Nutrient Taurine Might Help Extend Life, Animal Studies Show

An amino acid found in meat, fish and energy drinks might be a key regulator of aging in animals, a new study suggests.

However, experts warn that no one should start seeing Red Bull as a fountain of youth.

Researchers found that deficiencies in the amino acid, called taurine, seemed to be a prime driver of aging in lab mice: Their t...

AHA News: Bored With Plain Water? Turn It Into Agua Fresca.

A cold glass of water can refresh when temperatures soar. But if your taste buds need an extra zing, a sip of agua fresca can help.

Agua fresca, long ubiquitous in Mexico and other Latin American countries, is an all-natural fruit drink replete with nutrients, said Krista Linares, a registered dietitian nutritionist in Los Angeles. "It can...

AHA News: She's Survived Cancer, Heart Failure and a Heart Transplant

When Dawn Mussallem was little, she dreamed of having her face on a Smucker's jar – the recognition the "Today" show gives to people who reach their 100th birthday.

So, she committed herself to eating a healthy plant-based diet, eschewing junk food and many childhood staples, like chocolate milk and sugary cereals. She also stayed physic...

New Approach to Transplants Could Boost Supply of Donor Hearts

A new transplant method that "reanimates" donor hearts appears safe and effective, a new clinical trial has found — in an advance that could substantially expand the supply of donor hearts available in the United States.

The trial tested an approach that allows doctors to transplant hearts from donors who have succumbed to "circulatory d...

Cancer Centers Say Drug Shortages Are Impacting Patient Care

THURSDAY, June 8, 2023 (HealthDay News) – A new survey of cancer centers find that chemotherapy shortages are affecting most of them, prompting last-minute changes in treatment for numerous types of cancer.

About 93% of the centers surveyed said they were experiencing shortages of the drug carboplatin, while 70% were short on cisplatin. ...

Experts Warn of Heart Dangers From Smoke of Canadian Wildfires

As a huge plume of smoke from over 400 Canadian wildfires swept south and turned New York City into a landscape that resembled Mars more than Earth, heart experts warned that air pollution can damage your heart as much as it damages your lungs.

It’s obvious that wildfires can affect breathing and respiratory health, but exposure to this...

Insomnia Might Raise Your Odds for Stroke

After many nights of tossing and turning, you might have more to worry about than just feeling exhausted and less sharp at work.

Insomnia symptoms -- trouble getting to sleep or staying asleep, or waking up too early -- are also associated with higher risk of stroke, according to new research from Virginia Commonwealth University.

CDC Raises Alarm About Meningitis Threat to Patients Visiting Mexican Surgical Clinics

U.S. health officials are urgently trying to reach people who've recently had medical procedures at clinics in Matamoros, Mexico, because they may be at risk of potentially fatal fungal meningitis.

Those at risk had procedures done under epidural anesthesia between Jan. 1 and May 13 at River Side Surgical Center and Clinica K-3 in Matamor...

Your Guide to Hepatitis C Medications

Hepatitis C is a serious viral infection that can scar your liver, cause your liver to fail and raise your risk for liver cancer, but there are a multitude of medications that can treat it.

According to the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services, an estimated 2.4 million Americans live with hepatitis C. Effective treatments are cruci...

Recalled Newborn Loungers Tied to 2 More Infant Deaths

After two more infant deaths, the U.S. Consumer Product Safety Commission (CPSC) is are urging parents and caregivers to stop using recalled Boppy Newborn Loungers, which are now linked to 10 deaths in all.

The loungers were recalled in September 2021 because of eight baby deaths. An additional two deaths have been reported since the reca...

Pope to Have Hernia Surgery, Stay in Rome Hospital for Several Days

Pope Francis will be hospitalized for several days after a planned surgery to repair a hernia that is causing him “recurrent, painful and worsening” symptoms.

The Vatican announced plans for the surgery and recovery from the laparotomy on Wednesday.

This is the latest in a series of ailments that the 86-year-old has experienced i...

What Is Irritable Bowel Syndrome?

People who suffer from irritable bowel syndrome (IBS) know it is a highly unpleasant chronic condition that can trigger abdominal pain, diarrhea and constipation.

Here, experts will unravel the mysteries of IBS, exploring its causes, symptoms and treatments. And of course, don't forget about the role of diet. Experts will break down the be...

An 'AI' Doctor Is Helping Hospitals Predict Readmissions

New York University doctors and hospital executives are using an artificial intelligence (AI) computer program to predict whether a newly discharged patient will soon fall sick enough to be readmitted.

The AI program “NYUTron” reads physicians' notes to estimate a patient’s risk of dying, the potential length of their hospital stay, ...

Move to 'Zero-Emission' Vehicles Would Save 90,000 U.S. Lives by 2050

Consider yourself a lifesaver if you opt for an electric vehicle next time you buy or lease a new car.

Electric cars can save millions of lives and reduce health care costs by improving air quality so people can breathe better and freer, according to a new report by the American Lung Association. Zero-emission electric vehicles don’t emi...

Women's Gymnastics Brings High Risk for Concussion

Gymnasts make it look easy, but mastering those floor exercises and balance beam moves can take a toll on the brain.

Researchers studying preseason and regular season concussion rates in college sports found that women’s gymnastics led all others for its concussion rate in the preseason. The rate was 50% higher even than that for college...

What Is Male Pattern Baldness? Can Anything Be Done?

Have you seen more hair in the shower or on the bathroom floor than usual?

Grab a mirror and take a look at your head. If it looks like you’re “going bald,” you may have androgenic alopecia (male pattern baldness).

According to the Cleveland Clinic, male pattern baldness is very common. If you want to do something about this co...

Smoke From Canadian Wildfires Blackens Skies, Prompts Air Quality Alerts in Much of U.S.

Wildfires that have been spreading throughout Canada in recent weeks are now spewing tons of smoke southward into the United States.

The smoke was so thick on Tuesday that New York City's skyline could not be seen clearly and air quality alerts were issued to residents from parts of the Northeast to the southern Mid-Atlantic region.

FDA Finalizes Limit on How Much Arsenic Can Be in Apple Juice

Federal regulators have finalized new guidance on how much inorganic arsenic can be present in apple juice, in an effort to limit the exposure of infants and young children to this environmental contaminant.

What is the new limit? 10 parts per billion, a number first proposed in 2013.

“We are finalizing an action level of 10 ppb ...

As Medical Debt Rises, So Do Cancer Death Rates

Folks who are loaded down with medical debt are less likely to survive a bout of cancer, a new study reports.

Researchers found that U.S. counties where more residents have medical debt in collections also had more cancer deaths, compared to counties with less medical debt.

“This association was seen for all cancers combined, and t...

Patients With Bladder Cancer May Avoid Removal of Extra Lymph Nodes, Study Finds

For years, doctors have thought that a more extensive surgery that removes a wider swath of lymph nodes was the best option for certain patients with bladder cancer. Now, a new clinical trial is upending that belief.

Researchers found that the strategy — known as extended lymphadenectomy — was no better than standard surgery at prolon...