be told that they’ll have to pay $100 or more out of pocket for the jab.

And in other places, booster appo...

In 22 U.S. States, More Than a Third of Adults Are Now Obese

Obesity is on the rise across the United States.

In 22 states, 35% of adults or more were obese last year, new data from the U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention show.

Just 10 years ago, there were no states that had obesity rates at or above 35%.

“Our updated maps send a clear message that additional support for ...

Kraft Cheese Slices Recalled Due to Plastic Wrap Choking Hazard

Kraft Heinz said it is recalling over 83,000 packs of its Kraft Singles American processed cheese slices because of a packaging defect in the plastic that wraps the cheese slices.

A temporary issue developed on one of the wrapping machines, making it possible for a thin strip of individual film to stay on the cheese slice after the wrapper...

Kids' ER Visits for Mental Health Crises Rise When School Term Begins

FRIDAY, Sept. 22, 2023 (HealthDay News) -- While the start of the school year can give kids and teens the chance to reconnect with friends and enjoy school sports and activities, it can also trigger stressors that send many to the emergency room for mental health woes, a new report shows.

Among children aged 5 to 17, emer...