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First U.S. Death From Bird Flu Reported in Louisiana

A Louisiana resident has died after being hospitalized with bird flu in December of last year, marking the first known U.S. death from the virus.

The patient who, "was over the age of 65 and was reported to have underlying medical conditions," state health officials announced in a statement, tested positive for the virus and developed seve...

Blood Test May Help Predict How Long Immunity Lasts

It’s long been a mystery why folks need a flu vaccine every year, even though immunizations they got in childhood continue to protect them from measles and mumps.

Researchers now think they know why vaccine effectiveness varies -- and they’ve even come up with a blood test to check a vaccine’s durability.

“Our...

DoxyPEP Lowers Rate of Sexually Transmitted Infections (STIs), Data Suggests

Worried about the risky sex you had last night?

Using a common antibiotic following sex can dramatically reduce a person’s risk of some sexually transmitted infections (STIs), a new study says.

Taking doxycycline within 72 hours after sex reduced risk of chlamydia by 79%, syphilis by 80%, and gonorrhea by 12%, results published...

Multilingual Children with Autism Show Improved Cognitive Function

Kids with autism who speak more than one language tend to have fewer symptoms from their disorder.

Being multilingual not only enhances their general cognitive abilities, but also helps them better control their daily thoughts and actions, researchers reported in a study published recently in the journal Autism Research.

The...

Access to Medical Test Results Is Confusing, Anxiety-Provoking

Patients have more access to their own medical test results than ever before, thanks to legislation requiring results be released as soon as they’re available.

But that’s not necessarily a good thing, a new study warns.

Many patients are reading test results in their electronic medical record before their doctor has had a...

Caregivers Face Mental, Physical Health Risks

More and more adults are stuck in the middle of their families, caring not only for their children but also for aging parents and other older family members.

The mental and physical health of these “sandwich carers” is more likely to deteriorate over time, a new study published in the journal Public Health says.

...

Interest In Permanent Contraception Rose After Roe v. Wade was Overturned

Abortion bans have led many young people to decide they’d rather forego having kids than ever face that dilemma.

A surge in permanent contraception immediately followed the 2022 Supreme Court decision that overturned Roe v. Wade, researchers said in a new study published Jan. 6 in the journal Health Affairs.

Tubal ster...

U.S. Whooping Cough Cases Surge

Rates of whooping cough in the U.S. continue to climb, according to data from the US Centers for Disease Control (CDC).

Over 32,000 cases reported have been reported as of mid-December -- about six times more than there were at this time last year, and more than there have been since 2014, according to CNN.

Whooping cough, also known...

Brain Volume, Health Linked to Socioeconomic Status

Wealth could be related to brain health, a new study says.

People raised in poorer communities or nations appear to have brains more likely to shrink with age, as well as disrupted connectivity between brain regions related to memory and thinking, according to results published recently in the journal Nature Aging.

This puts...

Cruise Passenger Dies Amid Norovirus Outbreak That Sickened Dozens

A norovirus outbreak aboard the P&O Cruises’ Arcadia ship last fall left dozens of passengers confined to their cabins and is now linked to the death of a 77-year-old British passenger.

Alan Forster, a retired teacher from Paignton, England, fell sick with norovirus two weeks into the month-long voyage with his wife, and later di...

Early Physical Therapy Key for Concussion Recovery, Study Shows

Turns out, starting physical therapy earlier after a concussion may significantly improve recovery outcomes.

A new study published recently in the Physical Therapy & Rehabilitation Journal followed just over 200 adults recovering from mild traumatic brain injuries, or concussions, who were within two to 12 weeks from their inj...

Dogs Can Help Detect, Remove Spotted Lantern Flies

The spotted lanternfly is an invasive pest that can ruin grape, apple and hop crops and do terrible damage to maple and walnut trees.

Luckily, man’s best friend is on hand to help fight this insect foe, a new study published in the journal Ecosphere says.

Farmers and conservationists have trained dogs to sniff out lant...

The Heart Disease, Breast Cancer Link

Heart disease and cancer might seem completely unrelated, but these two top causes of death sometimes act in concert.

Women with heart disease appear to have a greater risk of aggressive breast cancer, according to a new study published Jan. 2 in JAMA Network Open.

In fact, women with advanced breast cancer were 10% more lik...

Psychedelics May Boost Mental Health of People with Cancer in Recovery

Mind-opening psychedelic drugs can provide a needed boost to people dealing with cancer or struggling with alcoholism, according to a pair of new studies from New York University.

One study found that psilocybin -- the active ingredient in magic mushrooms -- significantly reduced anxiety, depression, anger and other mental health problems ...

Social Life Protects From Stroke, Infections, Blood Proteins Suggest

Palling around with family and friends is more than just fun and relaxing -- it also boosts health.

A new study published in the journal Nature Human Behavior says that blood samples show that an active social life appears to boost the immune system and lower risk of illnesses like heart disease, stroke and type 2 diabetes.

...

About 50% of Adults Resolve to Try New Diet, Survey Says

A new diet is on the New Year’s resolution list for nearly half of U.S. adults, according to a new survey from the Physicians Committee for Responsible Medicine.

However, many plan to pick up diets with dicey track records, survey results show.

About 46% of adults said they plan to start a new diet in 2025, the survey found.

Alcohol Intake Increases Cancer Risk, Beverages Should Carry Warning: Surgeon General

Alcoholic beverages should carry a more specific label warning about cancer risks, the U.S. surgeon general said on Friday.

In a new Advisory on Alcohol and Cancer Risk, Surgeon General Dr. Vivek Murthy outlined the connection between alcohol consumption and cancer.

The third leading preventable cause of cancer in the United States...

These Are Some of the Best Diets for 2025, Report Says

Wondering which popular diet will help you shed extra weight in a healthy way this year?

The Mediterranean diet tops the best diet categories in the U.S. News & World Report 2025 edition.

According to the report, the eating style that refers to the traditional eating habits of the people who live in the countries that border the ...

AI Proves Useful for Ovarian Cancer Diagnosis

AI can outperform human doctors when it comes to identifying ovarian cancer from ultrasound images.

A new study published in the journal Nature Medicine shows that specially trained AI program achieved an accuracy rate of more than 86% in identifying ovarian cancer by scanning ultrasounds, compared to just under 83% for human expe...

Ready-to-Eat Broccoli Pulled from Walmart Shelves Due to Listeria Risk

If you've picked up a bag of Marketside Broccoli Florets from Walmart recently, check your fridge or freezer.

The company has issued a recall of the 12-ounce bags in 20 states after testing uncovered listeria bacteria in one sample.

According to an announcement recently released by the U.S. Food & Drug Administration (FDA), the a...