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Flu Season Starting to Ramp Up in the South

FRIDAY, Nov. 15, 2019 (HealthDay News) -- Whether you have caught the flu yet this season might depend on where you live.

Flu levels are already climbing throughout the South, particularly in Texas, Louisiana, Mississippi, Alabama, Georgia and South Carolina, and Puerto Rico, according to the latest statistics from the U.S. Centers for...

High Blood Pressure During Pregnancy Tied to Future Heart Risks

FRIDAY, Nov. 15, 2019 (HealthDay News) -- Pregnancy-related high blood pressure puts women at higher risk of heart disease later on, new research suggests.

In the study, researchers analyzed an average of seven years of follow-up data on more than 220,000 women in the United Kingdom. Those who had gestational high blood pressure or pre...

Almost Half of Older Americans Fear Dementia, Try Untested Ways to Fight It

FRIDAY, Nov. 15, 2019 (HealthDay News) -- Many Americans believe they are likely to develop dementia -- and they often turn to unproven ways to try to better their odds, a new study suggests.

In a survey, researchers found that almost half of Americans in their 50s and 60s believed they were at least "somewhat likely" to develop dement...

Protect Yourself From Frigid-Weather Emergencies

FRIDAY, Nov. 15, 2019 (HealthDay News) -- As temperatures plummet across the U.S., people should take steps to prevent weather-related threats to their health, one expert says.

Seniors and children are at particular risk, the American College of Emergency Physicians (ACEP) warns.

"Winter storms raise the risk of car accidents...

Juul Delivers More Nicotine Than Other E-Cigarettes: Study

FRIDAY, Nov. 15, 2019 (HealthDay News) -- Juul electronic cigarettes deliver nicotine at a much higher rate than most other types of e-cigarettes, new research shows.

Juul is by far the leading e-cigarette brand sold in the United States, and is particularly popular among youth.

In the new study, researchers from Penn State U...

AHA News: Quitting Smoking Could Lead to Major Changes in Gut Bacteria

FRIDAY, Nov. 15, 2019 (American Heart Association News) -- Quitting smoking leads to major changes in intestinal bacteria, according to new research. But just what the changes mean will need further investigation.

The small pilot study, to be presented Monday during the American Heart Association's Scientific Sessions in Philadelphia,...

AHA News: Drone-Delivered AEDs Fly a Step Closer to Saving Lives

FRIDAY, Nov. 15, 2019 (American Heart Association News) -- It was a race with life-or-death implications: Unmanned drones were pitted against traditional emergency responders to see which could get an automated external defibrillator to the rural site of a simulated cardiac arrest first.

The drones won handily. And the Canadian resear...

These Sports Are Most Likely to Send Young Americans to the ER

FRIDAY, Nov. 15, 2019 (HealthDay News) -- Of all sports, football sends the most U.S. males to the emergency room, while cheerleading and gymnastics most often do the same for women and girls, a new report finds.

And, overall, U.S. emergency departments see about 2.7 million patients between the ages of 5 and 24 for sports-related inju...

Not Getting Enough Shut-Eye? You Have Plenty of Company

FRIDAY, Nov. 15, 2019 (HealthDay News) -- More Americans are having trouble falling and staying asleep, and smartphones and technology are probably to blame, researchers report.

Their analysis of data from nearly 165,000 adults nationwide showed that the number who reported difficulty falling asleep at least once a week was up 1.4%...

America's Sweet Tooth Starts From Infancy

FRIDAY, Nov. 15, 2019 (HealthDay News) -- Bad eating habits begin at a young age in American children, a new study finds.

Researchers analyzed data from more than 1,200 babies (aged 6 to 11 months) and toddlers (12 to 23 months) between 2011 and 2016.

They found that 61% of babies and 98% of toddlers consumed added su...

Nature Nurtures Kids

THURSDAY, Nov. 14, 2019 (HealthDay News) -- Taking that trek through the woods with your child may do more than build strong muscles.

New research suggests that time spent in nature is also good for their mental and emotional well-being.

"This research shows that children experience profound and diverse benefits through regul...

Most Docs Don't Know Hair Care Is a Barrier to Exercise for Black Women

THURSDAY, Nov. 14, 2019 (HealthDay News) -- The extra care that black women's hairstyles can require is often a barrier to exercise, but many U.S. health care providers aren't even aware of the problem, a new study finds.

Researchers surveyed doctors, nurse practitioners and physician assistants in the department of family medicine at ...

AHA News: Treatment to Ward Off Stroke Less Effective in Women

THURSDAY, Nov. 14, 2019 (American Heart Association News) -- Women are at higher risk for stroke and have different stroke symptoms than men. Now, new research suggests another difference: less benefit from a surgery used to treat carotid artery disease, a key risk factor for stroke.

The disease, also called carotid stenosis, is marke...

Vaping-Linked Lung Illnesses Top 2,100, CDC Says

THURSDAY, Nov. 14, 2019 (HealthDay News) -- The number of Americans stricken with a severe lung illness tied to vaping has now reached 2,172, the U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention reported Thursday.

That's a rise from the 2,051 case total from a week ago.

Cases have now been reported in every state except Alask...

Fewer Americans Than Ever Smoke, but Vaping Poses a Growing Threat: CDC

THURSDAY, Nov. 14, 2019 (HealthDay News) -- Cigarette smoking has reached an all-time low in the United States, but experts say the rise of vaping puts a damper on what otherwise would be a tremendous public health achievement.

Just under 14% of American adults smoked cigarettes in 2018, a dramatic decline from the 42% adult sm...

'Meatless Monday' Can Help Change Diets for Good

THURSDAY, Nov. 14, 2019 (HealthDay News) -- Many people who tried going meatless one day a week to call attention to food and climate change continued after the campaign ended, a new study says.

Researchers surveyed 320 households from Bedford, N.Y., that took part in the town's "Meatless Monday" campaign in 2018. For 12 weeks, partici...

Fish Oil Is Good Medicine for Heart Failure

THURSDAY, Nov. 14, 2019 (HealthDay News) -- Fish oil might help people with heart failure avoid repeat trips to the hospital, a new study suggests.

The findings come from an analysis of a clinical trial first published last year, where researchers tested the effects of fish oil and vitamin D on people's risk of heart disease and cancer...

National Project Will Delve Into How Dogs Age

THURSDAY, Nov. 14, 2019 (HealthDay News) -- Calling all dogs! 10,000 of them, to be exact.

The 40 researchers behind the Dog Aging Project want that many of man's furry companions to be enrolled in a 10-year study of what helps canines live long, healthy lives.

"Aging is the major cause of the most common diseases, like cance...

Mindfulness May Be a Balm for Breast Cancer Patients

THURSDAY, Nov. 14, 2019 (HealthDay News) -- Women with advanced breast cancer might find mindfulness can ease their pain, anxiety and depression, a new study suggests.

Mindfulness is the ability to keep your mind focused on the present moment.

"Mindfulness helps us relate to our thoughts, emotions and physical symptoms in a d...

AHA News: Heart Attack Survivors Who Develop PTSD Don't Always Take Heart Meds

THURSDAY, Nov. 14, 2019 (American Heart Association News) -- Experiencing a heart attack may be so terrifying that it triggers post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD), and those who develop PTSD have twice the risk of having a second heart attack.

That's according to new research that suggests this may be because PTSD keeps them from tak...