More Americans Now Use Marijuana Each Day Than Alcohol

Reflecting changing times and legislation, Americans are now more apt to light up a joint or pop a weed gummy on a daily basis than they are to raise a glass of wine or beer, new research shows.

Among folks who said they used either marijuana or alcohol each day, marijuana became the preferred choice as of 2022, according to study author J...

Use of GLP-1 Meds Have Risen 7-Fold Among Young Americans

The number of American teens and young adults who've been prescribed one of the new GLP-1 weight-loss drugs soared nearly seven-fold between 2020 and 2023, a new report finds.

That's compared to an overall decline of about 3% in young Americans' use of other types of prescription meds.

But how safe are drugs like Ozempic, Wegovy, Mou...

Scientists Discover Microplastics Abound in Human Testicles

In a finding that suggests microplastics may pose a special danger to men, a new study has shown that human testicles contain these tiny bits of plastic at levels triple that seen in animal testicles and human placentas.

“They look like little shards, tiny broken bits from very, very old plastics,” said lead researcher Matthew Campen,...

Do Fish Oil Supplements Help or Harm the Heart?

Folks regularly taking fish oil supplements might not be helping their health as much as they might think, a new study suggests.

Regular use of fish oil supplements could increase the risk of first-time heart disease and stroke among those with good heart health, new research suggests.

However, the long-term study also found that fis...

Teen Cannabis Users' Risk for Psychosis May Be Stronger Than Thought: Study

Doctors have long known that excessive marijuana use can trigger psychosis, especially in the young. But new research suggests the link is stronger that ever imagined before.

Teens who use cannabis face 11 times the odds for a psychotic episode compared to teens who abstain from the drug, new Canadian research contends.

The teen yea...

Only Half of Americans Feel Prepared to Save a Life in Emergencies: Poll

Only about half of Americans feel prepared to help someone during a medical emergency, a new poll finds.

Only 51% of Americans think they would be able to perform hands-only CPR to help someone who’s collapsed. Similarly, only 49% feel they could step in and staunch serious bleeding, while 56% said they can help someone who’s choking t...

Pedestrians Twice as Likely to Be Hit by Electric Cars Versus Gas-Powered Ones

Many people have been caught by surprise when an electric-powered car has smoothly and silently crept up on them as they walked.

But such an accident can pose a very serious risk to life and limb, and pedestrians might be twice as likely to be hit by an electric or hybrid car than a gas-powered vehicle, researchers reported May 21 in the <...

Too Few Asthma Patients Are Using Updated Inhalers

Improved inhalers are now available to help control asthma and treat sudden attacks, but a new study shows that hardly anyone’s using them.

The new inhalers combine inflammation-fighting corticosteroids with a long-acting drug called formoterol that opens up the airways, researchers report.

These combo inhalers are used twice a day...

'Climbing the Ladder' in Life Could Stave Off Dementia

Have you been socially and economically "upwardly mobile" through your life? If so, you may be doing your brain health a big favor, new Japanese research suggests.

Folks who scored high in terms of "climbing the ladder" tended to avoid dementia or develop it years later than folks whose lives weren't on such a successful track, reported a ...

Time Between HPV Tests for Cervical Cancer Might Be Safely Extended

HPV testing to prevent cervical cancer might not have to happen as often as currently recommended, a new study says.

Current standards require women to undergo human papillomavirus (HPV) screening every five years. Nearly all cervical cancers are caused by HPV.

But researchers found that waiting eight years for follow-up HPV screenin...

Health Savings Could Near $250,000 When Electric School Bus Replaces Diesel

It might be hoped that replacing a diesel school bus with a clean electric model would pay off for health and the environment.

New research suggests that it does -- and gives a dollar figure for that payoff.

Replacing a diesel bus with a clean electric model yields up to $247,600 in climate and health benefits per bus, according to ...

CDC Warns Muslim Pilgrims to Saudi Arabia of Meningitis Outbreak

Muslim pilgrims attending the annual Hajj could be at risk for meningitis due to outbreaks occurring in Saudi Arabia, U.S. health officials warned this week.

Twelve cases of meningitis linked to Umrah travel to Saudi Arabia have been reported to national health agencies in three countries, the CDC said in a travel health notice.

Umra...

Cannabis Edibles Are Triggering Poisonings Among Older Users

The legalization of cannabis and the popularity of its edible versions is having an unexpected effect: More seniors landing in emergency departments with overdoses.

A new Canadian study found "cannabis poisonings" in the province of Ontario tripled among older users after edibles became legal, compared to the pre-legalization era.

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A Matcha Mouthwash Might Fight Gum Disease

Matcha green tea has the potential to keep gum disease at bay, a new study finds.

Lab experiments show that matcha can inhibit the growth of Porphyromonas gingivalis, one of the main bacterial culprits behind gum disease.

Among a small group of 45 people with gum disease, those who used matcha mouthwash wound up with signif...

'Hungry Gut' Gene Test Shows Who'll Benefit Most From Wegovy

You've watched others shed pounds in a matter of weeks after taking one of the new blockbuster weight-loss drugs, so you decide to try one of the medications yourself, only to discover the needle on your bathroom scale barely budges.

Why? New research presented Monday at the Digestive Disease Week conference in Washington, D.C., suggests ...

For Pregnant Women, Fluoridated Drinking Water Might Raise Risks for Baby: Study

Fetal exposure to fluoride from a mom-to-be's drinking water might raise the odds for physical and mental health issues in toddlers, new research suggests.

The study, which was funded by the U.S. National Institutes of Health, wasn't designed to prove cause-and-effect. However, researchers believe the findings are worth investigating furt...

Vaping After Quitting Smoking Keeps Lung Cancer Risk High

If you've quit smoking and have switched to vaping instead, your odds for lung cancer won't fall as steeply as if you quit nicotine altogether, new research suggests.

“This is the first large population-based study to demonstrate the increased risk of lung cancer in e-cigarette users after smoking cessation,” said study lead author Dr....

To Boost Colon Cancer Screening, Give Patients Choices

Giving patients a choice between screening methods could help doctors detect colon cancer earlier, a new study shows.

More than double the number of patients underwent colon cancer screening if they were given a choice of the type of test they’d prefer, researchers report.

Only 6% of patients completed screening within six months ...

Quit-Smoking Drug Chantix May Also Help Folks Stop Vaping

A quit-smoking drug appears to help people drop their vaping addiction, a new study shows.

Vapers who took varenicline (Chantix) were significantly more likely to quit using e-cigarettes loaded with nicotine than those randomly assigned to receive a placebo, researchers found.

“We had a 15 percent difference in quit rates, with tho...

More Kids With Asthma Need Hospital Care on Very Hot Days

Heat waves and heat domes are particularly dangerous to kids with asthma, a new study finds.

Daytime heat waves are associated with 19% increased odds that a child with asthma will wind up in the hospital, researchers discovered.

What’s more, heat waves that stretch for days double a kid’s risk of being hospitalized due to asthma...