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Many Older Women Have Active Sex Lives, But Menopause Can Interfere

Many women remain sexually active into their 70s, but for others, menopause symptoms and chronic health issues get in the way.

That's among the findings from the latest University of Michigan Poll on Healthy Aging, which surveyed more than 1,200 U.S. women ages 50 to 80.

Overall, 43% said they were sexually active, be that intercours...

Could Omega-3 Fatty Acids Fight Acne?

As many as 50 million Americans deal with acne. The blemishes can be painful and, for some, embarrassing.

Now, researchers may have found a new weapon to fight acne — one without harsh side effects.

A study in Germany has pinpointed omega-3 fatty acids — found in fish oil, wild salmon, nuts and seeds — as a nutrient helpful for...

Estrogen May Help Fight Severe COVID-19

Hormone replacement therapy may offer women significant protection against dying from COVID-19, new research suggests.

British researchers who tracked more than 5,400 women with COVID during the first half of 2020 report that those who received the supplemental estrogen were 78% less likely to die within six months of their COVID diagnosis...

More Cases of Monkeypox Emerge in Portugal as Outbreak Widens

After four new cases of typically rare monkeypox infection were spotted in Britain earlier this week, the illness has now been confirmed in five young men in Portugal and 15 other suspected cases are being investigated, health officials in that country said Wednesday.

The patients in the confirmed cases have skin lesions and are in stable ...

Workers in U.S. Southwest in Peril as Summer Temperatures Rise

It's getting hotter and hotter outside due to global warming and, as a result, outdoor workers in southwestern states are increasingly vulnerable to heat-related illnesses.

Making matters worse, many of these workers may not realize their health is in jeopardy.

This is the main finding of a new study that looked at how extreme heat a...

ER Docs to Parents: Please Don't Dilute Infant Formula

As the United States faces critical shortages of baby formula, parents are being cautioned against watering down formula in an effort to stretch out what they have.

"Adding extra water to baby formula to try and make it last longer can put a child at risk of a seizure or another medical emergency," said Dr. Gillian Schmitz, president of th...

AHA News: Rate of High Blood Pressure Disorders in Pregnancy Doubled in 12 Years

The rate of pregnancy-related high blood pressure disorders doubled in the U.S. between 2007 and 2019, according to new research that finds 1 in 5 births now results in such a disorder, a preterm delivery or a baby with low birth weight.

The study, published Wednesday in the Journal of the American Heart Association, fills in important det...

Is It COVID, Flu or RSV? New At-Home Test May Tell

Americans will soon be able to self-test at home to find out whether they have COVID-19, the flu or another common germ, respiratory syncytial virus (RSV).

The first nonprescription test that can spot all three respiratory viral illnesses was approved Monday by the U.S. Food and Drug Administration and will be available at retail stores or...

Most Day Care Programs Don't Give Kids Enough Exercise

Rates of childhood obesity in the United States are soaring, and new research suggests child care programs may be part of the problem.

Most tots in these programs aren't getting nearly enough exercise.

National guidance for child care programs calls for providing at least two opportunities a day for physical activity, totaling 60 to ...

Pollution Killed 9 Million People Worldwide in 2019

Pollution from varied sources caused 9 million deaths worldwide in 2019, accounting for 1 in 6 of all deaths, a new study says.

Of those pollution-related deaths, three-quarters -- close to 7 million -- were caused by outdoor or indoor air pollution. Toxic chemical pollution (including lead) caused 1.8 million deaths -- a 66% increase from...

Nearly Half of High-Risk Patients Delay Follow-Up After Lung Cancer Screening

Annual lung cancer screenings are strongly encouraged for men and women in danger of developing lung cancer. But new research finds that among those who do get assessed, nearly half fail to seek prompt follow-up care when the CT scans pick up a potential problem.

The stats are troubling, said study author Dr. Matthew Triplette, who stresse...

Asthma, Allergies Raise Heart Risks, Too

If you have asthma or allergies, you may be more likely to develop heart disease, and some medications may increase or lower that risk, a new review of clinical trials and lab research shows.

"Many people think of asthma as a disease of the lungs, but there's an important link between asthma and cardiovascular diseases, such as coronary he...

Gene Tests Could Spot 1 Million Americans at Risk of High Cholesterol

A combination of genetic testing and health screenings could identify more than 1 million U.S. adults with an inherited risk for a cholesterol disorder that increases their risk for premature heart attack and death, according to a new study.

About 1 in 250 Americans may have at least one gene for familial hypercholesterolemia, which can ca...

Surviving Leukemia in Youth Can Still Mean Shorter Life Spans: Study

Leukemia at a young age is likely to affect survivors' longevity, a new study cautions.

Even when they're cured, teen and young adult survivors of leukemia have shorter life spans than those who've never had a blood cancer, researchers at the University of Texas MD Anderson Cancer Center found.

"We need to think about the long-term l...

Folks Choose Healthier Foods When Around 'Outsiders'

Will it be a cheeseburger or a salad? What will they think of me?

A new study finds you're more likely to choose to eat healthy if you're with an "outsider" because you don't want them to have a poor opinion of you.

The study consisted of a series of experiments with several hundred adults in a large U.S. city and university.

"...

Injections of Your Own Fat Could Help Arthritic Hands

Liposuction typically is used to flatten your stomach or shape up your booty, but a new study argues that it could also help people suffering from arthritis of the fingers.

Injections of body fat into aching, arthritic finger joints appear to produce significant and lasting improvements in hand function and a decrease in pain, German resea...

Could Herpes Viruses Help Drive Type 2 Diabetes?

Certain common viruses, including the genital herpes virus, might contribute to the risk of type 2 diabetes, a new study hints.

Type 2 diabetes is a highly prevalent disease, with older age and obesity being two of the major risk factors. Now the new study suggests that two herpes viruses -- herpes simplex 2 and cytomegalovirus -- might ad...

FDA Authorizes Pfizer Booster Shot for Kids Ages 5 to 11

A single booster dose of the Pfizer COVID-19 vaccine can be given to 5- to 11-year-olds, the U.S. Food and Drug Administration announced today.

The third shot can be given at least five months after healthy kids complete the two-dose vaccine series, the FDA said. Its action, which now goes to the U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Preven...

Scientists Are Developing Patch That Warns of Oncoming Drug Overdose

With the United States facing an epidemic of drug overdoses, researchers are developing a wearable patch that can detect an oncoming opioid OD and deliver doses of a drug that could save lives.

The Indiana University Bloomington research team has received a three-year, $3.8 million grant from the U.S. National Institute on Drug Abuse to de...

AHA News: At 23 Days Old, He Had Open-Heart Surgery

Six months after Rachel and Levi Strauss married on the coldest Valentine's Day in Detroit history, they learned they were going to have a baby.

At their home in Houston, Levi helped satisfy Rachel's cravings for milkshakes, chips and queso, and mega-stuffed cookies.

At Rachel's 20-week anatomy scan, the couple held hands and smiled ...