Olivia Newton-John, Singer and Actress, Dies at 73

Australian singer Olivia Newton-John, a major pop star and actress of the '70s and '80s known for her role in the blockbuster movie "Grease," died on Monday. She was 73.

"Dame Olivia Newton-John passed away peacefully at her Ranch in Southern California this morning, surrounded by family and friends. We ask that everyone please respect the...

Pot Users Less Likely to Think Cigarettes Are Unhealthy: Study

Could cannabis end up being a gateway drug for cigarettes?

Possibly, said researchers from Columbia University, who found that adults who use pot daily do not perceive smoking a pack a day as being as harmful as those who do not use pot do.

"In the context of recent findings that perception of risk plays a key role in predicting sub...

B 8/9 -- Ashton Kutcher 'Lucky to Be Alive' After Battle With Vasculitis

TUESDAY, Aug. 9, 2022 (HealthDay News) --- Actor Ashton Kutcher is opening up about dealing with a rare condition called vasculitis that for a time left him seriously disabled.

In an episode of “Running Wild with Bear Grylls: The Challenge,” airing Aug. 14 on National Geographic channel, Kutcher, 44, reveals that “two years ago I had...

Breast Cancer Treatment Effects on Sex Life a Hidden Burden

MONDAY, Aug. 8, 2022 (HealthDay News) -- Women with breast cancer commonly see their sexual health decline, yet their doctors aren't telling them what to expect -- or what to do about it.

Those are among the findings of a new study that asked breast cancer patients about their sexual well-being. It showed that most women...

FDA Warns of Salmonella Danger in Darwin's Raw Cat Food

Cat owners should not feed their pets certain lots of Darwin's Natural Pet Products, the U.S. Food and Drug Administration warns.

Some lots of the raw cat food tested positive for salmonella and were associated with illness in three kittens, the agency said in a news release.

Salmonella can cause illness and death in both humans an...

AHA News: Is Caffeine a Friend or Foe?

Caffeine jump-starts your day and puts a bounce in your step. It can help you focus, improve your mood and maybe even help you live longer.

But how much is too much?

Caffeine, a natural stimulant, can be found in a variety of foods, such as coffee beans, tea leaves, cacao beans, guarana berries and yerba maté leaves. It also can be ...

Biden Tests Negative for COVID Again, Leaves Isolation

After experiencing a case of COVID rebound late last month, President Joe Biden tested negative Saturday and Sunday and left the White House for his home state of Delaware.

"He will safety return to public engagement and presidential travel," Biden's doctor, Kevin O'Connor wrote in a letter posted Sunday.

"I’m feeling good," Biden ...

Data Shows 2 Biggest Factors for Cancer Risk

MONDAY, Aug. 8, 2022 (HealthDay News) – Smoking and older age are the two most important risk factors for cancer, a new, large study shows.

The researchers also said doctors should look at excess body fat, family history and several other factors to help patients decide if they need additional screening and preventive interventions.

Global Warming Will Mean More Unfit, Unhealthy Kids Worldwide: Study

Children are not as physically fit as their parents were when they were kids, and this will likely harm them as the Earth warms, new research claims.

The findings are based on a comprehensive review of more than 150 studies that looked at how children maintain physical activity, exercise and cope with heat, as well as how this might change...

Fewer Smokers Tried to Quit During COVID Pandemic

Fewer people tried to quit smoking as the COVID-19 pandemic began, and this continued for at least a year, according to a new U.S. study.

The American Cancer Society detailed pandemic smoking behavior in the report, while stressing the need to re-engage smokers in smoking cessation campaigns.

“Smoking cessation is an urgent public ...

Early Menopause Could Mean More Heart Trouble Later

Women who go into menopause when they are younger than 40 are at greater risk of heart problems, reports a new Korean study of more than 1.4 million females.

Women with premature menopause had an overall 33% higher risk of heart failure and 9% higher risk of an irregular heart rhythm (atrial fibrillation) compared to women who experienced ...

Getting Young Athletes Ready for a New School Year

As a new school year begins, many students return to their favorite sports or try something new.

Encouraging kids to make physical activity part of their lives has lifelong benefits, said Dr. Theodore Shybut, assistant professor of orthopedic surgery and sports medicine at Baylor College of Medicine in Houston.

Shybut offered some ti...

Many Seniors Love Pickleball, But Injuries Can Happen

Pickleball has become a wildly popular sport for older Americans, but seniors who enjoy playing it should know about potential injuries and how to avoid them.

The most common problem is with the rotator cuff tendon in the shoulder, which can cause pain. Issues can included tendonitis, bursitis and even a tear in the tendon. Bigger tears a...

COVID May Be Tied to Rise in Brain Infections in Children

FRIDAY, Aug. 5, 2022 (HealthDay News) -- COVID-19 may be linked to a rise in bacterial brain infections in children, a new study suggests.

When the pandemic hit, doctors at Helen DeVos Children's Hospital of Spectrum Health in Grand Rapids, Mich., saw a worrisome 236% rise in these infections and wondered why.

Alth...

When Treating Cervical Lesions, Adding HPV Vaccine Could Further Curb Cancer Risk

FRIDAY, Aug. 5, 2022 (HealthDay News) -- Most sexually active people will contract the human papillomavirus (HPV) during their lifetimes, and about 90% will clear it from their bodies. But some women are susceptible to the cervical lesions that infection brings, raising their risk for cervical cancer.

Now, a new review f...

AHA News: 63 Years Ago, She Had Pioneering Open-Heart Surgery at Age 4

At Susan Mangini's checkup at age 2, the doctor subbing for her pediatrician asked about the girl's heart murmur.

Mangini's mother was stunned. No one had ever mentioned a problem with her daughter's heart.

Doctors ultimately found the little girl had pulmonary stenosis, or a narrowing of the valve between her lower right heart chamb...

1 in 8 COVID Patients Will Develop Long COVID, Study Finds

Numerous people have reported lingering or new symptoms after a COVID-19 infection, though exactly how many people are struggling with long COVID has remained unclear.

Now, a new Dutch study finds about one of every eight (12.7%) patients who show long COVID symptoms.

The estimate is considered more reliable because researchers comp...

New Yorkers Warned of Possible Community Spread of Polio

FRIDAY, Aug. 5, 2022 (HealthDay News) – New Yorkers who aren't vaccinated for polio should get their shots, state public health officials warned Thursday after the virus was found in seven wastewater samples in two neighboring counties.

The finding comes after an unvaccinated adult in Rockland County last month became the first person kn...

Loneliness Can Be a Real Heartbreaker, Cardiac Experts Warn

FRIDAY, Aug. 5, 2022 (HealthDay News) – Social isolation and loneliness put people at a 30% higher risk of heart attack, stroke or death from either, a new scientific statement from the American Heart Association (AHA) warns.

The statement also highlights the lack of data on interventions that could improve heart health in isolated or lo...

Blood Protein Might Predict Future Risk of Diabetes, Cancer

Elevated levels of a specific protein appear to be linked to an increased risk of developing diabetes and dying from cancer, a new study finds.

High levels of prostasin -- mainly found in epithelial cells, which line the surfaces and organs of the body -- are associated with both diabetes and cancer, researchers report Aug. 4 in the journa...