FRIDAY, May 26, 2023 (HealthDay News) -- With colon cancer on the rise among younger Americans, researchers are working to figure out why.A new study suggests the microbiome — the community of microorganisms in the body — may play a role. “Younger people with colorectal cancer have more biologically aggressive cancers and whatever survival benefit they have by being younger is outweighed by the more aggressive tumor biology. We also know, that for the most part, genetics doesn’t explain the recent rise in young-onset disease,” said Dr. Benjamin Weinberg. He is an associate professor of medicine at Georgetown University's Lombardi Comprehensive Cancer Center, in Washington, D.C.“But we have trillions of bacteria residing in our body, including in our gut, some of which are...

FRIDAY, May 26, 2023 (HealthDay News) -- Vegetarian and vegan diets lead to lower blood levels of cholesterol and fats, according to a major new analysis of all evidence from clinical trials published since 1982.Compared to people eating an omnivorous diet, those following a plant-based diet experienced an average reduction in total cholesterol levels of 7% from levels measured at the start of the studies, a 10% reduction in “bad” LDL cholesterol levels, and a 14% reduction in apoliprotein B, a blood protein used to estimate cholesterol level, the analysis found.Those results showed that plant-based diets can play a significant role in reducing blocked arteries, thereby lowering the risk of stroke and heart attacks, researchers concluded in the review published May 24 in the...

THURSDAY, May 25, 2023 (HealthDay News) -- U.S. health officials are bracing for the possibility that mpox could surge again this summer as cases mount in several states.On Thursday, the U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention reported 21 more cases of mpox, with Illinois, New York and Maryland reporting the most new infections. Illinois had nine, while New York and Maryland reported three each.Several other states — Alabama, Arizona, Florida, Louisiana, Texas, Utah and Virginia — each reported one new case, CBS News reported. "The risk of near-term clusters and outbreaks is substantial and the outbreaks could be large, especially in the warmer months, with planned gatherings that may have the potential for skin-to-skin contact and increased sexual activity," Dr....

THURSDAY, May 25, 2023 (HealthDay News) -- Researchers have developed a definition and symptom checklist for long COVID, based on initial findings from a study of nearly 10,000 Americans.The study identified a set of 12 long-term symptoms that can occur following infection with COVID-19. These symptoms — ranging from "brain fog" to chest pain — are linked to the effects of the coronavirus on multiple organ systems.Using these symptoms, the research team created a diagnostic checklist for what they call PASC (Postacute Sequelae of SARS-CoV-2) — another term for long COVID.Symptoms contributing to the new PASC score include: post-exertional malaise; fatigue; brain fog; dizziness; gastrointestinal symptoms; heart palpitations; changes in sexual desire or capacity; affected smell or...