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Salmonella Outbreak Triggers Recall of Cucumbers in 26 States

Sixty-eight people have been sickened and 18 have been hospitalized in a salmonella outbreak linked to whole cucumbers sold in 26 states and parts of Canada.

"Epidemiologic and traceback information shows that cucumbers grown by Agrotato, S.A. de C.V. in Sonora, Mexico, including recalled cucumbers from SunFed Produce LLC, may be contamina...

Switch From Animal to Plant Proteins Greatly Boosts Heart Health

Moving away from meat to plants as a main source of protein will do wonders for your heart, new research finds.

The 30-year study found that folks with the highest ratio of plant-based protein to animal-based protein cut their odds of developing cardiovascular disease by 19%. They also had a 27% lower risk for coronary heart disease.

Workers Who Make Kitchen Countertops Face Big Lung Hazards

The workers who cut and finished your sleek stone countertop may be paying a price in poor lung health, new research shows.

Breathing in dust created by the manufacture of countertops can cause the lung disease silicosis, according to a study presented today at the annual meeting of the Radiological Society of North America (RSNA) in Chica...

When's Best Time for Your COVID Booster? That May Depend on You

Folks might want to try timing their COVID-19 booster vaccine to coincide with a period of increased transmission in their area, a new study suggests.

Doing so can improve protection against COVID infection as much as fourfold compared to getting the jab when the coronavirus isn’t spreading as much, researchers report in the journal ...

Antibiotics or Surgery: What's Best for Child Appendicitis?

For decades, surgery to remove an inflamed appendix has been a rite of childhood for many.

But a new study says treating appendicitis with antibiotics, rather than surgery, is the best way to address most cases.

Using antibiotics to treat uncomplicated cases of appendicitis resulted in less pain and fewer days off from school for kid...

Cervical Cancer Deaths Fell Dramatically After Advent of HPV Vaccine

A new study provides good evidence that the human papillomavirus (HPV) vaccine may be achieving its goal of slashing rates of cervical cancer.

“We observed a … 62% drop in cervical cancer deaths over the last decade, likely due to HPV vaccination,” said study senior author Ashish Deshmukh. “We cannot think of any o...

Newer Epilepsy Meds Safe During Pregnancy, Won't Affect Kids' Neurodevelopment

For decades, it's been known that certain older medications women use to control epilepsy seizures can pose risks to a fetus.  

However, data now suggests that no such risk exists for newer-generation anti-seizure meds.

“We need to balance making sure there is enough medicine on board to protect the mother and her developi...

CTE Plus Family History of Mental Illness Raises Odds for Aggression

Concussion-related brain damage can combine with a family history of mental illness to make some athletes and military personnel prone to aggression and violence in middle age, a new study says. 

People with chronic traumatic encephalopathy (CTE) are at higher risk of mood changes and dementia, but this study shows that aggression is ...

Over 100,000 U.S. Youth Battle Inflammatory Bowel Disease

Cases of inflammatory bowel disease (IBD) are rising at an alarming rate among young Americans, a new study reveals.

"Prevalence rates [are] among the highest reported worldwide," said researcher Dr. Michael Kappelman, a professor of pediatrics and epidemiology at the University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill. 

The study -- pu...

Smoker or Former Smoker? Here Are 4 Key Things You Need to Know

MONDAY, Dec.2, 2024 (HealthDay News) — Doctors have potent new weapons against the deadliest cancer in America and they want to make sure they're on the radar of current and former smokers.

"Lung cancer screening is the most powerful tool we have to lower cancer [deaths]," said Dr. Timothy Mullett, medical director of the Markey Canc...

Be Alert to Carbon Monoxide Dangers as Winter Storms Hit U.S.

Winter storms that are bearing down on Americansalso bring a hidden killer in their wake: carbon monoxide.

Experts at the U.S. Consumer Product Safety Commission (CPSC) are warning of the potentially lethal effects of carbon monoxide (CO), emitted by the gas generators folks may use to power their homes when storms knock out electricity.<...

Drinking Lots of Water Really Is Good for You, Study Finds

The collected evidence is in, and drinking about eight cups of water per day is, in fact, good for you.

So says a University of California San Francisco team who crunched the data from 18 randomized controlled trials.

“For such a ubiquitous and simple intervention, the evidence hasn’t been clear and the benefits were not ...

Most Americans Don't Know Alcohol's Links to Cancer

FRIDAY, Nov. 29, 2024 (HealthDay News) — Less than half of Americans realize that they're increasing their risk of cancer with every beer, cocktail or shot of whiskey.

Despite public health warnings about the links between drinking and cancer risk, this widespread lack of awareness is the key takeaway from a new nationwide survey.

Kids From Poorer Homes May Have Worse Outcomes If MS Strikes

A child from a poorer neighborhood is more prone to severe illness once they develop multiple sclerosis (MS) compared to children growing up in more affluent areas, new research shows.

The study of 138 MS patients who'd been diagnosed before the age of 18 revealed that kids from less advantaged neighborhoods showed larger volumes of inflam...

Premature Birth Could Impact Life Span for Decades

Premature babies not only face serious and immediate health consequences: New research shows they are also more likely to die early, a risk that persists into their 30s.

"Understanding the long-term effects of preterm birth can help us develop preventative strategies and identify interventions to improve the health of individuals who are b...

Twice-Yearly Injection 96% Effective in Preventing HIV Infection

People whose partners have HIV must remember to take antiretroviral pills every single day or risk infection themselves.

But researchers have come up with a way to avoid that daily hassle – an injectable drug that patients would only have to receive twice a year.

What’s more, the new drug works even better than the curren...

Some HRT Pills May Pose Special Risk for Blood Clots

Certain hormone replacement therapy pills appear to increase the risk of heart disease and serious blood clots in women going through menopause, a new study says.

Estrogen/progestin pills increased women’s risk of heart disease by 21% and risk of life-threatening blood clots by 61%, researchers found.

Similarly, the synthetic h...

Your Old Pacemaker Could Be Recycled to Save a Life

Don't let your surgeon toss your old heart pacemaker out with the trash. 

Used pacemakers can be refurbished, researchers report, providing the potential for more people overseas to get the lifesaving devices.

"Unlike in the United States, pacemaker therapy is often not available or affordable for people in low- and middle-incom...

Scientists Develop Whole New Form of Effective Asthma Treatment

Geoffrey Pointing says its hard to describe the distress of an asthma or COPD flare-up.

“Honestly, when you're having a flare up, it's very difficult to tell anybody how you feel - you can hardly breathe,” Pointing, 77, of Banbury, England, said in a news release. 

But an existing injectable drug might make these att...

U.S. Abortion Numbers Dipped Slightly in 2022

The rate and number of abortions among U.S. women took a slight dip in 2022 compared to 2021, according to the latest data from the U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC).

In late June of 2022, the U.S. Supreme Court overturned the landmark Roe v. Wade decision that since 1973 had legalized abortion nationwide. Many...