Water Fluoridation May Be Less Beneficial Than in Past, Review Finds

The health benefits of fluoridated drinking water may be waning as Americans increasingly turn to using toothpastes and mouthwashes that already contain fluoride, a new review suggests.

The research, published Thursday in the Cochrane Database of Systematic Reviews, came to that conclusion after analyzing more than 157 studi...

California Reports Two Cases of Bird Flu in Dairy Workers, a First for the State

As an outbreak of bird flu among dairy cows continues to spread in the United States, two more cases have been reported in dairy workers, this time in California.

These are the first human cases of bird flu reported in that state and the 15th and 16th human cases detected in the country this year, the U.S. Centers for Disease Control and P...

Colonoscopies Among the Young Are on the Rise

Colon cancers are increasing among younger Americans, so much so that experts advised in 2021 that colonoscopy screening begin at the age of 45, not 50 as had been previously recommended.

Now, research shows the new guideline may have led to a tripling in the use of the gold-standard screen among folks ages 45 to 49.

Still, in terms ...

Trauma at Life's Beginning Can Mar Its End, Study Finds

Whether abusive parents, drug addiction or gun violence are to blame, the fallout from childhood traumas can reverberate until a person's final days of life, new research shows.

"We found that early-life trauma in particular, especially physical abuse by parents, was strongly related to end-of-life pain, loneliness and depressive symptoms,...

Mpox Vaccine's Protection Wanes Within 1 Year; Boosters Needed

Antibodies provided by mpox vaccination all but disappear within six to 12 months, new research finds, underscoring the need for boosters to maintain strong protection.

Mpox -- previously known as monkeypox -- is a fast-spreading virus transmitted mainly through close skin-to-skin contact, especially during sex. Its symptoms include fever,...

Folks With Chronic Pain & Their Doctors Often Differ on Medical Marijuana

If you're in chronic pain and believe medical marijuana to be the solution, there's a good chance your doctor might not agree.

In a new survey of people living in states where medical cannabis is legal, 71% of people with chronic pain thought the federal government should legalize the drug, but only 59% of physicians thought so.

Th...

Hearing Loss Can Raise Risks for Cognitive Decline

A new, large study from France underscores the link between adult hearing loss and dementia.

"Given the major burden of cognitive decline and the absence of curative treatment, identifying modifiable risk factors is of importance," a team led by Dr. Baptiste Grenier, of the Université Paris Cité, wrote Oct. 1 in the journal <...

Food Allergies Spur Serious Anxiety in Most of Those Affected, Survey Finds

The large majority of people with food allergy, and the caregivers of kids with such allergies, say the condition has led to psychological distress, a new study finds.

However, only about 1 in every 5 such people have ever been assessed and counseled on their anxieties, the same report also found.

“Our research highlights a maj...

Even Low Levels of Radon May Raise Children's Risk for Leukemia

FRIDAY, Oct. 4, 2024 (HealthDay News) — Growing up in a city with pockets of high radon levels, Matthew Bozigar wondered whether the radioactive gas might have anything to do with the high rates of cancer he saw around him, especially in young people. 

"As an epidemiologist, I started considering possible environmental causes," ...

This Season's Flu Vaccine Cuts Risk of Hospitalization by Almost 35%

THURSDAY, Oct. 3, 2024, HealthDay News -- The Southern Hemisphere's flu season is winding down, and new data shows this year's flu shot was 34.5% effective in keeping folks there who got influenza from needing hospital care.

Most (68.3%) of those sent to hospital had the A(H3N2) strain of flu, according to the report from the U.S. Centers ...

Stem Cell Therapy Might Repair Vision-Robbing Holes in Retinas

Japanese researchers have successfully used a transplant of human stem cells to close a hole in a key part of a monkey's retina.

They say the achievement could pave the way for better treatment of small gaps that form in the macula, the central part of the eye's retina.

These macular holes can cause distorted or blurred vision, maki...

CDC Warns of Fake Drug Dangers From Online Pharmacies

Americans who turn to online pharmacies to find cheaper versions of expensive prescription medications, especially opioids, may instead be buying themselves dangerous drugs that could trigger an overdose, U.S. health officials warned Wednesday.

The warning, issued by the U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, follows a federal in...

Record Rate of U.S. Kindergartners Failed to Get Recommended Vaccines

In yet another sign that childhood vaccinations can't be taken for granted, new government data shows that a record number of kindergartners were exempted from the required shots during the last school year.

That leaves more than 125,000 new students without the protection of at least one childhood vaccine, even as measles vaccination rat...

Sitting Less Helps Prevent Back Pain From Getting Worse

Avoiding couches and chairs might be a good way of keeping your back pain from getting worse, new research suggests.

Finnish researchers found that when people with back pain sat even a little less each day, their pain was less like to progress over the next six months.

“If you have a tendency for back pain or excessive sitting...

Antibodies in Mom's Breast Milk Are Protecting Babies

THURSDAY, Oct. 3, 2024 (HeathDay News) -- Moms-to-be have long known about breast milk's multiple benefits. Now, a global study confirms that antibodies passed from to baby in breast milk can indeed shield against disease.

Immune system antibodies against one common infection, rotavirus, were especially protective, said a team from the Uni...

Could Lithium Supplements Ease the Brain Fog of Long COVID?

A small dose of the nutritional supplement lithium asparate may not ease the fatigue and brain fog of Long COVID, a small, new trial involving 52 patients has found.

Still, it's possible that a larger dose of the mood-enhancing supplement might work, researchers said.

Importantly, the supplement contains much lower amounts of lithiu...

Good Friendships Crucial to Young Adults' Happiness, Study Finds

If you're a 20-something who is unattached, having good friends is a key to happiness, new research shows. 

"The quality of your friendships is a key factor for your well-being, especially if you're single," a team led by Lisa Walsh, a postdoctoral research associate at the University of California, Los Angeles, reported Oct. 2 in the...

Most Americans Struggle With Poor Sleep, Daytime Drowsiness: Survey

Nearly 8 in 10 Americans go through the day in a fog that interferes with their jobs, their moods and their relationships.

Chalk it up to sleepiness: A new survey shows that 54% of Americans think they just don't get enough sleep.

"Daytime sleepiness is more than just an inconvenience -- it can affect our ability to function our best...

Reading to Your 1- and 2-Year Old Boosts Their Vocabulary, Study Finds

Sharing a book with your baby will build her vocabulary fast, but time with screens likely won't, Norwegian researchers report. 

Their new study on shared reading and vocabulary size dovetails with a new policy statement from the American Academy of Pediatrics that urges parents to read books to their little ones.

A team at th...

Air Pollution Could Be Changing Children's Brains

Even air pollution levels considered safe by U.S. standards appear to cause differences in the brains of growing children, a new review suggests.

"We're seeing differences in brain outcomes between children with higher levels of pollution exposure versus lower levels of pollution exposure," said corresponding author Camelia Hostinar, an as...