THURSDAY, June 1, 2023 (HealthDay News) -- Large, uncontrolled wildfires in Nova Scotia are creating unhealthy air in the Northeast region of the United States, including parts of Connecticut.This significant smoke plume is likely to cause elevated levels of fine particulate matter, the American Lung Association warned in its alert. Particulate matter contains microscopic solids or liquid droplets that are so small that they can be inhaled and cause serious health problems, according to the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency.The lung association also offered tips for everyone — but especially children, older adults and people with lung diseases like asthma and chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD) — to stay well despite the poor air quality.Start by staying indoors. If you...

THURSDAY, June 1, 2023 (HealthDay News) -- Many Americans who inject illicit drugs are unknowingly getting fentanyl mixed in with their heroin, which can increase their risk for overdose and perhaps their tolerance for the drug.About 80% of injection drug users in New York City test positive for fentanyl, but only 18% intended to use that drug, according to research from NYU School of Global Public Health.“As the proportion of drug overdose deaths involving fentanyl continues to increase, it’s important to monitor how often people are exposed to fentanyl and any changes in preference for fentanyl among people who use drugs,” the study’s lead author, Courtney McKnight, said in a school news release. She is a clinical assistant professor of epidemiology at NYU School of Global...

THURSDAY, June 1, 2023 (HealthDay News) -- Quitting smoking after a cancer diagnosis can deliver a big payoff for another major health concern: the risk of heart attack or stroke.Cancer patients who kept smoking had a nearly doubled risk of either of those emergencies, as well as death from cardiovascular disease, new research showed.“A cancer diagnosis is an extremely stressful life event, which often leads to significant changes in a person's lifestyle. Smoking, in particular, is a health-related behavior that can be heavily influenced by mental distress,” said study author Dr. Hyeok-Hee Lee, of Yonsei University College of Medicine in Seoul, South Korea.For the study, published May 30 in the European Heart Journal, researchers analyzed data from a Korean national health claims...

FRIDAY, June 2, 2023 (HealthDay News) -- Having a heart attack is bad news for your brain, raising your odds for mental decline in the years to come, new research finds.Looking at studies conducted over five decades, researchers found that a heart attack wasn't linked to immediate cognitive ("thinking") issues, but they saw a faster-than-normal decline of brain health in the years that followed. This decline in global cognition after a heart attack was equivalent to about six to 13 years of mental aging, the study authors said.“Due to the fact that many people are at risk for having a heart attack, we hope that the results of our study will serve as a wake-up call for people to control vascular risk factors like high blood pressure and elevated cholesterol as soon as they can since...