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Friday, January 31, 2020

U.S. Maternal Death Rate Holds Steady

emergency sign

In 2018, 658 women died while pregnant or within 42 days of the end of pregnancy, and there were 17.4 maternal deaths per 100,000 live births.



from WebMD Health https://www.webmd.com/women/news/20200131/us-maternal-death-rate-holds-steady?src=RSS_PUBLIC

Life Expectancy in U.S. Increases for First Time in 4 Years

photo of senior man doing shoulder press in gym

The jump in longevity comes as deaths from opioid overdoses dropped for the first time in 28 years, as did deaths from six of the 10 leading causes.



from WebMD Health https://www.webmd.com/healthy-aging/news/20200130/life-expectancy-in-us-increases-for-first-time-in-4-years?src=RSS_PUBLIC

Spring Time Change Tied to More Fatal Car Crashes

clock

The risk of fatal crashes rose nearly 6% in the week after the switch and was especially high in the morning and in locations farther west within a time zone, the investigators found.



from WebMD Health https://www.webmd.com/sleep-disorders/news/20200130/spring-time-change-tied-to-more-fatal-car-crashes?src=RSS_PUBLIC

First Spread of Coronavirus in U.S. Confirmed

photo of coronavirus

It's the first time the new virus has spread from one person to another in the United States.



from WebMD Health https://www.webmd.com/lung/news/20200130/first-spread-of-coronavirus-in-us-confirmed?src=RSS_PUBLIC

Thursday, January 30, 2020

Could Strep Throat Become Untreatable?

strep test

A new study warns that strains of bacteria that cause strep throat and "flesh-eating disease" appear close to becoming resistant to penicillin and other antibiotics known as beta-lactams.



from WebMD Health https://www.webmd.com/oral-health/news/20200130/could-strep-throat-become-untreatable?src=RSS_PUBLIC

Wednesday, January 29, 2020

Mom on Son’s Flu: ‘Scariest Time of My Life’

photo of john chelcy and mom

The coma was the scariest, John says. "When I woke up, I thought it was still the day after Christmas," he says, "and it was actually New Year's Day."



from WebMD Health https://www.webmd.com/cold-and-flu/news/20200129/mom-on-sons-flu-scariest-time-of-my-life?src=RSS_PUBLIC

FDA Tells Purell Maker to Stop Making False Claims

hand sanitizer

The agency warned Gojo Industries that unsubstantiated claims that Purell can help prevent illnesses such as the flu, Ebola virus, norovirus and the MRSA superbug violate federal laws, The New York Times reported Tuesday.



from WebMD Health https://www.webmd.com/cold-and-flu/news/20200129/fda-tells-purell-maker-to-stop-making-false-claims?src=RSS_PUBLIC

Eating Out: A Recipe for Poor Nutrition, Study Finds

restaurant sign

The researchers found that 70% of fast-food meals consumed in the United States were of poor nutritional value. For full-service restaurants, around half of the meals were of poor nutritional value.



from WebMD Health https://www.webmd.com/diet/news/20200129/eating-out-a-recipe-for-poor-nutrition-study-finds?src=RSS_PUBLIC

Something Far Deadlier Than The Wuhan Virus Lurks Near You

man with cold on couch

There is a virus that has already sickened at least 13 million Americans this winter, hospitalizing 120,000 and killing 6,600 people. You may even know of it.



from WebMD Health https://www.webmd.com/cold-and-flu/news/20200124/something-far-deadlier-than-the-wuhan-virus-lurks-near-you?src=RSS_PUBLIC

Can the New Coronavirus Be Stopped?

photo of coronavirus

Some experts believe the number of coronavirus cases worldwide is much higher than official estimates, while others warn it will get worse before it gets better.



from WebMD Health https://www.webmd.com/lung/news/20200128/can-the-new-coronavirus-be-stopped?src=RSS_PUBLIC

Why Vaping Emergencies May Be Missed

Teen Vaping

The vaping illness known as EVALI (electronic cigarette- or vaping-associated lung injury) has so far killed nearly 60 people in the United States. More than 2,600 have been hospitalized.



from WebMD Health https://www.webmd.com/lung/news/20200128/why-vaping-emergencies-may-be-missed?src=RSS_PUBLIC

Could a Common Diuretic Med Help Ease Autism Symptoms?

girl at window

If replicated in future trials, the drug treatment might be a breakthrough, since current treatments for autism in preschool kids are mainly behavioral -- therapies such as using play and activities with parents to improve a child's language, social and thinking skills.



from WebMD Health https://www.webmd.com/brain/autism/news/20200127/could-a-common-diuretic-med-help-ease-autism-symptoms?src=RSS_PUBLIC

Psychedelic Drug Eases Cancer Patients' Distress Long Term

post partum depression when to get help vi

Researchers found that of 15 patients who'd received a one-time treatment with psilocybin, most were still showing "clinically significant" improvements in anxiety and depression four years later.



from WebMD Health https://www.webmd.com/cancer/news/20200128/psychedelic-drug-eases-cancer-patients-distress-long-term?src=RSS_PUBLIC

Schizophrenia Meds Safe Long-Term, Study Finds

pharmacist filling prescription

The average life expectancy of people with schizophrenia is 10 to 20 years less than in the general population. There has long been concern that one reason is long-term use of antipsychotic drugs to ease symptoms such as delusions and hallucinations.



from WebMD Health https://www.webmd.com/schizophrenia/news/20200128/schizophrenia-meds-safe-long-term-study-finds?src=RSS_PUBLIC

Tuesday, January 28, 2020

Scientists Hope New Tech Aids Coronavirus Vaccine

photo of chinese shoppers wearing masks

Early trials in people suggest that such a vaccine can stimulate an immune response very well. But it has never been tried during an outbreak.



from WebMD Health https://www.webmd.com/lung/news/20200128/scientists-hope-new-tech-aids-coronavirus-vaccine?src=RSS_PUBLIC

Americans Toss Out Nearly a Third of Food at Home

photo of disposing of cake in kitchen trash can

Nationwide, the cost of wasted food could total $240 billion a year. Divided by the nearly 128.6 million households in the United States, that works out to about $1,866 for the average household.



from WebMD Health https://www.webmd.com/a-to-z-guides/news/20200128/americans-toss-out-nearly-a-third-of-food-at-home?src=RSS_PUBLIC

Genes May Show Players at Risk for Brain Trouble

kid kicking soccer ball

Among soccer players who headed the ball the most, those with the gene mutation called the apolipoprotein E epsilon4 (APOE e4) allele did four times worse on memory tests than those who head the ball the least, the researchers found.



from WebMD Health https://www.webmd.com/brain/news/20200127/gene-test-might-spot-soccer-players-at-high-risk-for-brain-trouble?src=RSS_PUBLIC

Poverty Could Drive Up Youth Suicide Risk

woman on bed

Children and teens in U.S. counties where 20% or more of the population lives below the federal poverty level were 37% more likely to die by suicide than those in counties with the lowest poverty concentration.



from WebMD Health https://www.webmd.com/mental-health/news/20200127/poverty-could-drive-up-youth-suicide-risk?src=RSS_PUBLIC

Monday, January 27, 2020

Kobe Bryant Dies in Helicopter Crash

photo of kobe bryant

The helicopter crashed just before 10 a.m. into a hillside near Calabasas, Calif., about 30 miles northwest of Los Angeles.



from WebMD Health https://www.webmd.com/a-to-z-guides/news/20200127/kobe-bryant-dies-in-helicopter-crash?src=RSS_PUBLIC

Saturday, January 25, 2020

Even Female Bosses Face Sexual Harrassment: Study

mature businesswoman in discussion with colleague

Researchers examined workplace sexual harassment in the United States, Japan and Sweden. They found that female supervisors experienced between 30% and 100% more sexual harassment than other women employees.



from WebMD Health https://www.webmd.com/women/news/20200124/even-female-bosses-face-sexual-harrassment-study?src=RSS_PUBLIC

CDC Confirms Second U.S. Coronavirus Case

photo of coronavirus

The patient is a woman in her 60s. She had symptoms a few days after returning to the U.S. from a trip to Wuhan, China, on Jan. 13. She was not sick while traveling.



from WebMD Health https://www.webmd.com/lung/news/20200124/cdc-confirms-second-us-coronavirus-case?src=RSS_PUBLIC

Washington Monitors Coronavirus Patient’s Contacts

providence regional hospital

The CDC confirmed the Washington state resident's diagnosis Tuesday. By Wednesday, state public health officials had identified 16 close contacts. By late Thursday, the total was 43, said Kathy Lofy, MD, the state health officer for the Washington State Department of Health.



from WebMD Health https://www.webmd.com/lung/news/20200124/washington-monitors-coronavirus-patients-contacts?src=RSS_PUBLIC

Faulty Immune System May Lead to Lung Cancer

lung cancer illustration

An immune system that's not functioning normally may lead to lung cancer in patients who don't smoke, a new study suggests.



from WebMD Health https://www.webmd.com/lung-cancer/news/20200124/faulty-immune-system-may-lead-to-lung-cancer?src=RSS_PUBLIC

Many Critical Workers in U.S. Short on Sleep

ambulance

Their analysis of data from more than 150,000 employed adults between 2010 and 2018 also found that the rate of inadequate sleep (7 hours or less) rose from about 31% to nearly 36% during that  time.



from WebMD Health https://www.webmd.com/sleep-disorders/news/20200124/many-of-americas-most-critical-workers-are-short-on-their-zzzs?src=RSS_PUBLIC

Low-Dose Aspirin Might Help Prevent Preterm Births

preemie

The trial, which was run in six lower-income countries, found that giving first-time mothers a daily low-dose aspirin reduced their risk of preterm birth by 11%.



from WebMD Health https://www.webmd.com/baby/news/20200124/low-dose-aspirin-might-help-prevent-preterm-births?src=RSS_PUBLIC

4 New Advances for Treating Skin and Body Issues

photo of woman checking skin

In dermatology, advances in technology have the potential to simplify some of the most complicated treatments.



from WebMD Health https://www.webmd.com/skin-problems-and-treatments/features/advances-skin-body-issues?src=RSS_PUBLIC

How Artificial Intelligence Helps Diagnose Skin Cancer

skin exam

Artificial intelligence (AI) is ramping up how dermatologists diagnose skin conditions, even serious cancers like melanoma.



from WebMD Health https://www.webmd.com/melanoma-skin-cancer/features/ai-skin-cancer?src=RSS_PUBLIC

Baby Microbiome: Nurturing Your Baby's Healthy Bacteria

breastfeeding

The trillions of bacteria that inhabit your gut and other bodily regions can have a critical impact on your overall health. The same holds true for babies, new research shows.



from WebMD Health https://www.webmd.com/parenting/features/baby-microbiome?src=RSS_PUBLIC

Friday, January 24, 2020

Pet Apps From First Aid to Fitness

woman petting dog on couch

Whether you have one pet or a menagerie, keeping track of their current medications, vaccination due dates, and other health information is, well, no walk in the park.



from WebMD Health https://pets.webmd.com/features/pet-apps?src=RSS_PUBLIC

Game Day Food

Throwing a Super Bowl party? You don't have to do all the work on game day.



from WebMD Health https://www.webmd.com/food-recipes/features/game-day-food?src=RSS_PUBLIC

Coronavirus 2020 Outbreak: Latest Updates

photo of coronavirus

Everything you need to know about the coronavirus outbreak that has sickened hundreds and killed more than two dozen around the globe. It started in China but has spread to multiple countries and continents.



from WebMD Health https://www.webmd.com/lung/news/20200124/coronavirus-2020-outbreak-latest-updates?src=RSS_PUBLIC

Male Body Image

buff man pokes at his stomach

In a 2019 study that included 7,000 young American men ages 18 to 24, more than one in five of them reported eating problems related to their desire for a muscle-bound body.



from WebMD Health https://www.webmd.com/men/features/male-body-image?src=RSS_PUBLIC

Smart Fitness

photo of woman looking at smart watch

From apps that automatically adjust your workout when you're sore to pants that help you nail your yoga pose, artificial intelligence is quickly morphing into your new personal trainer.



from WebMD Health https://www.webmd.com/fitness-exercise/features/smart-fitness?src=RSS_PUBLIC

How Many Steps a Day Do You Really Need?

photo of woman walking dog

A new study found that just 4,400 steps reduced the risk of premature mortality in women by 41%.



from WebMD Health https://www.webmd.com/fitness-exercise/features/how-many-steps-per-day?src=RSS_PUBLIC

Racism Linked to Faster Aging Among Blacks

photo of african american woman meditating

Data were collected in 2000 when participants had an average age of 40, and the follow-up took place 10 years later. At both points, participants were asked about the discrimination they experienced in various situations.



from WebMD Health https://www.webmd.com/healthy-aging/news/20200123/racism-linked-to-faster-aging-among-blacks?src=RSS_PUBLIC

The Damage of Vaccine Misinformation

teen receiving vaccine

From 2013 to 2016, negative information about the HPV (human papillomavirus) vaccine spread widely through Danish media outlets. As a result, thousands of girls did not receive the vaccine.



from WebMD Health https://www.webmd.com/children/vaccines/news/20200123/the-damage-of-vaccine-misinformation?src=RSS_PUBLIC

Rare Disease Put This Young Mom in a Coma for 7 Months

brain scans

This is a rare disease in which the immune system attacks the brain and disrupts normal brain signaling. It first affected her ability to think clearly, but soon she was suffering from relentless seizures.



from WebMD Health https://www.webmd.com/brain/news/20200123/rare-disease-put-this-young-mom-in-a-coma-for-7-months?src=RSS_PUBLIC

Largest-Ever Study Ties Over 100 Genes to Autism

eye of child

The study, involving over 50 centers around the globe, identified 102 genes associated with ASD -- including a few dozen that had not been recognized before.



from WebMD Health https://www.webmd.com/brain/autism/news/20200123/largest-ever-study-ties-over-100-genes-to-autism?src=RSS_PUBLIC

Thursday, January 23, 2020

New Drug Could Help Stop Blindness From Thyroid Eye Disease

photo of thyroid

It's the first treatment specifically approved for thyroid eye disease. The drug was approved Tuesday by the U.S. Food and Drug Administration. It will be marketed under the brand name Tepezza.



from WebMD Health https://www.webmd.com/eye-health/news/20200122/new-drug-could-help-stop-blindness-from-thyroid-eye-disease?src=RSS_PUBLIC

Flame Retardants, Pesticides Remain Threat to U.S. Health: Study

Among children, the percentage of cognitive (mental skills) loss attributed to chemicals in flame retardants rose to 81% in 2015-2016, up from 67% in 2001-2002, the study found.



from WebMD Health https://www.webmd.com/brain/news/20200121/flame-retardants-pesticides-remain-threat-to-us-health-study?src=RSS_PUBLIC

Vaping Is the Darling of Instagram

photo of woman using vape pen

Researchers discovered that Instagram posts that promote use of the devices outnumber anti-vaping content by a shocking ratio of 10,000 to 1.



from WebMD Health https://www.webmd.com/lung/news/20200122/vaping-is-the-darling-of-instagram?src=RSS_PUBLIC

Eating More Veggies Won't Stop Prostate Cancer: Study

veggies

After two years of follow-up, the group on the vegetable-rich diet saw no extra protection against prostate cancer compared to the control group, according to findings published Jan. 14 in the Journal of the American Medical Association.



from WebMD Health https://www.webmd.com/prostate-cancer/news/20200122/eating-more-veggies-wont-stop-prostate-cancer-study?src=RSS_PUBLIC

'Yo-Yo' Blood Pressure Numbers in Youth a Bad Sign for Health Later

low blood pressure reading

In fact, every 4 mm Hg spike in systolic blood pressure -- the top number in a reading -- during young adulthood was tied to a 15% higher risk for heart disease in midlife, the research team found.



from WebMD Health https://www.webmd.com/hypertension-high-blood-pressure/news/20200122/yo-yo-blood-pressure-numbers-in-youth-a-bad-sign-for-health-later?src=RSS_PUBLIC

Allow Dead Men to Be Sperm Donors, Medical Ethicists Say

sperm

Sperm can be collected after death either through electrical stimulation of the prostate gland or surgery, and then frozen until required, the ethicists said.



from WebMD Health https://www.webmd.com/infertility-and-reproduction/news/20200122/allow-dead-men-to-be-sperm-donors-medical-ethicists-say?src=RSS_PUBLIC

This Year's Flu Season Taking Deadly Aim at Kids

girl in hospital

Fueled by a strain of influenza that children may be especially vulnerable to, less than two months into flu season 39 children have already died, according to data from the U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention.



from WebMD Health https://www.webmd.com/cold-and-flu/news/20200122/this-years-flu-season-taking-deadly-aim-at-kids?src=RSS_PUBLIC

Mystery Coronavirus from China: What to Know

photo of coronavirus

Public health officials are investigating a mystery coronavirus that has sickened hundreds in China and been diagnosed in one person in the U.S.



from WebMD Health https://www.webmd.com/lung/news/20200122/what-to-know-about-new-coronavirus-from-china?src=RSS_PUBLIC

Wednesday, January 22, 2020

Utah Bans Conversion Therapy

transgender graphic

It's the 19th state and one of the most conservative to outlaw the practice that seeks to change a person's sexual orientation or gender identity, the Associated Press reported.



from WebMD Health https://www.webmd.com/mental-health/news/20200122/utah-bans-conversion-therapy?src=RSS_PUBLIC

Production of Two Excedrin Painkillers Halted

painkillers triptych

Production and distribution of Excedrin Extra Strength and Excedrin Migraine products have been temporarily stopped



from WebMD Health https://www.webmd.com/pain-management/news/20200122/production-of-two-excedrin-painkillers-halted?src=RSS_PUBLIC

First U.S. Case of China Coronavirus Diagnosed

photo of coronavirus

The male patient in Washington state was hospitalized with pneumonia last week and had recently traveled to Wuhan, a city of 11 million people in China where the outbreak is thought to have begun.



from WebMD Health https://www.webmd.com/lung/news/20200121/first-us-case-of-china-coronavirus-diagnosed?src=RSS_PUBLIC

Brain Waves Explain Sleep Woes in Kids with Autism?

child sleeping

The study found that the brain waves of children with autism are, on average, 25% weaker (shallower) than those of children without autism.



from WebMD Health https://www.webmd.com/brain/autism/news/20200121/brain-waves-offer-insight-into-sleep-struggles-that-accompany-autism?src=RSS_PUBLIC