This Flu Season Is Worst In A Decade

The current flu season is shaping up to be the worst in a decade.

So far, there have been at least 29 million illnesses and 370,000 hospitalizations related to the flu -- the most since the 2015-2016 season, according to the U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention's (CDC) weekly flu report.

There have also been 16,000 deaths ...

TV Violence Linked To Aggression In Teenage Boys

FRIDAY, Feb. 21, 2025 (HealthDay news) -- Superhero slugfests and TV tough-guy shootouts might have long-term effects on a preschool boy’s behavior, a new study says.

Boys exposed to violent media between ages 3 and 5 are more likely to develop aggressive and antisocial behaviors by the time they turn 15, researchers report.

&l...

Walking Exercises Improve Stroke Rehab

Stroke patients leave the hospital with better prospects if they’re forced to hoof it more during recovery, a new study suggests.

Adding a half-hour of progressive walking exercises to standard stroke rehab measurably improves patients’ quality of life and mobility by the time they go home, researchers say.

“Althoug...

Raw Pet Food Recalled After Bird Flu Sickens, Then Kills Two Cats

Two indoor cats in Oregon were euthanized after contracting bird flu, leading to a recall of raw pet food sold in both Oregon and Washington, health officials have announced.

The cats were from separate households and had consumed the same Wild Coast Raw Boneless Free Range Chicken Formula before falling ill.

Testing confirmed pathog...

Muscle-Building Supplements Linked to Body Image Disorder in Young Adults

Protein shakes and pre-workout mixes are popular among gym-goers, but they might signal a deeper issue for some young adults.

A study published Feb. 19 in the journal PLOS Mental Health linked use of multiple muscle-building supplements to muscle dysmorphia, a body image disorder focused on obsessing over muscle size and lean...

Bird Flu May Spread Through the Air, Study Finds

The highly contagious H5N1 bird flu virus may be spreading through the air under certain conditions, according to a new study from the Czech Republic.

Government veterinarians made the discovery while investigating a mysterious outbreak at a highly secured chicken farm last February.

The farm had strict biosecurity measures -- filter...

Should Your Teen Receive Non-Surgical Cosmetic Treatments?

Social media often tempts teenagers with non-surgical ways to improve their appearance, such as laser hair removal, skin and teeth whitening, chemical peels, botox, and face and lip fillers.

And a new poll finds that a substantial number of parents are ready to support their teen’s pursuit of beauty through a trip to a med spa.

U.S. Facing Critical Hospital Bed Shortage

U.S. hospitals could face a bed shortage as early as 2032, with occupancy remaining elevated even as the country recovers from the COVID pandemic, a new study suggests.

Average hospital occupancy following the pandemic has been about 75%, researchers found, dividing the average daily number of patients by the number of staffed hospital bed...

Unexplained Stroke Risk Doubled Among Young Smokers

Smoking more than doubles the risk of unexplained strokes among younger adults, a new study warns.

And heavy smoking is even worse, with stroke risk more than quadrupled among adults who smoke more than a pack of cigarettes every day for 20 years compared to people who don’t smoke, researchers found.

“Our finding...

Radon Exposure Linked to Increased Asthma Symptoms in Children

A radioactive gas could be contributing to asthma among schoolkids, researchers have found.

Children exposed to elevated levels of radon gas tended to have more asthma symptoms, results show.

“Residential radon has not previously been described as an environmental risk factor for asthma,” a team led by Dr. Wanda Phipatana...

U.K. Kids Help Improve Treatment, Rehab For Traumatic Brain Injury

Mia Jack was stealing a glance backward when she lost control of the quadbike she’d been motoring around a family gathering.

Jack, then 12, flew over the handlebars and slammed headfirst into a tree. 

“I was wearing a helmet at the time, but apparently my brain was like a jelly in a box that had been really badly sha...

LGBTQ+ Stress and Stigma Increase Risk of Mental Health Problems

The societal stress and stigma of being LGBTQ+ can increase a person’s risk of mental health problems, a new study suggests.

People in sexual and gender minorities are more likely than heterosexuals to suffer from problems like anxiety, depression, PTSD, bipolar disorder, ADHD, eating disorders and obsessive-compulsive disorder, rese...

Scientists Have New Theory About Record Heat

WEDNESDAY, Feb. 19, 2025 (HealthDay News) — You aren't imagining it: The cloud cover isn't what it used to be, and scientists say it is helping fuel Earth's hottest temperatures on record.

Global temperatures clocked in at roughly 1.5 degrees Celsius above predindustrial averages in both 2023 and 2024. 

While climate exper...

Trump Administration Reverses Plan to End Free COVID Test Program

The Trump administration changed course on Tuesday, deciding to keep the government's free COVID test program running, just minutes before the website, COVIDtests.gov, was set to shut down.

Earlier that day, The Washington Post reported that officials were preparing to end the program and possibly destroy tens of millions of unuse...

Denied by Insurance? Why Fighting Back Sometimes Works

After three years, $40,000 in medical bills and five insurance denials, April and Justin Beck finally won their battle to get life-changing treatment for their 9-year-old daughter, Emily.

Emily, once an energetic kindergartner in Georgia, began experiencing severe behavior issues after battling COVID in 2021.

Known for her love of re...

Women Of Color Receive Slower Response To A Bad Mammogram

Women of color are less likely to receive prompt follow-up testing after abnormal mammogram results, a new study has found.

Minority women are less likely than white women to receive a same-day advanced imaging or biopsy after an abnormal mammogram, even though they have similar access to those services, researchers reported.

Black w...

Docs Don't Track Pregnancy Complications That Threaten Long-Term Health

Women who develop a complication like diabetes or high blood pressure during pregnancy are at higher risk of stroke or heart disease in the years after delivery.

Unfortunately, their doctors aren’t taking this health risk seriously enough, a new study suggests.

Fewer than 1 in 5 women (17%) diagnosed with gestational diabetes o...