Get Healthy!

Biden to Lift COVID Emergencies in May

The two COVID emergency measures declared by the White House at the start of the pandemic will end in May.

President Joe Biden informed Congress of the plan on Monday, as part of a statement opposing House Republicans’ plan to immediately end the protections.

“An abrupt end to the emergency declarations would create wide-ranging ...

Marriage Could Be a 'Buffer' Against Dementia

Tying the knot is now tied to healthier aging brains: People who stay married for the long haul may gain some protection from dementia, a new study suggests.

Researchers found that compared with both divorced people and lifelong singles, older adults in a long-term marriage were less likely to develop dementia. Roughly 11% were diagnosed ...

Is Oxytocin Really the 'Love Hormone'? Rodent Research Raises Doubt

The "love hormone" oxytocin might not play the critical role in forming social bonds that scientists have long believed, a new animal study suggests.

Prairie voles bred without receptors for oxytocin display the same monogamous mating, attachment and parenting behaviors as regular voles, according to researchers.

"While oxytocin has ...

Legalizing Marijuana Doesn't Raise Drug, Alcohol Abuse: Study

Living in a U.S. state where recreational weed is legal does not appear to increase the average adult’s risk of succumbing to “reefer madness,” a new study of twins has determined.

An adult living in a “legal” state is not more likely to develop any sort of substance abuse disorder than their twin residing in a state where mariju...

Pandemic at a Tipping Point: WHO

The pandemic has reached a “transition point,” the World Health Organization (WHO) said Monday.

Still, that doesn’t mean the public health emergency of international concern (PHEIC) designation declared by the WHO in January 2020 is over yet.

The organization’s International Health Regulations Emergency Committee met last we...

Stuck in Traffic? Diesel Fumes May Be Harming Your Brain

If you find yourself stuck in a traffic jam and you start to feel fuzzy-headed, the diesel exhaust from the truck in front of you might be to blame.

New research found that just two hours of exposure to diesel exhaust impaired the brain’s functional connectivity, which can lower your ability to think and remember.

"We compared peo...

Smoking in Pregnancy Greatly Raises Odds for SIDS in Newborns

Infants exposed to maternal smoking during pregnancy are more than five times more likely to die unexpectedly compared to babies of nonsmokers, a new study says.

"The message is simple. Smoking greatly elevates the risk of sudden unexpected infant death," said lead study author Barbara Ostfeld, program director of the SIDS Center of N...

Utah Becomes First State to Ban Transgender Health Care for Minors

Transgender youth in Utah are now blocked from receiving gender-affirming surgery and hormone therapy after Gov. Spencer Cox signed a bill Saturday that largely bans such care for youth.

Cox said that the ban was necessary until more research was done on long-term effects of treatments, The New York Times reported.

The Ameri...

How Many Daily Steps Do You Need to Lose Weight?

It’s clear that staying active is key to being healthy, and fitness trackers and smartwatches have become popular tools for tracking activity.

But just how many steps does someone need to take to lose weight?

That’s not such a simple a question.

While evidence is limited on exactly how many steps a day it takes to lose we...

Step Up! Here's How to Start a Healthy Walking Habit

Starting a walking routine is simple because it requires so little: comfortable, supportive walking shoes and your own two feet.

Unlike gym workouts, the initial expense is small and the schedule is flexible.

“Walking's a great way to work out because we can integrate it into our daily lives,” said Amanda Paluch, an assis...

1 in 8 Older Americans May Be 'Junk Food Addicts,' Poll Finds

It may be that as many as 13% of older adults are addicted to highly processed comfort foods, a new survey finds.

Craving cookies, chips, packaged snacks and soda was seen in adults aged 50 to 80, according to new data from the National Poll on Healthy Aging, from the University of Michigan Institute for Healthcare Policy and Innovation.

Medicare Will Save U.S. Billions Negotiating Drug Prices

The U.S. government could save billions every year once Medicare begins negotiating drug prices in 2026, new research suggests.

The Inflation Reduction Act passed by Congress last year allows Medicare to bargain with drug companies on the prices of 10 of the highest-priced drugs in 2026 before adding 15 more in 2027, 15 more in 2028 and 20...

U.S. Parents Face Big Disparities in Access to Autism Care Services

Autism services are harder to find in many of the places where Black, Hispanic and Native American families live, new research shows.

It's known that there are racial disparities in U.S. families' receipt of autism services — ranging from diagnosis and behavioral therapy to school and community programs.

The new study high...

Troubling Signs TB Is Gaining Resistance Against Combo Antibiotics

New drugs may be needed to fight the deadliest form of tuberculosis, because it may no longer respond to current treatments.

An animal study by Johns Hopkins University researchers found that an approved antibiotic regimen may not work for TB meningitis due to multidrug-resistant strains. Small human studies have also provided evidence tha...

Fear of Public Spaces Is Common in People With Epilepsy

Many adults with epilepsy have agoraphobia, or a fear of public places, new research suggests.

That impacts quality of life and is something doctors should include in other screening that looks for anxiety or depression, the investigators said.

"We know that agoraphobia can lead to delays in patient care because of a reluctance to g...

Gum Disease Treatments Lose Their Punch in Heavy Smokers

Treatments for gum disease may have little benefit for heavy smokers, new research shows.

The study findings suggest the need to rethink treatment of the common gum disease periodontitis, according to researchers from Aarhus University in Denmark.

“To our surprise, we could see that the disease had actually grown worse in some para...

Silent Killer: Shield Your Family From Carbon Monoxide

Carbon monoxide is a silent, odorless killer, but even during winter heating season, it's possible to stay safe.

This dangerous gas is produced when fuels burn incompletely.

This can happen in furnaces, both gas- and wood-burning fireplaces, space heaters and vehicles that burn fossil fuel. It’s also possible in water heaters, gas ...

What Is Heartworm and How Can You Protect Your Pet From It?

It’s possible to prevent heartworms in many of your furry friends — dogs, cats and ferrets, specifically.

Heading off a severe and sometimes deadly illness simply requires regular, year-round preventive treatment through a pill, injection or topical medication, according to the U.S. Food and Drug Administration.

Heartworms are pa...

Yes, Kids Ward Off COVID More Easily. But Their Immune System Pays a Price

Children’s amped-up immune systems allow them to beat back COVID-19 easily, producing a strong initial response that quickly slaps away the virus.

But there might be a price to be paid for that sharp reaction, a new study from Australia says.

Because the initial response provides such a swift takedown, kids’ immune systems don’...

FDA Could Ease Blood Donation Rules for Gay Men

Longstanding restrictions on blood donations from gay or bisexual men could soon shift towards a more nuanced policy, where such men are asked about sexual partners and practices instead, the U.S. Food and Drug Administration announced Friday.

Specifically, gay men who are in monogamous relationships will no longer be required to abstain f...