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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.

According to data from the U.S. Centers for ...

Climate Change Is Pushing More People to Get X-rays, CT Scans

There's yet another downside to global warming: Higher health care expenditures for medical scans on hot days.

So report Canadian researchers who discovered that periods of heat and air pollution bumped up demand for X-rays and CT scans by about 5%. Over time, that could really add u...

New U.S. Overdose Death Numbers Show 'Sustained' Decline

After decades of battling the opioid epidemic, U.S. health officials reported Wednesday that overdose deaths have now declined for the second year in a row.

By how much did these deaths of despair drop? There were about 97,000 overdose deaths in the 12-month period that ended June 30, according to new provisional data from the 

  • Robin Foster HealthDay Reporter
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  • November 14, 2024
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    • Psychedelics Like Psilocybin, MDMA Tied to Higher Odds for Schizophrenia

    People are at higher risk of schizophrenia if they indulge in psychedelic drugs, a new study warns.

    Patients who land in the ER following hallucinogen use have a 21-fold higher risk of developing schizophrenia compared to the general population, Canadian researchers report.

    Even after controlling for a person’s existing

  • Dennis Thompson HealthDay Reporter
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  • November 13, 2024
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    • Bystanders More Readily Perform CPR If 911 Operator Instructs

    You encounter someone collapsed on the sidewalk and quickly dial 911. 

    Whether or not the operator instructs you on how to deliver cardiopulmonary resuscitation (CPR) could mean life or death, especially if the victim is female, new research shows.

    In a study involving nearly 2,400 emergency calls for cardiac arrest in North Carolina, rates for bystander CPR rose dramatically w...

    Have an Implanted Defibrillator? Triple-Digit Heatwaves Could Pose Danger

    Thousands of Americans with heart trouble have small implanted defibrillators, to help regulate their heartbeat and keep cardiac events at bay. 

    But new research finds that on extremely hot days, people with the devices face nearly triple the odds for a dangerous arrhythmia known as

  • Ernie Mundell HealthDay Reporter
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  • November 11, 2024
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    • Drowsy Driving: Not Taken as Seriously as Drunk Driving, But It Can Kill

    Folks are more likely to drive drowsy than drive drunk, even though both raise the risk of a fatal crash, a new survey shows.

    About 4 in 10 adults say they’ll find alternative transportation when they haven’t gotten enough sleep, according to the poll from the

    A Visit to the ER Can Often Precede a Cancer Diagnosis

    Canadian researchers have found that about 1 in every 3 people newly diagnosed with cancer experienced at least one emergency department visit sometime during the three months prior to their diagnosis.

    Many of the visits ended up being caused by symptoms related to the cancer, noted a team led by Dr. Keerat Grewal, an emergency physicia...

    More Than Half of Heat Deaths Can Be Blamed on Global Warming: Study

    Researchers looking at the sweltering European summer of 2022 estimated that more than half of the heat-linked deaths occurring on the continent would not have happened if human-led climate change wasn't in place.

    "Without strong action, record temperatures and heat-related mortality will continue to rise in the coming years,” said study senior author

  • Ernie Mundell HealthDay Reporter
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  • October 29, 2024
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    • Every Minute Counts: Speedy Defibrillator Delivery Saves Lives From Cardiac Arrest

    Every minute spent waiting for a first shock from a defibrillator cuts the odds of surviving cardiac arrest by 6%, a new Dutch study finds.

    "Our research shows that every minute of delay in giving the first shock has a major impact," said study first author says Remy Stieglis, a researcher at Amsterdam Un...

    Wildfires Are Gaining Speed in Western U.S., Upping Threat to People

    Wildfires that spread so fast they outrun the efforts of fire crews trying to contain them: These types of conflagrations are becoming far more common across the Western United States, a new study warns.

    A fire's velocity could be even more important than its size when it comes to the threat to people and property, researchers say.

    “We hear a lot about megafires because of the...

    There's Still Confusion on How to Spot, Treat Severe Allergic Reactions

    Anaphylaxis involves a sudden, potentially life-threatening reaction to an allergen, including even very small amounts of food allergens such as egg or peanut.

    Now, two studies find that people with allergies, as well as those charged with their care, are often unsure what to do when anaphylaxis strikes, and how soon.

    Too often, patients were hesitant to get emergency help when ne...

    Fatal Opioid-Meth Overdoses Have Fallen in U.S. by More Than a Third

    Expanded access to addiction treatment and the overdose-reversal med naloxone likely prompted a 37% reduction in OD deaths linked to opioids taken with meth or other stimulant drugs, a new study suggests.

    OD death rates were 8.9 deaths per 100,000 in communities with expanded acce...

    What's the Best Clot-Buster Med After Stroke?

    An off-label clot-busting drug appears to work slightly better in treating stroke patients than an approved medication, a new review finds.

    The clot-buster tenecteplase is associated with a slightly...

    Biden Administration Uses Wartime Powers to Help Restart IV Fluid Plant in North Carolina

    Following hurricane damage that shuttered a North Carolina plant that makes 60% of the country's IV fluids, U.S. health officials have invoked the Defense Production Act to hasten rebuilding of the factory.

    A nationwide shortage of IV fluids has only worsened since Hurricane Helene wrecked the plant run by Baxter International Inc. late last month, and hospitals say they are still postpon...

    More Kids Having Seizures After Swallowing Rx Painkillers, Synthetic Pot

    The number of U.S. children who suffer seizures after swallowing prescription medications or illicit drugs has doubled in recent years, a new study finds.

    Drug poisonings among kids resulting in seizures increased from 1,418 in 2009 to 2,749 in 2023, steadily rising about 5% each year, results showed.

    These cases doubled among children ages 6 to 19 during that 15-year period, resear...

    ERs See More Trauma Patients on Smog-Filled Days

    Accident victims tend to flood emergency rooms on days with heavy air pollution, a new study shows.

    The number of patients treated at ERs increase by 10% to 15% on days with increased particle pollution in the air, researchers found.

    That increase is driven by cases of trauma, along with more people suffering

  • Dennis Thompson HealthDay Reporter
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  • October 16, 2024
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    • Parents or Ambulance: How a Child Reaches an ER Could Matter

    It’s natural for a parent to bundle an injured child into a car and rush their kid to the emergency room.

    But that decision could actually delay their child’s emergency care, a new study shows.

    Severely injured children brought to an ER by their parents aren’t treated as quickly as those who arrive via ambulance, the researchers discovered.

    On average, a chil...

    Homeless Americans' Death Rate Rises on Hot Days

    As temperatures soar in some of America's hottest spots, death rates among local homeless people rise as well, new research shows.

    Data from 2015 through 2022 finds a big bump in deaths among unhoused people in Clark County in Nevada (which includes Las Vegas), and Los Angeles County in California.

    The death toll could rise even higher as climate change advances, said study senior a...

    Most ERs Not Fully Equipped to Treat Pediatric Patients

    New findings may worry many parents: Nearly 8 in 10 emergency rooms lack the supplies and training needed to treat pediatric patients, new U.S. research shows.

    To be ready to address children’s emergencies, ERs need “key pediatric equipment and supplies,” training, policies and staff tailored to meet pediatric needs, the researchers wrote in the analysis, published in th...

    More Bystanders Are Using Naloxone to Save Folks From Overdose

    More bystanders are stepping in to administer naloxone to people who’ve overdosed on opioids, a new study shows.

    Nearly 25,000 OD patients received naloxone from an untrained bystander before paramedics arrived, according to emergency medical services records from June 2020 to June 2022.

    “Our findings revealed that people receiving naloxone from laypersons increased by 4...

    IV Fluid Plant in Florida Remains Functional After Milton

    Facing a nationwide shortage of vital IV fluids after Hurricane Helene knocked out a North Carolina production plant, officials heaved a sigh of relief at the news that a second plant in Daytona Beach, Fla., was spared by Hurricane Milton and remains functional.

    According to the New York Times, a spokeswoman for B. Braun, the company that runs the Daytona Beach plant, said the fa...

    U.S. Scrambles to Find Hospital IV Fluids After Helene Damages NC Plant

    After Hurricane Helene knocked out a North Carolina production plant for a major supplier of IV fluids for U.S. hospitals, officials said the federal government is reaching out internationally to help restore supply.

    The situation could get even worse: As Hurricane Milton barreled down on Florida, a second IV fluid maker's facility in Daytona Beach was in its crosshairs, the New York ...

    Florida Hospitals Brace for Hurricane Milton's Arrival

    As Hurricane Milton barreled toward the west coast of Florida, hospitals in its path were making ready.

    Milton is projected to make landfall a bit south of the Tampa area late Wednesday night. Long-term care facilities in counties where mandatory evacuations have been issued have taken their patients elsewhere, while some hospitals prepare to stay open through the storm, the Associat...

    Be Alert to Carbon Monoxide Dangers During, After Hurricane Milton

    High winds, torrential rain: All dangerous, but there's a silent killer lurking in the aftermath of hurricanes like Milton -- 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 during and after big storms.

    According to da...

    AI May Not Be Ready to Run Emergency Rooms

    AI isn’t ready to run a hospital’s emergency room just yet, a new study concludes.

    ChatGPT likely would ask for unnecessary x-rays and antibiotics for some patients, and admit others who don’t really need hospital treatment, researchers reported Oct. 8 ...

    Epinephrine: Tips to the 'EpiPen' Ingredient and How It Treats Anaphylaxis

    TUESDAY, Oct. 8, 2024 (HealthDay News) --- The recent approval of a new epinephrine nasal spray gives patients a powerful new way to keep life-threatening allergic reactions at bay.

    But that doesn't mean folks no longer have to...

    • Todd A. Mahr, MD, Executive Medical Director, American College Of Allergy, Asthma And Immunology HealthDay Reporter
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    • October 8, 2024
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    Food Allergies Spur Serious Anxiety in Most of Those Affected, Survey Finds

    The large majority of people with food allergy, and the caregivers of kids with such allergies, say the condition has led to psychological distress, a new study finds.

    However, only about 1 in every 5 such people have ever been assessed and counseled on their anxieties, the same report also found.

    “Our research highlights a major unmet need for psychological support for food a...

    At Two Dallas Hospitals, Kids' ER Visits for Heat Illness Nearly Tripled Over Last Decade

    In a sign that climate change may be fueling heat illnesses in kids, a new study reveals that such visits to two Texas children's emergency rooms spiked 170% between 2012 and 2023.

    Study leader Dr. Taylor Merritt, a ...

    Grandma, the Family Dog: Unexpected Sources of Opioid Tragedies for Young Kids

    Grandma's pill organizer. Fido's pain medication. A tossed-away tissue.

    All are potential sources of opioid poisoning for young children, researchers at the New Jersey Poison Control Center report.

    Their five-year look at 230 cases of opioid exposure in children between 1 month and 6 years of age shows how easily they get their hands on dangerous drugs.

    "I've seen too many kid...

    One Gun Law Reduces School Shooting Deaths

    Laws that ban assault weapons do indeed protect children from dying in mass shootings, but the same can't be said for more common types of gun restrictions and regulations, new research shows.

    “Mass shootings are horrific events. We found that large capacity magazine bans may have the biggest effect on reducing child deaths in mass shootings,” said senior study author

    988 Mental Health Crisis Calls Now Link to Caller Location, Not Area Code

    In a move that could mean more Americans in crisis get help and get it quickly, federal officials announced Tuesday that major cellphone carriers now have the technology to direct 988 callers to local mental health services based on their location instead of their area code.

    “The goal of 988 is to help people in a mental health or substance use crisis get 24/7 access to compassionat...

    Climate Change Could Triple U.S. Heat Deaths by Mid-Century

    If global warming is left largely unchecked, the number of Americans who succumb to extreme heat will triple by mid-century, new projections estimate.

    These deaths could affect poor and minority Americans much more than the white and better-off, according to a team led by Dr. Sameed Khatana of the Univers...

    Stroke Kills 7 Million Worldwide Each Year, and Deaths Are Rising

    Climate change and worsening diets are sending global rates of stroke and stroke deaths skyward, a new study warns.

    Almost 12 million people worldwide had a stroke in 2021, up 70% since 1990, according to a team led by Valery Feigin, of the Auckland University of Technology in New Zealand.

    It's now the third leading cause of d...

    Black Stroke Patients More Likely to Arrive Late at Hospital, Without Prior ER Notification

    Black stroke victims are arriving at emergency rooms much later than white patients, greatly increasing their risk of death or lifelong disability, a new study finds.

    Every second counts when it comes to treating a stroke, experts say.

    Any moment’s delay ...

    Rural Hospitals Especially Vulnerable to Ransomware Attacks

    Rural hospitals – and their patients -- are particularly vulnerable to the aftershocks caused by ransomware attacks, a new study reports.

    “Ransomware attacks are bad news for hospitals and patients no matter where they happen, but they’re especially harmful to rural hospitals and patients,” lead re...

    Recreational Drug Use Triples Odds for Repeat Heart Crises

    Recreational drug users are three times more likely to have repeated heart health emergencies than people who don’t use, a new study has found.

    About 11% of patients admitted to intensive cardiac care units have been using recreational drugs, said researcher Dr. Raphael Mirail...

    Most Americans Unsure How to Help Someone in Opioid Overdose

    The U.S. opioid epidemic has caused a startling number of overdose deaths, but a new survey shows that most Americans still have no idea how to help an OD victim.

    More than 3 in 4 people (77%) said they would not know how to respond if they saw someone having an overdose, according to survey results from Ohio State ...

    Naloxone Might Help Revive People After Opioid-Linked Cardiac Arrest

    The overdose-reversing drug naloxone can help save the lives of people whose hearts have stopped due to an opioid OD, a new study shows.

    Naloxone rapidly reverses opioid ODs by blocking the ability of opioids to bind with receptors in the brain, researchers said in background notes.

    The drug typically saves lives by restoring normal breathing to a person who’s stopped breathin...

    Implant Automatically Releases Naloxone to Reverse Opioid Overdose

    A new implant could help prevent overdose deaths by automatically administering the OD-reversing drug naloxone, a new study shows.

    The implant, about the size of a stick of gum, is placed under the skin, where it monitors vital signs like heart rate and breathing, researchers say.

    When the implant determines an OD has occurred, it rapidly pumps out a dose of naloxone, researchers sa...

    Child ER Visits Linked to Water Beads Doubled in One Year

    Child safety experts have warned about the sometimes lethal dangers of toy water beads.

    Now, a report finds a doubling in just one year of U.S. pediatric ER visits linked to the products.

    “The number of pediatric water bead-related emergency department visits is increasing rapidly,” said study senior author

  • Ernie Mundell HealthDay Reporter
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  • August 14, 2024
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    • As Heat Waves Hit U.S., Poll Finds Most Can't Locate Local Cooling Station

    It's been a sweltering summer for much of the United States, and a new poll finds many people can recognize the signs of heat sickness if it strikes them or someone else.

    However, many more don’t know crucial information that could help them during a heatwave, such as the location of cooling centers where they can seek relief from the pounding heat, researchers discovered.

    â...

    FDA Approves First Nasal Spray to Curb Anaphylaxis, An Alternative to Injections

    Folks nervous about administering a rescue shot for anaphylaxis finally have a new alternative in a nasal spray.

    The U.S. Food and Drug Administration on Friday announced that it has approved neffy, the first non-injected treatment for life-threatening allergic reactions.

    The epinephrine nasal spray is for use by adults and children who weigh more than 66 pounds, the agency said.

    Red Cross Issues Blood Shortage Alert as Summer Heat Cuts Donations

    This summer's blistering temperatures have helped prompt an emergency blood shortage, the American Red Cross has warned.

    Heat waves affected almost 100 blood drives last month, either by hurting turnout or forcing the events to be canceled. Since July 1, the national blood supply has fallen by more than 25%, the organization said in a

  • Robin Foster HealthDay Reporter
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  • August 7, 2024
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    • Bystander CPR More Likely to Save Your Life If You're White and Male: Study

    Whites are three times more likely to survive a cardiac arrest after receiving bystander CPR than Black adults are, a new study has found.

    Likewise, men are twice as likely to survive after bystander CPR than women, researchers found.

    “CPR saves lives -- that, we know,” said researcher Dr. Paula Einhorn, a ...

    Fake Oxycontin Pills Widespread and Potentially Deadly: Report

    The rate at which young Americans are ending up in hospital ICUs after using fake Oxycontin pills spiked with fentanyl is soaring, especially in the U.S. West, a new report warns.

    Medical toxicology data from one unnamed hospital in the western U.S. found the number of cases involving overdoses involving fake "M-30" Oxycontin pills rose from just three in 2017 to 209 during 2022, accordin...

    Your Odds for Accidental Gun Death Rise Greatly in Certain States

    Americans' risk of dying in a firearm accident depends in large part on where they live in the United States, a new study finds.

    People in Southeastern states like Mississippi, Louisiana and Alabama run the greatest risk of a gunshot accidentally killing them, researchers said.

    Meanwhile, the risk of accidental gun death is much lower in Northeastern states like Massachusetts, New Y...

    Risk of Mental Illness Rises for Kids Treated in ICUs

    Youngsters so sick they’ve needed treatment in an ICU appear to bear the scars of that experience years later, a new study finds.

    Children and teenagers treated in an intensive care unit have a significantly higher risk of developing a mental illness as they grow up, researchers reported July 20 in the

  • Dennis Thompson HealthDay Reporter
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  • July 24, 2024
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    • U.S. Injuries From Electric Bikes, Scooters Are Soaring

    More and more Americans who use "micromobility" transport, such as electric bikes and e-scooters, are motoring their way straight into the ER, new data shows.

    In fact, the rate of e-bike injuries among Americans doubled each year between 2017 and 2022, reportED a team led by Dr. Adrian Fernandez, of the University of California, Sa...

    Extra Money Keeps Poorer Americans Out of the ER, Study Finds

    It's a simple strategy that could deliver powerful health dividends: New research shows that giving cash to poor people could help them stay out of the ER.

    In the study, investigators followed nearly 2,900 low-income people who applied for a lottery in the Boston area. Almost 1,750 of them got up to $400 per month from November 2020 through August 2021.

    The results? Those who receiv...