Trauma in Childhood Can Harm Health for a Lifetime: Study

• Robert Preidt
• November 15, 2021
• Full Page

As if suffering through a childhood trauma weren't enough, new research suggests it might raise the risk of poor mental and physical health later in life.

Researchers analyzed nearly 2,900 responses to the 2019 New Zealand Family Violence Survey and found that about 45% ...

The No. 1 Cause of Halloween Injuries: Carving the Pumpkin

• October 23, 2021
• Full Page

Your Jack-o'-Lantern may be more than scary -- it could be dangerous.

Pumpkin carving is the leading cause of injuries associated with Halloween, according to the U.S. Consumer Product Safety Commission.

Between October and November 2018 in the United States, 44% o...

Study Confirms Rise in Child Abuse During COVID Pandemic

• Denise Mann HealthDay Reporter
• October 8, 2021
• Full Page

Physical abuse of school-aged kids tripled during the early months of the pandemic when widespread stay-at-home orders were in effect, a new study finds.

Exactly what triggered the surge is not fully understood, but other studies have also reported similar upticks in chi...

Big Rise in Injuries From E-Scooters, Hoverboards

• Robert Preidt
• October 5, 2021
• Full Page

Hoverboards, electric scooters and electric bikes are the transportation of choice for a growing number of Americans, but they're taking many straight to the emergency room.

Injuries associated with these so-called "micromobility products" skyrocketed 70% between 2017 an...

Childhood Trauma Linked With Higher Odds for Adult Neurological Ills

• Steven Reinberg
• September 23, 2021
• Full Page

Kids who suffer abuse, neglect or household dysfunction are more likely to have neurological problems like stroke or headaches as adults, researchers report.

"Traumatic events in childhood have been linked in previous studies to a higher risk of heart disease, diabetes, ...

Witnessing Abuse of a Sibling Can Traumatize a Child

• Steven Reinberg
• September 22, 2021
• Full Page

Seeing a parent abuse a sibling can be as traumatizing as watching a parent hurt another parent, a new study finds.

And it can lead to depression, anxiety and anger, researchers say.

"When we hear about exposure to family violence, we usually think about someone be...

Sexual Assault Could Affect a Woman's Long-Term Brain Health

• Cara Murez
• September 22, 2021
• Full Page

It's known that sexual assault affects a woman's physical and mental health. Now, researchers say these traumatic incidents may also harm her brain health.

A new study found that traumatic experiences, including sexual violence, may be linked to greater risk of dementia,...

One Activity Causes 4 Out of 5 Sports-Linked Spinal Injuries

• Amy Norton HealthDay Reporter
• August 25, 2021
• Full Page

Football and other contact sports get a lot of attention for their injury hazards. But for most adults, bike riding is the biggest back-breaker, a new study suggests.

Of more than 12,000 sports-related spinal injuries among U.S. adults, researchers found that a full 81% ...

Why Losing Someone to Violence Can Be Especially Tough to Get Over

• August 16, 2021
• Full Page

It can take years for a survivor of a traumatic event to recover from the loss of a loved one, new research shows, but treating the symptoms of post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD) early may help prevent what's called complicated grief.

"Grief is a normal response to th...

Barnacles Inspire a Better Way to Seal Off Wounds

• Robert Preidt
• August 11, 2021
• Full Page

Barnacles may be the bane of ships, but they could point to new ways to quickly halt severe bleeding, researchers report.

Barnacles are small crustaceans that attach to rocks, ship hulls and even other animals, such as whales. Their ability to cling to surfaces that are ...

PTSD Common After Sexual Assault, But Eases for Most

• Robert Preidt
• July 23, 2021
• Full Page

Most sexual assault survivors have post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD) immediately after the attack, but it tends to lessen over the following months, a new study finds.

"One of the main takeaways is that the majority of recovery from post-traumatic stress happens in t...

COVID Can Be More Deadly for Hospitalized Trauma Patients

• Robert Preidt
• June 30, 2021
• Full Page

Having a case of COVID-19 significantly increases hospitalized trauma patients' risk of complications and death, a new study finds.

"Our findings underscore how important it is for hospitals to consistently test admitted patients, so that providers can be aware of this a...

Alligator Attack Nearly Cost This Firefighter Dad His Arm

• Dennis Thompson HealthDay Reporter
• June 23, 2021
• Full Page

You might not believe it, but Florida firefighter Carsten Kieffer was incredibly lucky when a 12-foot alligator leapt into his boat and chomped down on his right forearm.

Just about no one else thought so, and that went double for Kieffer: Both main bones in his arm were...

More E-Scooter Rideshares, More Injuries

• Robert Preidt
• June 22, 2021
• Full Page

As the use of e-scooters has risen with the introduction of urban rideshare programs, so have serious injuries associated with their use, a new study finds.

Neck and head injuries are especially common.

"Since e-scooters became a popular form of transportation in m...

Red Cross Warns of Severe Blood Shortage

• Robert Preidt
• June 17, 2021
• Full Page

There's a severe blood shortage in the United States due to a recent surge in trauma cases, organ transplants and elective surgeries, the American Red Cross says.

The Red Cross is appealing to Americans to roll up their sleeves and donate blood immediately.

"Our te...

Girl's Tragedy Has Parents Calling for Changes to Car Design

• Dennis Thompson HealthDay Reporter
• June 8, 2021
• Full Page

Jay-Fay Fraser was in the back seat of her father's sedan, heading home from feeding the homeless on Thanksgiving 2016, when another car rear-ended them on the highway.

The driver's seat collapsed backward from the sudden force of the rear impact, slamming into Jay-Fay's...

Post-COVID PTSD? Many Find Return to 'Normal' Unsettling

• Dennis Thompson HealthDay Reporter
• May 17, 2021
• Full Page

Many Americans felt relief and joy at the announcement last week that fully vaccinated people no longer need to wear masks at many indoor and outdoor locations.

But don't be surprised if those good feelings come tinged with stress or worry: Mental health experts said in ...

High-Profile Police Brutality Cases Harm Black Americans' Mental Health: Study

• Amy Norton HealthDay Reporter
• April 20, 2021
• Full Page

As America awaits a verdict in the Derek Chauvin trial, new research finds that such high-profile police killings of Black people may take a big mental health toll on psyches across the country.

Researchers found that, on average, Black Americans reported an increase in ...

Women More Prone to Concussion's Long-Term Harms: Study

• Amy Norton HealthDay Reporter
• April 8, 2021
• Full Page

After a concussion, women may be at heightened risk of lasting physical and mental symptoms, a new study finds.

The study of 2,000 concussion sufferers found that women were more likely than men to still have some symptoms one year later. The problems included fuzzy memo...

About 40,000 U.S. Children Have Lost a Parent to COVID-19

• April 5, 2021
• Full Page

More than 40,000 U.S. kids have lost a parent to COVID-19 and the long-term impacts could be severe, experts warn.

Americans under age 65 account for about 1 in 5 COVID deaths. Of those, as many as 15% involve someone in their 40s and 3% someone in their 40s.

"In t...

Most Injured Workers Resume Jobs After Recovery, But Finances Suffer

• Robert Preidt
• April 5, 2021
• Full Page

About six in 10 U.S. workers who've been hospitalized for an injury return to their jobs, but physical disabilities and financial struggles are common, researchers say.

For the study, investigators analyzed federal survey data from trauma patients who were hospitalized w...

Mental Health Trauma Plagues Wildfire Survivors

• Steven Reinberg
• February 16, 2021
• Full Page

The 2018 wildfire that destroyed 239 square miles in Northern California, including the town of Paradise, left a lasting mental health crisis in its wake.

Many residents who survived the so-called Camp Fire are now grappling with chronic post-traumatic stress disorder (P...

Bedside Manner Even More Important for Hospital Patients Admitted Via the ER

• Robert Preidt
• February 4, 2021
• Full Page

Being rushed into hospital care can be an emotional experience. So, what a surgeon says to trauma or emergency surgery patients plays a role in how satisfied they are after their operations, a new study finds.

Researchers analyzed data from nearly 187,000 patients discha...

'So Happy:' World's First Hand/Face Transplant Patient Doing Well

• Denise Mann HealthDay Reporter
• February 3, 2021
• Full Page

Joe DiMeo's life changed forever when he fell asleep at the wheel on U.S. Route 22 in New Jersey on July 14, 2018.

The horrific crash left him with third-degree burns on 80% of his body and a grim prognosis.

Now, more than two years later, DiMeo, 22, is the recipie...

Anchor It! Toppling TVs, Furniture Can Injure and Kill Kids

• Robert Preidt
• February 3, 2021
• Full Page

It only takes a second.

Experts are warning that unsecured televisions, bedroom dressers and other heavy furniture can crush, maim and even kill curious children, and the issue may only worsen during stay-at-home lockdowns.

According to the U.S. Consumer Product Sa...

Anxiety, Depression and Drinking: An Unhealthy Combo During the Pandemic

• Steven Reinberg
• January 25, 2021
• Full Page

People with anxiety and depression are more likely to step up their drinking during the COVID-19 pandemic than those without these mental health issues, an online survey revealed.

Alcohol use grew the most among young people, but older adults with anxiety and depression ...

Coping With Anxiety, Fear During a Rocky Presidential Transition

• Dennis Thompson
• January 8, 2021
• Full Page

The nation is in a state of shock and outrage over Wednesday's riotous siege on the U.S. Capitol Building by supporters of President Donald Trump, and there could be still worse to come before the Jan. 20 inauguration of President-elect Joe Biden.

So, taking care of your...

When Popping Champagne at New Years', Watch Out for That Cork

• Cara Murez
• December 31, 2020
• Full Page

As 2020 comes to a close, many people plan to ring in the new year with a bit of bubbly.

But that can lead to calamity when not done safely, warns the American Academy of Ophthalmology (AAO), which offers tips for keeping a Champagne toast from going wrong.

A warm ...

ADHD Raises Adult Suicide Risk, Especially for Women

• Amy Norton
• December 29, 2020
• Full Page

Adults with attention-deficit/hyperactivity disorder (ADHD) have a strikingly high prevalence of attempted suicide, with women being at particular risk, researchers say.

The study of nearly 22,000 Canadian adults found that 14% of those with ADHD had attempted suici...

Disasters Leave a Rise in Suicides in Their Wake: Study

• Cara Murez
• November 20, 2020
• Full Page

Hurricanes, tornadoes and other major disasters can cause more damage than devastation to property, a new study suggests.

Researchers found that the severe emotional distress and anxiety for those who have lived through major disasters can also lead to suicide.

The...

Knowing What to Expect May Help After Sexual Assault

• Steven Reinberg
• October 24, 2020
• Full Page

Sexual assault is common in America, with an attack occurring every 73 seconds. But having supportive care at the emergency department and afterwards can help heal the trauma, Penn State doctors say.

One in five women is raped during their lifetime, yet only 25&#...

Clear Danger: Glass-Topped Tables Injure Thousands Each Year

• Cara Roberts Murez
• September 21, 2020
• Full Page

At Rutgers New Jersey Medical School's trauma center, Dr. Stephanie Bonne and her team noticed a string of patient injuries caused by broken glass tables.

"They were quite serious, significant injuries that required pretty big operations and long hospital stays," sai...

PTSD May Be Tied to Greater Dementia Risk

• Robert Preidt
• September 17, 2020
• Full Page

Post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD)may significantly increase the risk of dementia later in life, according to a new study.

The researchers found that people with a history of PTSD were up to two times more likely to develop dementia than those who never had PTSD.<...

Could You Save a Life After Mass Violence? Most Americans Say No

• Robert Preidt
• September 3, 2020
• Full Page

Most Americans aren't confident that they could provide lifesaving help after mass violence or other emergencies, a nationwide poll shows.

While most respondents felt they could call 911 and about half said they could provide information to first responders, far fewe...

Gun Violence Costs U.S. Health Care System $170 Billion Annually

• Steven Reinberg
• September 2, 2020
• Full Page

A rise in gun violence and a resulting increase in severe injury demand urgent action to curb these trends and lower the high cost of saving victims' lives, researchers say.

"We hope that our findings are able to better inform policy in terms of violence prevention a...

Skull Fractures, Broken Jaws: 'Beanbag' Rounds Shot at Protesters Cause Severe Harm

• E.J. Mundell
• August 14, 2020
• Full Page

When police and National Guard troops mobilized during protests that broke out across the nation this spring following the death of George Floyd, they often resorted to the use of so-called "beanbag" rounds of ammunition when confronting crowds.

Beanbag rounds -- a s...

'Trigger Warnings' May Do More Harm Than Good, Study Finds

• Dennis Thompson
• June 16, 2020
• Full Page

Trigger warnings are meant to alert trauma survivors about unsettling text or content that they might find potentially distressing.

But these words of caution at the start of films or books may provide no help at all -- and might even hamper a traumatized person's ab...

Amid Pandemic, Protest Peacefully While Staying Healthy

• Steven Reinberg
• June 4, 2020
• Full Page

You've watched police brutality protests unfold across America and you want to take part, but you fear that choice could raise your risk of coronavirus infection. Is there a way to express your outrage without endangering your health?

Yes, say doctors who offer tips ...

In a Pandemic-Stressed America, Protests Add to Mental Strain

• Dennis Thompson
• June 2, 2020
• Full Page

Just as Americans are emerging from COVID-19 quarantines, hoping to resume normal life but still fearful of infection, protests against police violence are raging in cities across the country.

And millions remain unemployed, as a shaky economy attempts to restart.

Biggest Hurdle for Young Burn Survivors Is Acceptance

• Robert Preidt
• June 1, 2020
• Full Page

The way they're treated by other people can cause young burn survivors more distress than their physical challenges, two surveys find.

In one, researchers asked 64 burn survivors between 17 and 25 years of age what they found hardest to deal with. The seven most comm...