Substance Use During Pregnancy Can Harm a Fetus, Experts Warn

Using alcohol, tobacco, marijuana or other substances during pregnancy can harm the developing fetus, even when the risks are not always obvious, a West Virginia University psychiatrist warns.

"Many substances can harm a fetus, including substances many falsely perceive to be harmless, like marijuana," said Dr. Aliana Abascal of the Depart...

Cats Get Dementia Just Like People, Making Them a Potential Research Tool

Just like their human counterparts, cats may act cranky or confused and have trouble sleeping as they age. 

They may even yowl more than usual at night.

These, researchers say, are dementia-like behaviors that may owe to an accumulation of plaques in their brain, just like those in people with Alzheimer’s disease.

An...

LSD May Ease Anxiety Symptoms for Months, Study Finds

A single dose of LSD eased anxiety symptoms for many folks and the benefits lasted up to three months, a new study reports.

The findings were published Sept. 4 in the Journal of the American Medical Association.

Researchers tested several doses of LSD in nearly 200 patients with moderate-to-severe anxiety. At four weeks, pat...

New Ebola Outbreak Declared in Congo

Health officials in Congo have declared a new Ebola outbreak — the country’s 16th — after a case was confirmed in the southern Kasai province.

“To date, the provisional report shows 28 suspected cases and 15 deaths, including 14 in Boulapé and 1 in Mweka, as well as four health care workers,” Samuel-Rog...

Raw Cat Food Linked to H5N1 Virus After Infected Cat Is Euthanized

Federal health officials are warning cat owners about certain lots of RAWR Raw Cat Food Chicken Eats after a pet cat in San Francisco became infected with the H5N1 bird flu virus and had to be euthanized.

The U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) reported that two lots of the product tested positive for the H5N1 virus. Health officials i...

Folks Skipping Salt Substitutes — Even Those With High Blood Pressure

Most people with high blood pressure aren’t skipping the salt shaker in favor of a salt substitute, according to a new study.

Incredibly few Americans use salt substitutes, essentially waving aside a simple and effective way to manage their blood pressure, researchers reported Thursday at an American Heart Association (AHA) meeting i...