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Record Number of Fatal Drug ODs for Pregnant, Postpartum Women

Pregnant and postpartum women are dying of drug overdoses in record numbers, and the COVID-19 pandemic has only made things worse, a new study shows.

Deaths increased about 81% over the past four years, hitting a record high in 2020, according to researchers from Columbia University Mailman School of Public Health in New York City.

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Could Bacteria in Your Gut Help Spur Depression?

Depression may be a disorder of the brain, but new research adds to evidence that it also involves the gut.

While depression is complex, recent research has been pointing to a role for bacteria that dwell in the gut -- suggesting that certain bacterial strains might feed depression symptoms, while others might be protective.

In ...

Cooler Noses May Be Key to Winter's Spike in Colds

Researchers may have sniffed out why colds are more likely in wintertime: The answer may lie within the nose.

A previously unidentified immune response inside the nose is responsible for fighting off the viruses that cause upper respiratory infections, according to researchers at Massachusetts Eye and Ear and Northeastern University in Bos...

Concerns Around Sex, Fertility Often Ignored in Breast Cancer Care: Survey

Shehzin Tietjen was 27 years old when she felt a lump in one of her breasts while in the shower.

That discovery led to a confirmation of breast cancer, an unexpected jolt at her age. "I was really shocked," said Tietjen, who lives in Atlanta.

Though breast cancer is more common in postmenopausal women, about 9% of new breast cancer c...

Eating Lots of 'Ultra-Processed' Foods Could Harm Your Brain

Chips, pizza, cookies: Delicious, but a diet full of ultra-processed foods like these may contribute to brain deterioration, researchers report.

Ultra-processed foods have lots of added and unhealthy ingredients, such as sugar, salt, fat, artificial colors and preservatives. Examples include frozen meals, soft drinks, hot dogs and col...

AHA News: Keeping High Blood Pressure at Bay for the Holidays

No matter what winter holiday traditions you celebrate, you probably won't find "think about blood pressure" on your to-do list, even after checking it twice.

But that would be a nice idea for your heart's sake, experts say.

High blood pressure is a leading risk factor for heart attack and stroke, said Dr. Angela L. Brown, director o...

Actress Kirstie Alley Dies of Cancer at 71

Actress Kirstie Alley, best known for a breakthrough role in the TV hit "Cheers," and on the big screen in "Look Who's Talking," has died at 71 from cancer.

"We are sad to inform you that our incredible, fierce and loving mother has passed away after a battle with cancer, only recently discovered," her children True and Lillie Parker annou...

Science Reveals 3 Keys to an Energized, Alert Day

Advertising would have you believe that a big bowl of sugary cereal or a syrupy iced coffee drink will make you bright-eyed and bushy-tailed in the morning.

But that sort of sugar-laden breakfast may be one of the worst things you can do to help you wake up alert and refreshed.

A major new sleep study shows a breakfast rich in comple...

Banning Flavored Vapes Didn't Spur Folks to Quit

When the U.S. Food and Drug Administration banned fruit-flavored vaping products in early 2020, the idea was to reverse the rapid rise in electronic cigarette use among youths.

Now, a new survey of adult e-cigarette users finds that instead of quitting e-cigarettes, most vapers switched to flavored products not covered by the ...

More States Are Allowing Pharmacists to Prescribe Birth Control

Pharmacists can now. prescribe hormonal contraceptives in 20 U.S. states, plus Washington, D.C., giving women easier access to birth control, a new report says.

Another 10 states have legislation in the works, according to research presented Monday at a meeting of the American Society for Health-System Pharmacists, in Las Vegas.

Havi...

Seniors Urged to Get Flu Shots as U.S. Cases Rise

Experts are asking seniors to get their flu shots ASAP as an exceptionally nasty flu season unfolds across the United States.

Already, 8.7 million flu cases have been reported, with 78,000 hospitalizations and 4,500 deaths, according to the U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. In the last week alone, the number of flu hospitali...

Risk of Newly Developed High Blood Pressure Rises After Pregnancy

One in 10 women will develop high blood pressure for the first time in their lives during the year after they give birth to a child, a new study finds.

“The study findings have implications for postpartum care, particularly among patients without a history of hypertension,” said study lead author Samantha Parker, an assistant professo...

Monitoring Toilet Sounds Could Help Spot Disease

A small toilet-based sound sensor that can tell the difference between peeing, pooping and diarrhea may one day help prevent cholera outbreaks.

"The hope is that this sensor, which is small in footprint and noninvasive in approach, could be deployed to areas where cholera outbreaks are a persistent risk," said researcher Maia Gatlin of th...

Feds Urge Vaccination as 'Tripledemic' Hits More Americans

Flu, RSV and COVID-19 are creating a perfect storm of respiratory disease that is overwhelming the nation's health care systems.

Vaccination will be key to getting through the winter holidays with your health intact, U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention Director Dr. Rochelle Walensky said during a media briefing Monday.

"F...

Pfizer Asks FDA to Approve Tweaked COVID Booster as Third Shot for Kids Under 5

Infants and young children could soon receive an updated COVID-19 vaccine as part of their three-dose series.

Pfizer Inc. on Monday asked the U.S. Food and Drug Administration to have the vaccine that targets the Omicron subvariants BA.4 and BA.5 replace the third dose in the series for children aged 6 months through 4 years old. Children...

As Alcohol Abuse Declines Among Teens, Marijuana Abuse Soars

American kids are drinking to excess less and abusing marijuana more, a new study finds.

Marijuana abuse among 6- to 18-year-olds has increased 245% since 2000, while child alcohol abuse has steadily declined over those years, say researchers who analyzed poisonings over two decades.

"This dramatic increase does coincide with t...

Bribing Folks Can Help Them Meet Weight-Loss Goals, Study Finds

Money may not buy happiness, but it might give low-income obese people an extra incentive to lose weight, a new study suggests.

The study, of people from urban neighborhoods, found that cash rewards encouraged participants to shed some extra pounds, versus a weight-loss program with no financial bonuses.

And the effects were sim...

Severe Seizures Are Rising, Especially Among Minorities

Growing numbers of Americans are suffering prolonged, life-threatening seizures known as status epilepticus, and Black people are nearly twice as likely to experience these seizures as white people.

These are the main findings from new research looking at hospitalizations for status epilepticus from 2010 to 2019 across the United Stat...

AHA News: 'Supernatural' Actor Had a Stroke at a Fan Convention. Now, He's Giving Back in His Own Way.

Actor and musician Rob Benedict was in his natural habitat, onstage and entertaining an audience, when two of his friends decided to pull a practical joke on him.

They were all gathered in Toronto for a fan convention for "Supernatural," the long-running TV series. Benedict, who played the author Chuck Shurley (aka God) on the show, was ta...

Shingles Ups Odds of Stroke, Heart Attack By Almost 30%

People who've had a bout of shingles may face a heightened risk of heart attack or stroke in later years, a new, large study suggests.

Anyone who ever had chickenpox can develop shingles — a painful rash that is caused by a reactivation of the virus that causes chickenpox. About one-third of Americans will develop shingles in their ...