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.<...

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...

Summer of 2023 Was Hottest in 2,000 Years

High temperatures across the Northern Hemisphere last summer were scorching and frequent enough to make it the hottest summer in two millennia, new research shows.

Weather records based on scientific instruments only goes back as far as 1850, noted researchers at Cambridge University in England. That data already had confirmed the summer o...

San Francisco Set to Ban 'Forever Chemicals' in Firefighter Gear

San Francisco is on the verge of passing a ban on "forever chemicals" in the protective clothing firefighters wear while battling blazes.

City lawmakers are expected to pass an ordinance on Tuesday that will prohibit the use of firefighting gear made with per- and polyfluoroalkyl substances (PFAS).

PFAS have been linked to heal...

More Studies Support Wegovy's Long-Term Weight-Loss Benefits

Semaglutide -- the active ingredient in the blockbuster weight-loss drugs Ozempic and Wegovy -- can produce long-term weight and heart health benefits, a pair of new studies show.

Researchers found that overweight and obese adults lost an average 10% of their body weight and nearly three inches off their waistline after taking semaglutide ...

Americans With Private Insurance May Pay More for Hospital Stay

Having private insurance may not be all it is cracked up to be when it comes to hospital bills, new research warns.

In a report published Monday by the nonprofit research institute RAND Corp., researchers discovered that patients with private health insurance may wind up paying more for procedures or tests performed during their ...

Patients Over 80 Still Benefit From Treatment for AML Blood Cancer

Seniors over 80 with acute myeloid leukemia can safely and effectively take the standard targeted therapy for the blood cancer, a new study finds.

The oral drug venetoclax is typically given to older AML patients whose bodies can’t handle the rigors of chemotherapy. The drug targets a protein in cancer cells that helps them live longer t...

Why C-Section Babies Need 2 Doses of Measles Vaccine

Babies born by C-section are unlikely to receive protection from a single dose of measles vaccine, a new study finds.

A single measles jab is up to 2.6 times more likely to be completely ineffective in C-section babies, compared to those born vaginally. Their immune systems fail to produce antibodies to fight against measles infection.

Vaping Rates Fall Among Teens, But Still Too High

Vaping rates among U.S. kids in grades 9 through 12 fell to 5% in 2021, the latest year for which data is available.

That's down from a peak of 7.2% of teens who vaped in 2019, a new report finds.

However, the 5% vaping rate observed in 2021 is still more than double the 2% rate observed among teens in 2015, the study authors noted....

Science Shows How Night Shifts Help Bring on Disease

Night shift work can increase a person’s risk of chronic disease, and a new study reveals one possible explanation for this.

It appears that just a few days on a night shift schedule throws off body rhythms tied to regulation of blood sugar, energy burning and inflammation, researchers found.

“There are processes tied to the mast...

Melanoma Can Strike Black Americans, Often With Deadlier Results

Melanoma, while rare among Black Americans, is often detected later with devastating consequences, a new study finds.

Black people are frequently diagnosed with melanoma at later stages, increasing their risk of death compared to fairer-skinned patients, researchers found.

Advanced stage 3 melanoma was detected in 19% of Black people...

Smoking During Pregnancy Could Raise Baby's Odds for Obesity Later

Women who smoke during pregnancy run a higher risk of their kids becoming overweight or obese, and researchers now think they know one reason why.

Children born of moms who smoked while expecting tend to have gut bacteria that is significantly different from that of kids whose moms didn’t light up, scientists reported recently in the jou...