Bird Flu Infection Confirmed in a Pig for First Time in U.S.

Amid an ongoing outbreak of bird flu in poultry and dairy cows in the United States, a case of H5N1 has now been confirmed for the first time in a pig.

"The U.S. Department of Agriculture [USDA] and Oregon state veterinary officials are investigating positive cases of H5N1 in a backyard farming operation in Oregon that has a mix of po...

Election Fears Are Keeping Americans Awake at Night, Survey Shows

If anxiety over this year’s presidential election is keeping you up at night, you’re not alone.

About 17% of all U.S. adults -- a striking 45 million Americans -- say the election has negatively impacted their sleep, according to a survey by the National Sleep Foundation.

These folks are sleeping less on the weekend and h...

Most Patients Can Keep Using GLP-1 Weight Loss Meds Before Surgeries

A new guidance issued jointly by groups representing U.S. surgeons, anesthesiologists and gastroenterologists affirms that most people taking popular GLP-1 weight-loss meds can keep taking them in the weeks before a surgery.

Concerns had arisen because the drugs, which include semaglutide (Ozempic and Wegovy) and tirzepatide (Mounjaro and ...

When This Black Cat Crossed His Path, It Was a Lucky Day for Medicine

When a black cat named Pepper dropped a dead mouse on the carpet at his owner's feet on a day back in May 2021, neither of them knew then that it would alert scientists to the arrival of an exotic virus to the United States.

Pepper is a skilled hunter who regularly leaves “gifts” for his humans, so that part wasn't surprising. ...

Staying In: Did Pandemic Shift Americans' Leisure-Time Habits Permanently?

The COVID-19 pandemic appears to have created a nation of homebodies in the United States, a new study finds.

People are spending nearly an hour less each day doing activities outside the home, researchers reported Oct. 31 in the Journal of the American Planning Association.

In essence, not going out has become the “ne...

Costs for MS, Parkinson's and Alzheimer's Meds Keep Rising

A person battling multiple sclerosis spent an average of $750 in out-of-pocket fees on medicines in 2012, but by 2021 that same patient spent $2,378 annually, a new report finds.

Out-of-pocket costs for drugs for neurologic diseases such as MS, Parkinson's and Alzheimer's disease are climbing sharply, according to research led by Amanda Gu...

With Cases Rising, What You Need to Know About Whooping Cough

Whooping cough is on the rise in the United States, with cases surging across the nation.

It’s important to remember that whooping cough, also known as pertussis, can impact adults as well as kids, according to Infectious Diseases Society of America (IDSA) President Dr. Tina Tan.

“Adolescents and adults serve as a major s...

Halloween Candy: Don't Get Spooked by All That Sugar

Sugar overload is a real danger on Halloween, as piles of candy prove a powerful temptation to both Trick-or-Treaters and the folks handing out the goodies.

Too many sweet treats can instigate a blood sugar spike followed by a hard crash, causing folks to become irritable and experience symptoms like dizziness, upset stomach, tiredness and...

Check Your Cabinet: Some COVID Test Expiration Dates Have Been Extended, FDA Says

Don’t automatically throw out that old COVID-19 at-home test you just came across in your medicine cabinet.

It might still be good, according to the U.S. Food and Drug Administration.

Some over-the-counter COVID tests have had their expiration dates extended beyond the date displayed on packaging, the FDA said.

The FDA ha...

Diagnostic Device Spots Malaria Without Need for Blood Sample

Scans using lasers and ultrasound can pick up signs of a malaria infection through the skin, without the need for a blood draw, Yale researchers report.

The technology, called Cytophone, could be a real boon for developing countries where access to labs for blood tests isn't always available.

According to a Yale news release, the re...

CDC Confirms Onions as Source of McDonald's E. Coli Outbreak; Cases Rise to 90 Nationwide

Onions spread on McDonald's Quarter Pounders are the definite source of an outbreak of E. coli illness that's now affected 90 people nationwide, new evidence from the U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention shows.

"Epidemiologic and traceback information show that fresh, slivered onions are the likely source of illness in this outb...

Autism Diagnoses Rising Among U.S. Children, Adults

Big surges in new autism diagnoses among young adults, as well a rise in diagnoses for girls and young women, have driven a near-tripling of U.S. autism cases in just over a decade, researchers report.

Data on over 12 million patients enrolled in major U.S. health care systems found that between 2011 and 2022 the number of people diagnosed...

Once Again, Tuberculosis Becomes World's Top Infectious Disease Killer

In the highest tally ever recorded for tuberculosis cases, the World Health Organization reported Tuesday that over 8 million people worldwide were diagnosed with the lung disease last year.

Of that number, 1.25 million people died of TB, the new report found, meaning that it is once again the leading cause of deaths f...

Half of U.S. Teens Stare at Screens More Than 4 Hours Per Day

Half of young Americans between the ages of 12 and 17 spend at least four hours each day on their smartphones, computers or televisions, a new survey shows.

"As technology has become more integrated into teenagers’ lives, the time spent in front of screens has continued to rise in the United States," noted a team of researchers from ...

1 in 3 U.S. Teens Say They've Been Bullied

Bullying among American teens remains a big threat, with more than a third (34%) saying they've been bullied over the past year, new government data shows.

According to the report's authors, bullying occurs when a person is "exposed to aggressive behavior repeatedly over time by one or more people and is unable to defend themself."

...

Even 'Weekend Warrior' Exercise Can Keep Your Brain Healthy

Find it hard to take time to exercise during your busy workweek?

No problem, a new study says -- one or two “weekend warrior” workouts are just as likely to help you maintain your brain health.

People who regularly exercise, whether solely on the weekend or throughout the week, are more likely to stay sharp as they age co...

Can Cannabis Change Your Brain? Maybe, Maybe Not

People who regularly use marijuana experience changes in their brain structure and function, but it’s not clear that cannabis is the cause, a new study finds.

Researchers found specific differences in the brains of people who’d ever used weed, particularly in areas densely packed with cannabinoid receptors. However, genetic ana...

Late-Life Menopause Linked to Higher Asthma Risk

Women who enter menopause at a later age have a greater risk of asthma, a new study says.

Meanwhile, early menopause is associated with a reduced risk of developing asthma, researchers found.

The results run counter to other studies suggesting that early menopause, defined as ages 40 to 44, is more detrimental to a woman’s heal...

What You Don't Know About Pancreatic Cancer Could Harm You

Pancreatic cancer rates are rising in adults younger than 50, but many continue to believe it’s a disease that only affects the elderly, a new survey shows.

Folks in that age range also say they wouldn’t be able to identify early signs and symptoms of pancreatic cancer, and that there’s nothing to do to reduce their risk....