Teens With Epilepsy Face Higher Odds for Eating Disorders

Teenagers with epilepsy are more likely to have an eating disorder than those not suffering from the brain disease, a new study shows.

About 8.4% of children ages 10 to 19 treated at a Boston epilepsy clinic had eating disorders, three times the national average of 2.7% of teens with an eating disorder, researchers found.

“Adolesce...

Head Injury Left Her Memory-Impaired. A New Brain Implant Has Brought Memory Back

Gina Arata had a bright future, wrapping up college and preparing for law school, when a 2001 car wreck left her with lasting brain damage.

After her recovery, Arata wound up taking a job sorting mail, but struggled even in that.

“I couldn’t remember anything,” said Arata, who lives in Modesto with her parents. “My left foot ...

Flu, COVID Cases Climb as RSV Infections Start to Level Off

MONDAY, Dec. 4, 2023 (Healthday News) -- While flu and COVID cases are now on the rise, RSV infections may soon peak and level off, U.S. health officials report.

COVID-19 continues to fuel the most hospitalizations and deaths among all respiratory illnesses — about 15,000 hospitalizations and about 1,000 deaths every week, Dr. Mandy Cohe...

STD Specialists Warn of Shortage of Vital Syphilis Drug

As syphilis cases surge across America, a group representing the nation's STD specialists says members are reporting shortages of a drug essential to fighting the disease.

In a survey from the National Coalition of STD Directors conducted in early November, 46% of sexual health clinics said they'd tried to order Bicillin L-A -- only to fi...

Do You Overindulge During the Holidays? Poll Finds You're Not Alone

Holiday festivities bring joy to many, but they also give rise to quite a few unhealthy habits, a new survey has found.

Two-thirds of people say they overindulge in food during the holidays, and nearly half (45%) said they take a break from exercise, according to a new survey from Ohio State University’s Wexner Medical Center.

Mean...

One Food Could Boost Health of Colon Cancer Survivors

Colon cancer survivors can give their health a boost by eating more navy beans, a new clinical trial finds.

Small, white navy beans are full of gut-supporting fibers, amino acids and other nutrients that can help the beneficial bacteria of the gut flourish, researchers said.

And colon cancer patients who added a cup of navy beans to ...

'High Altitude' Simulations Might Shield Patients Ahead of Surgery

Surgery coming up? Mimicking the high-altitude breathing of mountaineers might make your procedure safer, a tiny study suggests.

It's a form of what surgeons call "prehabilitation:" Making a patient's body a bit fitter beforehand to withstand the risks and rigors of surgery.

Investigators found that exposing patients to reduced oxyge...

Black Men With Advanced Prostate Cancer Lack Access to Best Treatments

Black men diagnosed with advanced prostate cancer are significantly less likely to be prescribed hormone therapy that could extend their lives, compared to other racial and ethnic groups, a new study shows.

Studies have shown that hormone therapy can effectively control the growth of prostate tumors by inhibiting the action of male hormone...

Timing of Menopause Could Affect a Woman's Muscle Loss

Women who enter menopause early could be at increased risk of muscle loss in their senior years, a new study suggests.

Conversely, the more extended a woman’s reproductive period, the lower the risk of declining muscle mass as measured by handgrip strength.

"This study showed that a longer reproductive period and later age at menop...

Immediate Body Contact With Parents Helps Preemie Newborns Thrive

Having mom or dad hold their preemie baby against their own skin immediately after birth appears to help the infants in their development months later, new research shows.

In many neonatal wards, babies born prematurely are transferred soon after delivery to an incubator, to keep them warm and help them stabilize.

But even a few hour...

Trim Your Holiday Stress This Season: Experts Offer Tips

SATURDAY, Dec. 2, 2023 (Healthday News) -- The holidays are typically a happy whirlwind of gift-buying, house decorating, party planning and family gatherings, but all that work can also stress people out.

Luckily, experts at UT Southwestern Medical Center say there are things you can do to keep your stress levels under control and help ma...

Identical Twins Study Shows Vegan Diets Helping the Heart

A new study of identical twins has provided fresh evidence that a vegan diet can vastly improve a person’s heart health.

Twins assigned a vegan diet for two months had significant improvements in cholesterol, insulin and body weight compared to their siblings, who ate a healthy diet that included animal protein.

“Based on these r...

Your Personality Might Help Shield You From Dementia

Got a naturally sunny disposition? It might protect you from dementia as the years advance, new research shows.

A team at Northwestern University in Chicago report that certain personality traits -- being conscientious, outgoing and positive -- appear to lower a person's odds for a dementia diagnosis.

On the other hand, being neurot...

Respiratory Illnesses in China Not Caused by New Virus, CDC Director Testifies

FRIDAY, Dec. 1, 2023 (Healthday News) -- In testimony provided Thursday to members of Congress, the head of the U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention said that a surge in respiratory illnesses in China is not being fueled by a new virus.

Instead, the spike can be linked to existing viruses and bacteria, including COVID-19, the fl...

Couch Potatoes, 'Squatting Breaks' Could Keep Your Mind Sharp

Doing some squats during commercial breaks or between YouTube videos can help couch potatoes keep their minds sharp, a new study suggests.

Young volunteers who did short sets of squat exercises every now and then while relaxing performed better in brain games than when they simply sat around for hours, researchers report.

Short burs...

As Salmonella Outbreak Widens, Avoid Cantaloupes if Brand Is Unknown, CDC Warns

FRIDAY, Dec. 1, 2023 (Healthday News) -- Shoppers should steer clear of any pre-cut cantaloupe if the brand is unknown, as a salmonella outbreak linked to the fruit continues to widen, U.S. health officials warned Thursday.

Eighteen more illnesses have been reported since Nov. 24, the U.S. Centers of Disease Control and Prevention said in ...

Persistent Inflammation Could Drive Brain Issues in Former Football Players

The repeat head injuries suffered by football players, boxers and other athletes appear to affect brain health long after players have given up their sport.

New research from Johns Hopkins University in Baltimore could explain why: The persistence in the brain of inflammation tied to the original injury or injuries.

“The findings ...

Watch or Remove? Study Finds One Option May Be Better for Abnormal Cervical Lesions

When abnormal cervical cells are detected during a gynecological exam, it may be safer to remove them right away rather than "actively survey" the lesions and leave them in place, new research suggests.

In a study of over 27,500 Danish women, those who opted for active surveillance had higher long-term risks for cervical cancer, compared t...

Treatment Used on Donated Hearts May Be Useless, Even Harmful: Study

A technique doctors use to preserve donated organs is actually doing no good, and might even be harming the organs, a new study reports.

Physicians routinely dose deceased organ donors with thyroid hormones, in a bid to preserve heart function and keep the donors’ organs healthy and viable.

But thyroid hormone treatment made no sig...

Baseball Puts Kids' Elbows at Risk, Study Shows

FRIDAY, DEC. 1, 2023 (Healthday News) -- Millions of American kids and teens love to play the game of baseball, but the sport can leave many with elbow pain and injuries, new research finds.

“When we look at the forces that baseball players, even Little League baseball players, deal with during routine practice and games, it becomes appa...