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Plant-Based Diets Lower Risk of Heart Trouble, Cancer and Death

Following a vegetarian or vegan diet might just buy you a longer, healthier life, a new review finds.

Staying away from meat was tied to a reduced risk of heart disease, cancer and early death, researchers reported in a study published Wednesday in the journal PLOS One.

After combing through nearly 50 studies on such diets t...

Brain Decline, Dementia Common Among Older American Indians

Higher rates of blood vessel-damaging conditions like hypertension or diabetes may be driving up rates of cognitive decline and dementia among older American Indians, new research shows.

The study found that 54% of American Indians ages 72 to 95 had some form of impairment in their thinking and/or memory skills, while 10% had dementia.

Stroke, Migraine, Alzheimer's: Climate Change Will Likely Make Them Worse

Climate change is likely to make brain conditions like stroke, migraine, Alzheimer’s disease, epilepsy and multiple sclerosis even worse, a new review warns.

The potential effects of a changing climate is likely to be substantial on a range of neurological conditions, researchers report May 15 in The Lancet Neurology journal.

Immunotherapy Before and After Surgery Boosts Lung Cancer Survival

Immunotherapy can boost the survival of early-stage lung cancer patients eligible for surgery when it’s combined with chemotherapy, a new clinical trial reports.

Those who got immunotherapy before and after surgery -- along with pre-surgical chemo -- had a 42% lower risk of cancer progression, recurrence or death than those who only rec...

Cream Cheese From Aldi, Hy-Vee Stores Recalled Due to Salmonella Risk

Two major supermarket chains, Aldi and Hy-Vee, are recalling brands of cream cheese because of a potential risk for salmonella.

No actual illnesses linked to the products have yet been reported, but Hy-Vee said it's announcing the recall of Hy-Vee Cream Cheese Spread "out of an abundance of caution due to the potential for contamination wi...

Seeing Your Doctors Via Zoom? What's Behind Them Matters

Telehealth has made it possible for doctors to deliver care from anywhere, but a professional-looking background helps patients feel more confident about their care and advice, a new study finds.

Even if doctors are miles away from the clinic or exam room, they should make it look like they’re there, according to results published May 15...

Mediterranean Diet Could Be a Stress-Buster, Study Finds

The Mediterranean diet has already been shown to be great for a person’s physical health, but new research finds that following the Mediterranean diet also can lift your mood.

People on the diet tended to have lower levels of anxiety and stress, researchers reported recently in the journal Nutrients.

“It’s a big tick f...

FDA Approves First Self-Test Collection Kit for HPV

The U.S. Food and Drug Administration has approved a kit that will allow women to collect their own vaginal sample for HPV screening, a move that could increase early detection in those at risk for cervical cancer.

Women will be able to swab themselves in privacy at a doctor’s office, clinic or pharmacy, and the sample will then be sent ...

U.S. Drug Overdose Deaths Decline for First Time in 5 Years

The relentless rise in deaths from drug overdose in the United States may finally have stalled: New data from 2023 show the first decline in such deaths since 2018.

"Statistics indicate there were an estimated 107,543 drug overdose deaths in the United States during 2023 — a decrease of 3% from the 111,029 deaths estimated in 2022," CDC ...

Avian Flu Virus Showing Up in NYC Wild Birds

The H5N1 avian flu virus has been discovered in a small number of wild birds in New York City.

The highly infectious and severe virus was detected in fecal samples in six New York City birds representing four different species, according to a report published May 15 in the Journal of Virology.

Bird flu is now widespread in w...

New Blood Test Could Help Spot Preeclampsia in First Trimester

Preeclampsia can be a life-threatening complication of pregnancy, but a new blood test can help predict a woman's risk for the condition while she is in her first trimester, the test's maker said Wednesday.

It’s the first test in the United States that can be used between 11 and 14 weeks gestation to determine the r...

Report Highlights Big Gaps in Cancer Outcomes Based on Race

U.S. cancer death rates are continuing to drop, falling by 33% between 1991 and 2020.

However, not all Americans are reaping the benefits from advances in cancer prevention, early detection and treatment, a new report from the American Association for Cancer Research (AACR) shows.

Race, location and sexuality all play a role in cance...

Could a Low-Cal Keto Diet Help Ease Acne?

In a small pilot study, some young women looking to lose weight on a low-calorie keto diet got an unexpected benefit: Their acne began to clear up.

“These findings represent an opportunity to control a skin disease that affects most teenagers and many adults at some point in their lifetimes, causing distress, embarrassment, anxiety and l...

Pedal Power: Biking Could Help Prevent Knee Arthritis

People who regularly ride bikes throughout their life are less likely to develop knee arthritis, a new study suggests.

Bicyclists are 17% less likely to have knee pain and 21% less likely to have symptoms of knee arthritis, compared to people who’ve never biked, researchers discovered.

It also appears that people who’ve biked all...

Surgical Outcomes Better With More Women on Your Team

Heading for surgery? The ratio of women to men in the operating room could influence your recovery, new research shows.

Hospitals in Canada that had 35% or more surgeons and anesthesiologists who were female on staff tended to produce better outcomes for patients undergoing surgery, a new study has found.

“Ensuring a critical mass ...

Early Hints at a Gene Therapy Cure for Herpes

An experimental gene therapy could one day provide a first-ever cure for genital and oral herpes, researchers report.

The gene therapy removed 90% or more of oral herpes infection in lab mice, and it also suppressed how much virus an infected animal shed, according to results published May 13 in the journal Nature Communications.<...

One Key to Weight Loss for Men: Competing for Cash

A competitive game with a potential cash reward appeared to help overweight British men lose weight, researchers report.

The incentive was winning the "Game of Stones" -- a stone is a British measurement of body weight equal to 14 pounds -- and pocketing the equivalent of just over $500 in American dollars if the man achieved weight-loss g...

Recent Release From Jail a Big Risk Factor for Suicide

Inmates released from jail have a ninefold increased risk of suicide within the following year, compared to people who’ve never been incarcerated, new research shows.

“Suicide prevention efforts should focus on people who have spent at least one night in jail in the past year,” concluded the team led by Ted Miller, a senior research ...

About 8,000 Women Per Month Are Getting Abortion Pills Despite Their States' Bans

While some states have moved to severely curb women's access to abortion, including abortion pills, over 8,000 women living in those states are getting the pills by mail each month from states without such restrictions.

That's according to new data from a #WeCount survey conducted for the Society of Family Planning, which supports abortion...

U.S. Drowning Deaths Rising Again After Years of Decline

TUESDAY, May 14, 2024 (HeathDay News) -- Following decades of declines, drowning deaths are once again climbing in the United States, new government data shows.

More than 4,500 people died from drowning each year in 2020 through 2022, 500 more per year than in 2019, researchers from the U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention found...