Over 234,000 Pounds of Ham, Pepperoni Recalled Due to Listeria

Nearly 235,000 pounds of fully cooked ham and pepperoni products were recalled by Michigan-based Alexander & Hornung on Sunday due to possible listeria contamination.

There are no confirmed reports of illness associated with the products that were sold across the United States, according to the U.S. Department of Agriculture's Food Safety ...

Pandemic Sent Americans' Blood Pressure Numbers Skyward

MONDAY, Dec. 6, 2021 (HealthDay News) -- Yet another pandemic-related health woe has come to the fore: rising blood pressure.

Data covering almost half a million middle-aged Americans shows that about 27% saw their blood pressure go up significantly in 2020 after COVID-19 restrictions unfolded compared to the prior year...

1 in 3 College Freshmen Has Depression, Anxiety

MONDAY, Dec. 6, 2021 (HealthDay News) -- Starting college can be a time of fun, new experiences and growth. Yet it can also be a rough transition for many students who struggle with mental health issues.

A new study from researchers in the United Kingdom and Canada found about one-third of first-year students have or dev...

Could Viagra Help Prevent Alzheimer's?

MONDAY, Dec. 6, 2021 (HealthDay News) -- Viagra, a drug long used to treat erectile dysfunction, may double as a potential weapon against Alzheimer's disease, a new study suggests.

Looking at data on more than 7 million Americans, researchers found that those taking the drug were 69% less likely to develop Alzheimer's, w...

AHA News: This Nonprofit Builds Strong 'Ground Game' for Community Mental Health

When belongings pile up on the curb from an eviction in Maryland's western Anne Arundel County, Abraham Shanklin Jr. sees more than a housing crisis. When people with low incomes can't find a reliable way to get to work, he sees beyond transportation problems.

Since 1994, when he became a pastor there, Shanklin has traced the roots of a co...

'Magic Mushroom' Drug Edges Toward Mainstream Therapy

Tony Head was depressed and fearing death from stage 4 prostate cancer when, as part of a supervised scientific trial, he took a large dose of the psychedelic agent in "magic mushrooms," psilocybin.

Head donned a mask and headphones to shut out the world around him, and had an experience that changed the course of his life.

"At some...

Omicron Spreading Through Africa Twice as Fast as Delta Did

The Omicron variant appears to spread at twice the rate as the Delta variant does, due mostly to a combination of contagiousness and an ability to dodge the body's immune defenses, scientists report.

The degree to which each factor contributes to the spread of Omicron is still unclear, according to the findings of an analysis posted on Twi...

COVID Vaccine, Testing Demand Overwhelming Pharmacies

U.S. pharmacies are struggling to keep up with Americans' demand for coronavirus vaccines and tests, and the pressure could intensify as antiviral pills to treat COVID-19 are approved by federal regulators.

“There’s crazy increased demand on pharmacies right now,” Theresa Tolle, an independent pharmacist whose store in Sebastian, Fla...

High Heart Rate Linked to Dementia Risk

Checking older adults' resting heart rate could help identify those who are more likely to experience a decline in mental function, a Swedish study suggests.

The researchers found that a high resting heart rate was associated with a greater risk of dementia.

"We believe it would be valuable to explore if resting heart rate could iden...

Lifetime Spent With Epilepsy Ages the Brain, Study Finds

MONDAY, Dec. 6, 2021 (HealthDay News) -- People with a longtime history of epilepsy show signs of rapid brain aging that may raise their odds for developing dementia down the road.

This is the key finding of new research reporting that the brains of people with epilepsy that began in childhood appear to ...

More Evidence That Pandemic Delayed Cancer Diagnoses

New research offers fresh proof that the COVID-19 pandemic delayed cancer diagnoses in the United States, increasing patients' risk for poor outcomes.

For the study, researchers analyzed data from more than 9 million patients at over 1,200 Veterans Affairs (VA) medical facilities.

Procedures to diagnose cancer were used less often a...

Young People Recover Quickly From Rare Heart Side Effect of COVID Vaccine

It happens very rarely, but most teens and young adults who do experience heart inflammation (myocarditis) after a COVID-19 shot have mild symptoms and recover quickly, new research shows.

“Overwhelmingly, data continue to indicate that the benefits of COVID-19 vaccination -- 91% effective at preventing complications of severe COVID-19 i...

Were Cancer Patients Neglected in U.S. COVID Vaccine Rollout?

In nearly two-thirds of U.S. states, cancer patients weren't put at the front of the line for COVID-19 vaccines in the initial phase of vaccination, a new study finds.

Many cancer patients are especially vulnerable to COVID-19 as the disease or related treatments leaves them with weakened immune systems.

Perhaps many cancer patients...

Clearing Out Clutter Might Not Help People With Dementia

You might think de-cluttering would make it easier for people with dementia to do daily tasks. Not so, says a new study from the United Kingdom.

"It is generally assumed that a person with dementia will be better able to carry out daily tasks when their home space is tidy and clutter-free," said Eneida Mioshi, a professor in the School of ...

With Holidays Ahead, COVID Boosters a Must for People With Weak Immune Systems

If you're a patient with a weakened immune system, roll up your sleeves to stay safe over the holidays and winter months.

"Immunocompromised patients absolutely should get a flu shot as well as an additional COVID-19 vaccine dose," said Dr. Marwa Kaisey, a neuroimmunologist and assistant professor of neurology at Cedars-Sinai in Los Angel...

Keep Your Holidays Allergy-Free This Year

Planning ahead will reduce the risk of allergies and asthma interfering with your holiday plans, an expert says.

"In addition to concerns about COVID-19, those with allergies and asthma sometimes have an added layer of anxiety because they need to always be thinking about allergy and asthma triggers that can cause serious symptoms," said D...

Omicron May Overcome Prior COVID Infection

People who've already had COVID-19 have a higher risk of reinfection with the Omicron coronavirus variant than with earlier variants, new research shows.

The South African scientists who reported the findings believe that vaccination will have the power to stop severe illness, however.

Speaking at a World Health Organization brie...

Gene Found in Amish Helps Protect Their Hearts

FRIDAY, Dec. 3, 2021 (HealthDay News) -- A rare gene variant discovered among Amish people may help lower "bad" cholesterol and protect against heart disease, a new study suggests.

Researchers found that among nearly 7,000 Amish people, the gene variant was tied to reductions in both LDL cholesterol and fibrinogen -- a p...

Could Pollution Help Decide Your Baby's Sex?

FRIDAY, Dec. 3, 2021 (HealthDay News) -- A boy or a girl? New research suggests that the air pregnant women breathe or the water they drink could play a role in their baby's sex.

The finding stems from tracking hundreds of factors — including pollution exposure — surrounding the birth of more than 6 million American...

Do Immune-Based Cancer Drugs Work Better in Men?

Women are two times more likely than men to die after receiving a combination of cancer immunotherapy drugs called checkpoint inhibitors, but it's not clear if that difference is due to side effects or because the treatment isn't working, researchers say.

This new class of highly targeted drugs — which includes pembrolizumab (Keytruda),...