Cases of Vaping-Linked Lung Illness Rise to 530 Across 38 States: CDC

THURSDAY, Sept. 19, 2019 (HealthDay News) -- The number of confirmed or suspected severe lung illnesses linked to vaping has leapt to 530 cases across 38 states and the Virgin Islands, U.S. health officials reported Thursday.

There have also been seven confirmed deaths in six states -- California, Illinois, Indiana, Kansas, Minnesota a...

Just 2 Weeks on the Couch Starts to Damage Your Body

THURSDAY, Sept. 19, 2019 (HealthDay News) -- A new study proves that the old adage "use it or lose it" is definitely true when it comes to fitness.

After just two weeks of sedentary behavior, formerly fit people had:

• A decline in heart and lung health
• Increased waist circumference
• Greater body fat an...

Scientists Discover New Way Fat Harms Your Arteries

THURSDAY, Sept. 19, 2019 (HealthDay News) -- Scientists may have found a way that obesity directly damages the arteries and contributes to heart disease -- a discovery that they say could eventually lead to new treatments.

The British researchers found that in heart disease patients who are obese, body fat surrounding the arteries tend...

For People at High Risk, Evidence That Exercise Might Slow Alzheimer's

THURSDAY, Sept. 19, 2019 (HealthDay News) -- For people at risk of Alzheimer's disease, working out a couple of times a week might at least slow the onset of the illness, new research suggests.

Regular exercise over a year slowed the degeneration of the part of the brain tied to memory among people who had a buildup of amyloid beta pro...

AHA News: These Diets Helped Women With Diabetes Cut Heart Attack, Stroke Risk

THURSDAY, Sept. 19, 2019 (American Heart Association News) -- Eating patterns similar to the Mediterranean diet and the blood pressure-lowering DASH may help older women with Type 2 diabetes ward off heart attacks, strokes and related problems, new research suggests.

Diabetes afflicts one-quarter of Americans 65 and older. An estimate...

Maker Halts Distribution of Generic Zantac Due to Possible Carcinogen

THURSDAY, Sept. 19, 2019 (HealthDay News) -- Novartis, the maker of a generic form of the popular heartburn drug Zantac, said Wednesday it will cease distribution of the medicine after investigations suggested that generic and branded versions contain a known carcinogen.

A distribution halt is not the same as a full recall, and it mean...

Parents, Throw the Garden at Your Picky Eater

THURSDAY, Sept. 19, 2019 (HealthDay News) -- When it comes to convincing your kids that vegetables taste good, variety might be the key to success.

New research suggests that offering children more than one type of vegetable may improve the chances that they'll eat a greater amount.

The study included 32 families with childre...

Can You Still Be Healthy If You're Overweight?

THURSDAY, Sept. 19, 2019 (HealthDay News) -- If you're overweight but have dodged chronic health issues like high cholesterol and high blood pressure, you might not think that losing weight is a priority. But an analysis of five years of records on 3.5 million people -- underweight, normal weight, overweight and obese -- has found reason for con...

Foods That Will Make You Feel Full Faster

THURSDAY, Sept. 19, 2019 (HealthDay News) -- When you get the urge for a snack, you might not think that a slice of turkey can have the same lip-smacking effect as a handful of chips. But scientists have known for some time that protein is the most efficient nutrient for not only quickly satisfying hunger, but also for keeping you feeling satisf...

All-in-One Pill Helps Protect Heart

WEDNESDAY, Sept. 18, 2019 (HealthDay News) -- Could popping just one pill a day keep your heart and blood vessels humming along for years to come?

Possibly. Researchers just tested a combo pill containing low doses of two blood pressure medications, a statin and a medication that keeps you from retaining excess fluid. They estimated t...

Intense Gaming Can Trigger Irregular Heartbeat, Fainting in Some Players

WEDNESDAY, Sept. 18, 2019 (HealthDay News) -- Video games that guarantee heart-stopping action might come dangerously close to fulfilling that promise in some players.

A handful of video gamers have passed out when intense sessions caused their heartbeat to lapse into an irregular rhythm known as an arrhythmia, researchers report.

Tiny Genetic Tweak May Stop Ebola Virus in Its Tracks

WEDNESDAY, Sept. 18, 2019 (HealthDay News) -- New experiments in monkeys suggest that one slight alteration to the DNA of the Ebola virus might render it harmless to humans.

Changing just a single protein appears to activate the body's immune system to fight off the deadly infection, researchers report.

The mutated virus also...

New Healthy Drinks Guidelines for Kids: Skip the Soy, Avoid Sugars

WEDNESDAY, Sept. 18, 2019 (HealthDay News) -- Four of America's biggest health organizations are banding together to urge parents to better monitor the drinks their young kids sip each day.

The take-home message from the new "Healthy Drinks, Healthy Kids" guidelines: Cut down on sugary sodas, juices and the like, and favor breast milk...

C-Section Delivery Might Alter Newborn's 'Microbiome'

WEDNESDAY, Sept. 18, 2019 (HealthDay News) -- New research reveals that the bacterial composition of a newborn's gut may be dependent on how the baby is delivered.

Gut bacteria found in children delivered by cesarean section largely reflected the bacterial surroundings of the hospital in which the baby was born, British investigators r...

Chemicals From Heat-Not-Burn Tobacco Devices Not Harmless: Study

WEDNESDAY, Sept. 18, 2019 (HealthDay News) -- Chemical emissions from heat-not-burn tobacco devices are lower than from conventional cigarettes, but they're still high enough to be cause for concern, researchers report.

The makers of such devices claim that they produce a "clean" vapor that contains fewer irritants and cancer-causing ...

Opioid Epidemic Tied to Doubling of Dangerous Heart Infections

WEDNESDAY, Sept. 18, 2019 (HealthDay News) -- Addiction and overdose deaths aren't the only consequence of America's opioid epidemic. Cases of a potentially deadly heart infection have risen alarmingly, too, a new study finds.

This bacterial infection, called infective endocarditis, often affects young, poor white men who share needles...

Four-Legged Friends Help Buffer Loss of a Spouse

WEDNESDAY, Sept. 18, 2019 (HealthDay News) -- The loss of a loved one is one of life's most stressful events. But new research suggests that having a furry loved one still at home may help ease the pain.

Investigators looked at 437 older adults, some of whom lost a spouse, either through divorce or death. They found that having a cat ...

Age Often Dampens Narcissists' Self-Love, Study Finds

WEDNESDAY, Sept. 18, 2019 (HealthDay News) -- Narcissism is not a good look at any age, but new research suggests it fades as people enter their 40s.

However, the degree of decline in narcissism varies between individuals and can be related to their career and relationships, the researchers added.

Overall, the "findings shoul...

Stock up on These Fall Superfoods

WEDNESDAY, Sept. 18, 2019 (HealthDay News) -- Butternut squash, Brussels sprouts and apples are all amazing fall superfoods and the perfect reason to get cooking.

Cheap and versatile, butternut squash is loaded with fiber and vitamin A. For an easy butternut squash mash, cut the squash in half, discard the seeds and roast for about 1 h...

Staying Healthy Now to Work Into Older Age

WEDNESDAY, Sept. 18, 2019 (HealthDay News) -- While you can take Social Security benefits at age 62 and get 75% of your maximum, waiting until you reach full retirement age (between age 66 and 67 depending on the year you were born) gets you much closer to the full amount. But the age at which Americans can collect the most dollars has inche...