Wildfire smoke expected – Weight-loss drugs may lower cancer risk – How an oncologist reduces cancer risk
Food and exercise can treat depression as well as a psychologist – and it’s cheaper
Previous studies have found “lifestyle” therapies are effective for depression. But they have never been directly compared with psychological therapies – until now.
Health News Headlines
Wildfire smoke expected in Seattle – ACL tears in women – 5 ways to manage hypertension
Since Fall of ‘Roe,’ Self-Managed Abortions Have Increased
Women who self-managed abortion attempts reported using a range of methods, including using drugs or alcohol, lifting heavy objects, and taking a hot bath. In addition, about 22% reported hitting themselves in the stomach. Nearly 4% reported inserting an object in their body.
COVID-19 deaths are declining, but some people face greater risk
In the more than four years since COVID-19 emerged, COVID-19 deaths have declined overall, but the disease remains dangerous to many. Anyone who contracts COVID-19 is at risk of severe illness, death, heart problems, and long COVID.
Hospital-acquired infections are rising – here’s how to protect yourself in health care settings
Dr. Nasia Safdar, a professor of infectious medicine at the University of Wisconsin-Madison, discusses why infection rates have gone up and how you can protect yourself as a hospital patient or visiting family member.
Bird Flu Cases Are Going Undetected, New Study Suggests. It’s a Problem for All of Us.
s bird flu cases go underreported, health officials risk being slow to notice if the virus were to become more contagious. A large surge of infections outside of farmworker communities would trigger the government’s flu surveillance system, but by then it might be too late to contain.
Older adults want to cut back on medication, but study shows need for caution
Many with heart issues or diabetes say they’d like to take less medication, but pharmacists and prescribers need to offer personalized guidance for deprescribing
Today’s health news
Covid activity rises – No survival benefit from double mastectomy – Trust in doctors crashes – Prevention could cut dementia rates by nearly half
FDA Approves HPV Tests That Allow for Self-Collection in a Health Care Setting
Women can now be offered the option to collect a vaginal sample themselves for HPV testing if they cannot have or do not want a pelvic exam. However, the collection, which involves a swab or brush, must be done in a health care setting, such as primary care offices, urgent care, pharmacies, and mobile clinics.
Looking for nursing home info?
Medicare.gov makes it easy to find and compare nursing homes in your area. Personalize your results by filtering for what matters most to you — like inspection results, location, quality ratings, and more.
Dental therapists, who can fill cavities and check teeth, get the OK in more states
Dental therapists are licensed to fill cavities, place temporary crowns, extract diseased teeth and provide other basic preventive dental care, working under a dentist’s supervision. They have more training than a hygienist but not the advanced degree of a dentist.
Audit finds cracks in Washington’s egg inspection program
Washington’s Department of Agriculture failed to complete hundreds of required inspections of egg production and packing facilities in recent years, raising food safety concerns, according to a new state audit.
The Fuzzy Science on Whether Fido Is Actually Good for You
Plenty of people believe there’s something salubrious about caring for a pet, similar to eating veggies or exercising regularly. But, psychologist Hal Herzog argues, the scientific evidence that pets can consistently make people healthier is, at best, inconclusive — and, at worst, has been used to mislead the American public.
Looking for Long Covid: A Clash of Definition and Study Design
Few experts dispute that long Covid can be debilitating, or that it warrants careful study. But in interviews with Undark, a number of experts said that it is misleading to frame long Covid as an increasing threat. The best data, they say, suggest that most people recover from the disorder and that long Covid rates will decline as people develop immunity.