Gluten-Free Diet May Reduce Cancer Risk in Celiac Disease

Sept. 14, 2021 — Overall cancer risk is slightly increased in patients older than 40 within their first year of a celiac disease diagnosis, but the risk drops within a year of diagnosis, shows a Swedish study of 47,000 people with celiac disease. “Celiac disease is associated with an increased risk of types of cancer,…

Pediatric ER Visits Rise for Firearms Injuries, Drug Poisonings During Pandemic

Feb. 22, 2022 Pediatric emergency room visits dropped overall during the COVID-19 pandemic but went up sharply in certain categories, such as firearms injuries and drug poisonings, the U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention says. Among adolescents aged 12-17, ER visits went up for self-harm and eating disorders. The impact of the pandemic on…

CDC Not Publishing Large Amounts of COVID-19 Data

Feb. 22, 2022 The U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention has only published a fraction of the data it collected about the COVID-19 pandemic, The New York Times reported, citing several people familiar with the data. The CDC published information about the effectiveness of boosters for people under 65 two weeks ago but didn’t…

Booster Effectiveness Wanes After 4 Months, Study Shows

Feb. 14, 2022 Booster shots of the Pfizer/BioNTech and Moderna COVID-19 vaccines lost some effectiveness after four months but still did a good job of keeping people out of the hospital during the Omicron surge, a study shows. During the time when the Omicron variant dominated, the vaccines provided 87% effectiveness against emergency room visits…

U.S. Suspends Avocado Imports From Mexico

Feb. 14, 2022 The United States has suspended avocado imports from Mexico because a U.S. plant safety inspector in Mexico was threatened, The Associated Press reported. The suspension started Saturday after the inspector was threatened in Michoacán, the only Mexican state authorized to export avocados to the United States.  “U.S. health authorities … made the…

What’s the Difference Between a Sociopath and a Psychopath?

You may have heard people call someone else a “psychopath” or a “sociopath.” But what do those words really mean? You won’t find the definitions in mental health’s official handbook, the Diagnostic and Statistical Manual of Mental Disorders. Doctors don’t officially diagnose people as psychopaths or sociopaths. They use a different term instead: antisocial personality…

Why It’s Key to Overall Health

TUESDAY, Feb. 15, 2022 (HealthDay News) — Lovemaking isn’t just for the young — older people gain a lot of satisfaction from amorous relations as well. But things get complicated as people age, and many folks let this important part of life drift away rather than talk about sexual problems with either their partner…

Sound the Fiber Alarm! Most of Us Need More of It in Our Diet

By American Heart Association NewsHealthDay Reporter THURSDAY, Jan. 27, 2022 (American Heart Association News) — There are a lot of health factors to keep in mind as we navigate through the dietary day: calories, carbohydrates, protein, saturated fat, vitamins and minerals, to name a few. Did you forget fiber? A lot of people do. “We’ve…

‘Magic Mushrooms’ Provide Fast, Long-lasting Depression Relief: Study

Feb. 18, 2022 — Treatment with psilocybin, the psychedelic compound found in “magic mushrooms,” relieves major depression for up to a year, and perhaps longer, new research shows. In a study of adults with a long-term history of depression, two doses of psilocybin, combined with supportive “talk” therapy, led to large, stable, and enduring antidepressant…

Is It Time for Yet Another COVID Booster?

Feb. 18, 2022 — Will springtime be booster time — again? The first COVID-19 booster shot is now in the rearview mirror for millions of Americans — for the 28% who got it, at least — but new data finds it’s less effective after about 4 months. The CDC has already recommended a second booster…