Northwest Naturals Pet Food Linked to Bird Flu in Cat, Issues Recall

A batch of pet food has been voluntarily recalled nationwide after a cat in Oregon died of bird flu, an illness state officials linked to contaminated food.

The recall, according to a news release published Dec. 25, 2024, involves Northwest Naturals’ Feline Turkey Recipe raw frozen pet food with sell-by dates between May 21, 2026, an...

Women Are Less Likely Than Men to Take Medication After a Stroke, Study Suggests

Female stroke victims are less likely than men to take drugs that could lower their odds of a second stroke.

Women are 80% more likely to report that they don’t take cholesterol-lowering medications as prescribed, a new study shows.

They’re also 53% more likely to not take blood thinners that could prevent a follow-up str...

Could AI Plus Lasers Help Catch Very Early Breast Cancers?

Very early-stage breast cancers are notoriously tough to spot via mammograms, but new technology might make detection easier.

According to a new study published recently in the Journal of Biophotonics, Scottish researchers are combining AI with high-tech "laser analysis" to spot changes in circulating blood that could signal the ...

Fairy Tales Help Teach Healthy Sleep Habits

Bedtime stories are a time-honored means of helping kids calm down and get a good night’s sleep.

But these fairy tales can also serve another less obvious purpose -- teaching children about the benefits of good sleep.

Analysis of four traditional children’s tales show that the fanciful stories contain important lessons ab...

Tea and Coffee May Help Protect You From Some Cancers

That morning cup of coffee or afternoon spot of tea might be protecting you from cancer.

A new evidence review says that coffee and tea consumption are linked to a lower risk of cancers of the mouth, throat, and head and neck, per the results published in the journal Cancer.

“Even decaffeinated coffee had some positive...

Too Much Acetaminophen Could Harm Seniors' Health

New British research shows that too much of a good medication can be a bad thing.

In the study, repeated doses of paracetamol, known as acetaminophen (brand name Tylenol) in the United States, raised the risk of gastrointestinal, cardiovascular and kidney complications among those over 65.

The findings, published recently in the...

Last Year's Platinum-Based Drugs Shortage Didn't Raise Cancer Deaths, Study Found

When supplies of certain generic, platinum-based cancer chemotherapies dwindled in 2023, oncologists feared it might lead to under-treatment and many more cancer deaths.

Fortunately, that did not turn out to be the case, a new study published recently in the Journal of the National Cancer Institute shows.

“When we look...

Don't Forget About Holiday Poisoning Pitfalls

Poison experts see it every winter holiday season: Parents rush kids to the emergency room or call hotlines, panicking that their child has ingested something dangerous.

Between holiday breaks, visiting relatives' homes, attending festivities, and opening gifts galore, kids face extra risks for accidental exposure to poison.

In addi...

Autism Tops List of Worldwide Youth Health Issues

Autism ranks among the top ten health problems for young people under 20.

A new study published recently in The Lancet Psychiatry says that nearly 62 million people in 2021 had autism spectrum disorder.

“We estimated one in 127 individuals worldwide in 2021 was autistic, placing the autism spectrum within the top ten c...

Flu Cases Start to Surge as Americans Prepare for Holiday Gatherings

Predictably, flu season is in full swing, with cases surging across the United States, the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) confirmed Friday in a report.

Thirteen states, including Tennessee and Louisiana, report high or very high levels of flu-like illness, double the number from the previous week, Dr. William Schaffner, a...

GLP-1 Zepbound Is Approved As First Drug For Sleep Apnea

The U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) has approved the first prescription medication specifically for treating obstructive sleep apnea (OSA): the weight-loss drug Zepbound.

In a news release published Dec. 20, the FDA stated that Zepbound, part of the GLP-1 receptor agonist medicines that include Ozempic, was cleared to treat modera...

Chatbot "Brains" May Slow with Age

Humans aren’t the only ones who lose a step or two brain-wise as they age.

Artificial intelligence (AI) programs start to show signs of mild cognitive impairment as they grow older, a new study published Dec. 20 in the journal the BMJ says.

Older versions of chatbots, like older patients, tend to perform worse on tests...

Feeling Appreciated by Partner is Critical for Caregiver's Mental Health

Everyone needs to feel appreciated -- but especially someone who’s caring for a spouse with dementia.

A study published recently in the journal Comprehensive Psychoneuroendocrinology shows that the mental health of caregivers dramatically improves when they feel supported, understood and appreciated by the person they’...

More of America's Pets Are Overdosing on Stray Coke, Meth

Hundreds of beloved pet dogs and cats were reported as being unintentionally poisoned by cocaine and methamphetamine left out in their owners' homes, new data from one U.S. pet poison control hotline shows.

When a dog or cat consumes cocaine or meth, it can quickly prove fatal, warned a team led by Orrin Ware, an assistant professor of soc...

The Most Therapeutic Kind of Me-Time

What type of “me-time” is more restorative to a person -- hiking by yourself deep in a forest, or reading a book while sipping a latte in a coffee shop?

Surprisingly, you’ll do best with a cup of joe and a good book, alone with yourself while surrounded by people, a new study published recently in the journal PLOS One...