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19Oct
2023

Lesbian & Gay Teens Have Twice the Odds for Binge-Eating Disorders

Lesbian & Gay Teens Have Twice the Odds for Binge-Eating DisordersTHURSDAY, Oct. 19, 2023 (HealthDay News) -- Stigma can take a toll on lesbian, gay and bisexual teens, leading to high rates of binge-eating disorders, researchers say.Compared to their non-LGBTQ peers, lesbian, gay and bisexual teens are more than twice as likely to report binge eating, according to a new study.Bullying, discrimination and stigma because of sexual orientation can be stressors that lead to poor self-esteem and disordered eating, explained lead study author Dr. Jason Nagata. He is an associate professor of pediatrics at the University of California, San Francisco. “Binge eating can result in psychological effects like depression and anxiety, and long-term physical health problems, including diabetes and heart disease,” Nagata added in a university news release....

Dementia Diagnosis Takes Huge Toll on a Family's Finances

18 October 2023
Dementia Diagnosis Takes Huge Toll on a Family`s FinancesWEDNESDAY, Oct. 18, 2023 (HealthDay News) -- Dementia can take a big bite out of an American's bank account, robbing 60% of a patient's net worth in the eight years after a diagnosis, a new study says.The average dementia patient will also see a doubling of out-of-pocket health care expenses in those first eight years, said researchers who studied thousands of seniors with and without the brain disorder.“We found a profound diverge in the financial status between two [patient] scenarios: one with dementia onset and one without the onset,” said study lead author HwaJung Choi. She’s a research associate professor with the University of Michigan's School of Medicine and School of Public Health.“The magnitude and timing of the divergence are indeed surprising to us,” added Choi,...

FDA Proposes Ban on Formaldehyde in Hair Straighteners...

18 October 2023
FDA Proposes Ban on Formaldehyde in Hair Straighteners Over Health DangersWEDNESDAY, Oct. 18, 2023 (HealthDay News) -- The U.S. Food and Drug Administration has proposed a ban on the use of formaldehyde in hair relaxers over concerns about its link to respiratory problems and certain cancers.Right now, the FDA only discourages using such hair-straightening products, which are typically used by Black women.Recent research has helped raise awareness about the potential dangers of using chemical hair relaxers.“We know that these products are very poorly regulated by the federal government in terms of what goes in there,” said Kimberly Bertrand, an associate professor of medicine at Boston University School of Medicine and the lead author of a recently published study on the dangers of relaxers. “You can’t look at an ingredient label and know that it...

Could a Warming Climate Bring Yellow Fever to America?

18 October 2023
Could a Warming Climate Bring Yellow Fever to America?WEDNESDAY, Oct. 18, 2023 (HealthDay News) -- Yellow fever may be resurfacing in the United States, thanks to climate change.The mosquito-borne viral illness decimated southern U.S. cities from 1820 to 1905, and now a new report says it could return to those areas.One of the potential reasons for a yellow fever resurgence? Global warming, because mosquitoes love warm, wet weather.Exactly where yellow fever may turn up in the United States is not known, but historically outbreaks occur in the southern U.S. along ports such as New Orleans, Galveston, Texas, and along the Mississippi River, said study author Dr. Peter Hotez. He is the dean of the National School of Tropical Medicine at Baylor College of Medicine and co-director of the Texas Children’s Hospital Center for Vaccine...

Commonly Used Drug Might Be New Treatment Option for IBS

18 October 2023
Commonly Used Drug Might Be New Treatment Option for IBSWEDNESDAY, Oct. 18, 2023 (HealthDay News) -- An inexpensive medication long used for depression and migraines now has a clinical trial to back up its off-label use for another condition that lowers quality of life: irritable bowel syndrome (IBS).In the study, British researchers found that those taking amitriptyline were almost twice as likely as those taking a placebo to see an improvement in IBS symptoms.“We were delighted that the drug was both effective and safe for IBS when used at a low dose and titrated [slowly increased],” said Dr. Alexander Ford, a professor of gastroenterology at Leeds Institute of Medical Research at St. James's at the University of Leeds.About 1 in 20 people worldwide live with the abdominal pain and bowel issues that are hallmarks of IBS, a chronic...

Obesity Raises Odds for Recurrence in Breast Cancer Survivors

18 October 2023
Obesity Raises Odds for Recurrence in Breast Cancer SurvivorsWEDNESDAY, Oct. 18, 2023 (HealthDay News) -- Many breast cancer survivors take a hormonal drug after cancer treatment to stave off a recurrence, but new research suggests these drugs may be less effective in women who are obese.Breast cancer cells in hormone-positive breast cancers are fueled by the female sex hormone estrogen. Aromatase inhibitor medications lower estrogen levels by stopping an enzyme in fat tissue called aromatase from changing other hormones into estrogen. When compared to breast cancer survivors of normal weight, women who were obese were 18% more likely to have a recurrence even when taking an aromatase inhibitor, and this increased risk was even higher among survivors who were severely obese, the investigators found.“Postmenopausal women with hormone...

Seniors, 18 Holes of Golf Might Make You Smarter

18 October 2023
Seniors, 18 Holes of Golf Might Make You SmarterWEDNESDAY, Oct. 18, 2023 (HealthDay News) -- Want to do something to protect your thinking skills as you age? Swing that golf club or go for a walk.A new study found that walking about 3.7 miles or playing 18 holes of golf improved cognitive function. Nordic walking, a type of full-body walking using poles, showed the same benefit.“These findings underscore the value of age-appropriate aerobic exercise, such as golf, Nordic walking and regular walking, in maintaining and enhancing cognitive function among older adults," said first author Julia Kettinen, a doctoral researcher at the University of Eastern Finland. "Previous research has shown that exercise also holds promise as a potential strategy for those experiencing cognitive decline," she said in a university news release. For...

Blood Pressure's Ups & Downs Could Harm Heart, Brain

18 October 2023
Blood Pressure`s Ups & Downs Could Harm Heart, BrainWEDNESDAY, Oct. 18, 2023 (HealthDay News) -- Fluctuating blood pressure can be a harbinger for both dementia and heart disease, a new study finds.Ups and downs within 24 hours or even over several days or weeks were linked with impaired thinking, researchers from Australia reported.Higher variations in systolic blood pressure, the top number, were linked with stiffening of the arteries, which is associated with heart disease.“Clinical treatments focus on hypertension, while ignoring the variability of blood pressure,” said lead author Daria Gutteridge, a PhD candidate at the University of South Australia's Cognitive Aging and Impairment Neuroscience Laboratory.“Blood pressure can fluctuate across different time frames -- short and long -- and this appears to heighten the risk of...

U.S. Injuries From E-Bikes, E-Scooters Jumped 21% in One...

WEDNESDAY, Oct. 18, 2023 (HealthDay News) -- E-bikes, e-scooters and hoverboards are everywhere -- and injuries related to their use are soaring. The U.S. Consumer Product Safety Commission (CPSC)...

Serotonin May Play Big Role in Long COVID

WEDNESDAY, Oct. 18, 2023 (HealthDay News) -- New research has uncovered evidence that remnants of the COVID-19 virus may remain in some patients' guts for months, contributing to the lingering...
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