America’s College Mental Health Crisis

By MARISA COHEN Randi*, a 20-year-old basketball player from Nashville, had struggled with depression for a few years before she left for college in 2019, but the abrupt switch to remote classes at the onset of the COVID pandemic in March 2020 – and then the return to a completely different college experience later that…

French Fries Vs. Almonds Every Day for a Month: What Changes?

David B. Allison, PhD, professor, Indiana University School of Public Health, Bloomington. Rebecca Hanson, registered dietitian nutritionist, research study coordinator, University of Alabama at Birmingham. Melissa Majumdar, registered dietitian, Emory University Hospital Midtown, Atlanta; media spokesperson, Academy of Nutrition and Dietetics. The American Journal of Clinical Nutrition: “French-fried potatoes consumption and energy balance: a…

‘Skinfluencers’ Promote Risky Beauty Hacks on TikTok

Safety communication, FDA. News release, State of California Department of Justice, Office of the Attorney General. CNBC: “TikTok says 1 billion people use the app each month.” Journal of the American Academy of Dermatology: “TikTok and dermatology: An opportunity for public health engagement.” TikTok: @hyram; @james_s_welsh; @bauerbeauty; @yayayayoung; @dermdoctor; @drpimplepopper; @dr.tomassian; @teawithmd; @dermbeautydoc; @drdorisday;…

Anxious? Try Hugging Your ‘Breathing Pillow’

THURSDAY, March 10, 2022 (HealthDay News) — Could hugging a soft, mechanized pillow that simulates slow breathing help test-stressed students ward off anxiety and stress? British researchers are betting on it. The pillow in question looks like any typical cushion, noted study author Alice Haynes. She’s a Ph.D. candidate at the University of Bristol in…

New Health Crises Emerge in Ukraine as Fighting Continues

March 10, 2022 — Hypothermia, frostbite, respiratory diseases, mental health issues, and a lack of treatment for heart disease and cancer are the biggest health concerns at the moment for the people of Ukraine, the World Health Organization says. The WHO also is monitoring for infectious disease outbreaks, which are likely within Ukraine where, out…

Apple Update Allows Mask Wearers to Unlock Phones with Face ID

March 10, 2022 — Apple’s new iOS 15.4 update will allow people who are wearing face masks to unlock their iPhones with Face ID, starting sometime next week. The new operating system has been in beta testing since January, The Verge reported. According to screenshots from people who have tested it, users first navigate to…

Stolen Heads Shine a Light on Body Part Donation

March 10, 2022 — It’s not your typical theft, but it’s definitely one that grabs your attention. Last weekend in Denver, thieves broke into a parked truck and stole a blue-and-white box labeled “exempt human specimen.” Turns out those particular specimens were donated human heads. While Denver police continue their search for the stolen property,…

Border Agents Stop Bologna From Being Smuggled Into the U.S.

March 11, 2022 — U.S. Customs and Border Protection agents found 230 pounds of pork bologna that people were trying to illegally smuggle into the United States last month at border crossings in Texas. Agents made two other bologna seizures in January, the CBP said. In one of those cases, the driver told authorities he…

Drug Could Be Non-Antibiotic Alternative to Treat UTIs

FRIDAY, March 11, 2022 (HealthDay News) — Women plagued by frequent urinary tract infections often take daily antibiotics to ward them off. But an old antibiotic alternative might work just as well, a new clinical trial finds. Researchers found that the medication, called methenamine, was comparable to standard, low-dose antibiotics in preventing women’s recurrent urinary…

COVID’s Global Death Toll May Be 3 Times Official Numbers

FRIDAY, March 11, 2022 (HealthDay News) — If you think the reported worldwide death toll from the pandemic is already too high, new research suggests the number of excess deaths may be triple that of official estimates. The official COVID-19 death toll between Jan. 1, 2020, and Dec. 31, 2021, was 5.9 million. However,…