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Emotional Issues Could Be Early Sign of MS

A newer understanding of multiple sclerosis (MS) suggests that psychiatric conditions like anxiety and depression may emerge long before classic MS symptoms.

“For a long time, it was thought that MS only really began clinically when a person experienced their first demyelinating event, such as in the form of vision problems,” said seni...

In Mice, Gene Therapy Helps Restore Movement After Spinal Cord Injury

Gene therapy has restored mobility in mice with completely severed spinal cords, researchers report.

The mice regained the ability to walk, with gait patterns resembling those of mice that resumed walking naturally after only partial cord injuries, the investigators found.

This happened because the new gene therapy used techniques to...

Timing of Hot Flashes Could Give Clues to Alzheimer's Risk

Hot flashes and night sweats top the list of bothersome symptoms for women going through menopause.

Now, a new study suggests that hot flashes, especially during sleep, may be more than a nuisance: They may foreshadow Alzheimer's disease.

And the more hot flashes a woman experiences during sleep, the greater her risk for develo...

What Is 'Sexsomnia'? And 'Sleep Eating'? Can They Be Treated?

Everyone’s seen a movie or TV show featuring someone sleepwalking -- eyes half-lidded, bumbling around, tripping over furniture.

But sleepwalkers are actually capable of much more complex behaviors during their restless slumber, a new paper says.

During sleep some people can engage in sex ('sexsomnia'), pig out on junk food, try to...

Just 23% of U.S. Adults 'Definitely' Plan to Get New COVID Shot

Just 23% of American adults say they 'definitely' will get the new COVID-19 vaccine, while another 23% say they will 'probably' get it, according to a new poll, which also finds interest in the shot falls along partisan lines.

More people plan to get seasonal flu shots and the new vaccine to help prevent severe symptoms for respir...

More Women Using Cannabis to Help Ease Menopause Symptoms

Women over 50 are turning to weed in droves, and menopause symptoms may be one big reason why, new research suggests

These women may not necessarily be getting the results they’re looking for, however. That's according to menopause experts who say it’s not clear from limited research whether the drug helps ease symptoms or exacerbates...

Black Patients More Likely to Be Physically Restrained During ER Visits

WEDNESDAY, Sept. 27, 2023 (HealthDay News) – It seemed to some that patients of color were being restrained in the emergency room more often than others, so researchers decided to investigate.

While physical restraints can be used to keep staff and patients safe, they may also cause injury to the patient, including aspiration, physical t...

PTSD Can Harm a Woman's Sex Life

Suffering from PTSD may take a toll on your sex life if you're a woman, new research reveals.

About 10% of women have PTSD symptoms because of combat exposure, childhood abuse and sexual violence. Little research has been done looking at how these symptoms might affect sexual functioning among midlife women.

"As women age, there are ...

Blood Tests for Long COVID Could Lead to Better Treatments

People who develop long COVID have distinct abnormalities in their immune and hormonal function that can be picked up with blood tests, researchers have found.

In a new study of 268 patients with and without long COVID, those with the condition showed a number of biological "markers" in their blood samples.

People with long ...

Teen Boys With High Blood Pressure Face Danger Decades Later

Teenage boys who have high blood pressure may find themselves on the road to serious heart problems in adulthood.

Swedish researchers found that boys who had high blood pressure at 18 were at risk for heart failure, heart attacks, strokes and death as adults. And the risk began when blood pressure crossed 120/80 mm Hg, a normal re...

Nurses, Health Care Staff Face Higher Suicide Risks

Nurses, health technicians and health care support workers face a higher risk of suicide than the general U.S. population does, an alarming new study shows.

Researchers pointed out these workers have to perform stressful tasks while caring for ill patients and managing heavy workloads, with little control over patient outcomes.

Not ...

Humans Outperform AI in Interpreting Chest X-Rays

AI tools may help boost radiologists’ confidence in their diagnoses, but they can't be relied on to identify common lung diseases on chest X-rays, a new study says.

Researchers pitted 72 radiologists against four commercially AI tools in an analysis of more than 2,000 X-rays. The human experts won, according to results published Sep...

About 1 in 14 U.S. Adults Have Had Long COVID

One in every 14 American adults has suffered from long COVID, a new federal survey has found.

About 7% of adults have ever had long COVID and more than 3% still have it, according to the 2022 National Health Interview Survey.

The survey, published Tuesday as an NCHS Data Brief, also found that certain groups are more likely ...

Strike a Pose: Yoga Helps Heart Failure Patients

Heart failure can make everyday activities and exercise tough to carry out, but yoga might be a beneficial add-on to standard care.

A new study from India finds this ancient practice improves quality of life and cardio functioning.

“Our patients observed improvement in systolic blood pressure and heart rate compared to patient...

Stigma, Even Harm Common When Transgender People Meet With Doctors

Transgender people have a tough time receiving adequate medical care due to issues like voyeurism, being treated as abnormal and even being denied care due to their gender identity, a new study finds.

“I would say what I read was not surprising at all, based on things I have heard from trans members,” said Tari Hanneman, director of ...

Buying Marijuana Online Easy for Minors, Study Finds

TUESDAY, Sept. 26, 2023 (HealthDay News) – The lax enforcement of age limits by many online marijuana dispensaries makes it easier for minors to buy weed, claims new research that looked at online weed sales in 32 states.

“It is imperative to require strict age-verification procedures prior to cannabis purchases online and to establish...

Pfizer Restarts Production Plant in North Carolina Following Tornado Damage in July

TUESDAY, Sept. 26, 2023 (HealthDay News) – A Pfizer plant that makes vital drugs, anesthesia and hospital supplies has restarted production after a 10-week shutdown.

The plant, located in Rocky Mount, N.C., sustained severe tornado damage on July 19, when roofs were ripped off and medications tossed around.

"This expedited restart...

Keeping Baby Safe: Follow These Tips to Lower Sleep Risks

It’s always a good time to check your baby’s sleep space.

The U.S. Consumer Product Safety Commission (CPSC) has released its annual report on the topic, showing that risks associated with nursery products continue to be high. More than 160 babies die each year related to nursery products, including in unsafe sleep environments.

...

Common Plastics Chemical Tied to Higher Odds for Postpartum Depression

Moms with higher prenatal levels of plastics chemicals known as phthalates may face a slightly increased risk of postpartum depression, according to a new study.

Postpartum depression affects up to 20% of new mothers, according to the U.S. National Institutes of Health. That makes it the most common post-delivery pregnancy complication.

Climate Change's Hotter Days Could Bring More Alcohol, Drug Crises

Sweltering temperatures appear to fuel drug-related hospital visits, a problem that could be worsening with climate change, a new study suggests.

“We saw that during periods of higher temperatures, there was a corresponding increase in hospital visits related to alcohol and substance use, which also brings attention to some less obvious ...