Bird Flu Virus in Canadian Teen Shows Mutations That Could Help It Spread Among Humans

In a development that health experts have warned might come, Canadian officials report that the bird flu virus isolated from a sick teen in Vancouver shows mutations that could help it spread more easily among humans.

At this point, there is no evidence that this particular mutated H5N1 virus has traveled beyond the one Canadian patient: A...

'10 Americas:' Health Disparities Mean Life Expectancy Varies Across U.S.

How long Americans can expect to live varies dramatically -- and the gap continues to widen.

A new report says health inequalities have, in essence, created 10 Americas.

These mutually exclusive populations are divided along familiar fault lines, including race, ethnicity, income and address. 

While life expectancy rose in...

Could a Vitamin Be Effective Treatment for COPD?

A daily dose of vitamin B3 reduced inflammation in the lungs of patients with COPD, Danish researchers report. 

"This is significant, because inflammation can lead to reduced lung function in these patients," said researcher Morten Scheibye-Knudsen, of the University of Copenhagen.

Patients with COPD -- the full name of which is...

Short-Term Hormone Therapy for Menopause Won't Harm Women's Brains

Four years of hormone replacement therapy to help women deal with menopausal symptoms causes no harm to the brain, even over the long term, new research shows.

"In the present study, approximately 10 years after 48 months of early menopausal therapy... the cognitive performance of women randomized to [hormone replacement therapy] did not d...

E. Coli Fears Spur Recall of 167,000 Pounds of Ground Beef

Over 167,000 pounds of ground beef are being recalled by a Detroit meatpacker after being linked to E. coli illnesses in restaurant goers.

The beef was shipped by Wolverine Packing Co. and used in restaurants nationwide, the U.S. Department of Agriculture Food Safety and Inspection Service (FSIS) announced Thursday.

"The problem was...

Nearly 160 Million Americans Harmed by Another's Drinking, Drug Use

Think of it as collateral damage: Millions of Americans say they have been harmed by a loved one's drug or alcohol use.

One in 3 adults who responded to a new nationwide survey said they had suffered "secondhand harm" from another person's drinking. And more than 1 in 10 said they had been harmed by a loved one's drug use. 

That...

1 in 4 Americans Now Struggling to Cover Medical Costs

U.S. health care costs are among the world's highest, and 1 in 4 adults with health coverage struggle with high out-of-pocket costs, a new survey shows.

The survey -- by the Commonwealth Fund, a health-care focused think tank -- finds that most people have coverage offered by employers, but their policies don't always provide timely or aff...

Getting Fitter Can Really Help Keep Dementia at Bay

People whose genes put them at high risk for dementia may be able to fight Mother Nature and win, new research out of Sweden suggests.

The weapon: Working out on a regular basis to improve cardiorespiratory fitness, also known as CRF. 

CRF is the capacity of the body's circulatory and respiratory systems to supply oxygen to musc...

Skin Patch Could Monitor Your Blood Pressure

A wearable patch the size of a postage stamp that can monitor blood pressure continuously could soon help people manage their hypertension.

Researchers at the University of California, San Diego, who developed the wearable ultrasound patch report Nov. 20 in the journal Nature Biomedical Engineering that it has worked well in tests...

There May Be a Better Way to Treat Hematoma Brain Bleeds

After a hit to the head or a fall, people, especially seniors, can develop a dangerous pooling of blood and fluid between the brain's surface and it's protective covering, the dura.

These "subdural hematomas" typically require surgery to fix, but a new study suggests a better approach, one that makes sure repeat surgeries aren't required. ...

Chronic Joint Pain Plus Depression Can Take Toll on the Brain

Having achy, painful joints isn't just a physical woe: Coupled with depression, it could also degrade an older person's brain function over time.

That's the conclusion of a study of almost 5,000 older Britons tracked for 12 years. People who had both chronic joint pain and depression tended to perform worse on cognitive tests, especially t...

Living in Space Won't Permanently Harm Astronauts' Thinking Skills

For astronauts who spend months at a time working on the International Space Station (ISS), there's good news.

While their bodies and brains are affected by radiation, altered gravity, challenging working situations and sleep loss on these missions, a study of 25 astronauts found no evidence that those conditions damage their thinking skil...

Kids' Injuries in Sports and at Home: When Is It Right to Seek Medical Attention?

A sprain on the soccer field. A tumble to the floor at home.

Kids get injured, but as a parent, when's the right time to bring them to a doctor or ER?

Pediatric sports medicine and orthopedic physician Dr. Bianca Edison, of Children's Hospital Los Angeles, offers up guidance for worried moms and dads.

First of all, she said, d...

Human Cell Atlas Will Be 'Google Maps' for Health Research

Scientists from around the world are making headway in compiling a Human Cell Atlas -- a deep dive into the myriad types of cells in the body and their disparate roles in health and disease.

The atlas is not yet complete, but 40 different scientific papers on cell research, published Nov. 20 in the journal Nature, brings the goal ...

U.S. Postpartum Depression Diagnoses Doubled in a Decade

Rates of postpartum depression have more than doubled in little over a decade among American women, a new analysis shows.

While about 1 in every 10 new moms (9.4%) suffered postpartum depression in 2010, that number rose to almost 1 in every 5 (19%) by 2021, report a team from Kaiser Permanente Southern California.

Why the steep rise...

California Child Tests Positive for Bird Flu

A child in California has tested positive for bird flu, despite having no known contact with infected animals, state officials reported Tuesday.

"California has identified a possible bird flu case in a child in Alameda County who was tested for mild upper respiratory symptoms. The child, who&nbs...

About 1 in 10 U.S. Adults Have High Cholesterol

Nearly 1 in every 10 American adults is living with high levels of cholesterol in their arteries, according to the latest report from the U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention.

The data, from 2021 through 2023, found that 11.3% of adults have high total cholesterol -- a number that's held relatively steady since the introduction ...

Child-Teacher Bond in Early Education Could Have Lasting Impact

Fostering good relationships with teachers in the early grades may have long-lasting benefits, new research suggests.

"These early connections significantly influence not only academic achievement, but also social and emotional development and executive functioning skills, which are critical for educational success," said researcher Arya A...

Four Million Americans Could Lose Health Coverage Once ACA Credits Expire

If Congress lets healthcare tax credits established during the pandemic expire, 4 million Americans will become uninsured, a new analysis warns.

The tax credits, which have significantly lowered out-of-pocket costs for millions of Americans, are set to expire at the end of 2025.

"Allowing these credits to expire will force families t...

Surgeon General Says U.S. Smoking Rates Have Tumbled, But Not for Everyone

Although the United States has made significant headway in curbing cigarette smoking and secondhand smoke exposure, a new report finds deep divisions remain and they run along predictable fault lines.

Disparities in tobacco use continue to persist by income and occupation, geography, education, race and ethnicity, sexual orientation and ge...