Complications From Prostate Cancer Therapy Can Be Serious and Long-Term

Men who undergo prostate cancer treatment face a greatly increased risk of life-altering, long-term complications, a new study finds.

Surgery for prostate cancers increases a man’s risk of urinary or sexual complications more than sevenfold, researchers reported Nov. 7 in the journal JAMA Oncology.

Meanwhile, radiation...

Childbirth Can Bring Worrying Medical Bills, Even With Insurance

Having a child can cause significant and ongoing financial hardship for new parents, even if they are covered by health insurance, a new study shows.

More than half of people with private insurance spent more than $1,000 out of pocket on childbirth, and nearly 40% reported being somewhat or very worried about paying their health care bills...

Ketamine ODs Like the One That Killed Matthew Perry Are Rare But Increasing

After "Friends" star Matthew Perry was found dead in his home jacuzzi just over a year ago, an autopsy later pinpointed the main cause of death as an acute ketamine overdose.

The coroner's report determined that high blood levels of ketamine, an anesthetic with hallucinogenic effects, caused Perry to lose consciousness and then drown. He ...

Bird Flu Infects 1 in 14 Dairy Workers Exposed; CDC Urges Better Protections

About 7% of dairy workers exposed to the avian flu that is spreading through U.S. herds have become infected themselves, federal experts estimate.

That number highlights concerns that circulating strains of bird flu might become highly infectious in humans, according to a new report from the U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention....

FDA Proposes Ban on a 'Useless' Decongestant, Phenylephrine

More than a year after its advisory panel unanimously declared the drug phenylephrine to be useless against nasal congestion, the U.S. Food and Drug Administration is proposing that it be removed from common over-the-counter decongestants.

Products that include phenylephrine as an active ingredient include Sudafed PE, Vicks Sinex and Bena...

U.K. Reports First Cluster Outside of Africa of New Mpox Variant

Four cases of the more infectious variant of mpox have been reported in the U.K., making it the first cluster of infections that have surfaced outside of Africa.

British authorities announced the first case in that country last week, saying the person was being treated at a London hospital after recently traveling to countries in ...

Rates of Anxiety, Depression Rising Among Americans, Especially the Young

Rates of anxiety and depression among U.S. adults, especially younger folks, continues to rise, the latest federal data shows.

Nearly 1 in every 5 (18.2%) adults reported anxiety issues in 2022, up from 15.6% in 2019, reported Emily Terlizzi and Benjamin Zablotsky, researchers at the U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention.

...

Using Abortion Pills Very Early in Pregnancy Is Safe, Study Finds

Abortion pills are safe and effective even very early in a pregnancy, a new study finds.

Clinics and hospitals tend to defer medication abortions until a woman’s pregnancy is confirmed using ultrasound, researchers said.

But abortion pills can be safely taken prior to the sixth week of pregnancy, researchers reported Nov. 6 in ...

Just 5 Extra Minutes of Exercise Per Day Could Lower Blood Pressure

It doesn't take much: Adding just five minutes of exercise to your daily routine lowers your blood pressure and might cut your odds for heart disease, new research shows.

“The good news is that whatever your physical ability, it doesn’t take long to have a positive effect on blood pressure," said study lead author Jo Blodgett, ...

Psilocybin Shows Effectiveness in Curbing Anorexia

THURSDAY, Nov. 7, 2024 (HeathDay News) -- The active chemical in “magic mushrooms” may help treat anorexia, a new study has found.

Following psilocybin treatment, 4 of 10 study participants showed clinically significant reductions in their anorexia-driven eating habits, researchers report.

“Our findings suggest that...

Vitamin D Supplements in Pregnancy Linked to Stronger Bones in Kids

Women who take vitamin D supplements during a pregnancy may be giving their kids the legacy of stronger bones, new British research suggests.

Children whose moms took vitamin D supplements when pregnant had stronger, denser bones at the age of 7 compared to the kids of women who didn't, a study from the University of Southampton shows.

Daytime Drowsiness Linked to a 'Pre-Dementia' Syndrome

Seniors who are drowsy during the day and find it hard to muster enthusiasm for activities could be at higher risk of a brain condition that precedes dementia, a new study warns.

These sleep-related problems are associated with "motoric cognitive risk syndrome," a pre-dementia condition that causes slow walking speed and some memory proble...

Early Steps to a Breath Test for Lung Cancer

An experimental portable device might be able to detect lung cancer from a person’s exhaled breath, researchers report.

The device contains “nanoflake” sensors that can detect small changes in the gases exhaled by a person with lung cancer.

The sensors specifically look for minute changes in isoprene. Declines in is...

In Mouse Studies, New Clues to How Brain 'Refreshes' Memories

Memories are constantly adapting in the brain over time, dynamically updating as people encounter new information and fresh experiences.

Researchers think they’ve figured out the brain mechanism that drives this memory integration, based on a study of lab mice.

The discovery improves understanding of mental illnesses like post-...

Nasal Swab Might Predict How Severe COVID Will Be

A simple nasal swab might help doctors predict the severity of a person’s COVID infection, a new study suggests.

More than 70% of people with mild or moderate COVID develop certain antibodies in their nasal cavities that are linked to fewer symptoms, better immune response and faster recovery, researchers reported Nov. 6 in the journ...

Scientists Track Brain Function as Folks Watch Movies

A person’s brain performs an intricate juggling act while watching a movie, a new study demonstrates.

Scans showed that 24 different brain networks and regions engage from scene-to-scene, based on hard it is to follow the movie or what’s currently on the screen, researchers reported.

The brain’s “executive con...

Florida Fails to Pass Amendment Legalizing Recreational Weed

A ballot measure to legalize the recreational use of marijuana in the state of Florida failed on Tuesday.

While 55.9% of Florida voters backed the proposed amendment, it did not reach the 60% threshold needed to make the initiative part of the state's constitution.

"With the rejection of Amendment 3, Floridians have taken a firm st...

Abortion Rights Measures Pass in 7 States, Fail in 3

In election results that showed protecting women's reproductive freedoms matter to a majority of Americans, abortion rights measures passed in seven states and failed in three.

Missouri, Arizona, Nevada, Colorado, New York, Maryland and Montana all backed those rights, while such amendments were defeated in Florida, Nebraska and South Dako...

U.S. Diabetes Rates Rise to Nearly 1 in 6 Adults

Nearly 16% of American adults -- that's close to 1 in 6 -- now has diabetes, according to the latest data from the U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention.

Increasing age and widening waistlines greatly increase the odds for the disease, which happens when the body doesn't use insulin properly, resulting in high blood sugar levels....

Winter's Onset Brings Mood Changes to Many Americans, Poll Finds

Many Americans experience a “winter funk” as the days grow shorter and temperatures turn colder, a new American Psychiatric Association poll reports.

Two-fifths of Americans (41%) said their mood declines during the winter months, according to the APA's Healthy Minds Poll.

Midwesterners and Northeasterners are most affect...