Common sweeteners may be doing much more inside our bodies than simply replacing sugar. Scientists at the University of Cambridge have discovered that many widely used sweeteners can directly interfere with the growth of gut bacteria, and their effects can become even more pronounced when combined with medications or other everyday substances. In laboratory experiments … Read more
The county at the center of Pennsylvania’s measles outbreak is at a clear disadvantage because, local officials say, it lacks its own health department and it will now get special assistance from the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC).As of Wednesday, Pennsylvania had confirmed 1,222 measles cases, up from 86 the week before. Six … Read more
Scientists have found microplastics in virtually every part of the human body. Yet many questions remain about what exactly these infinitesimal flecks of synthetic polymers do to human health, and how they might cause disease.A new paper looking at the chemical reactions between water and disintegrating plastic offers a potential hypothesis for how microplastics might … Read more
Key PointsA new study found that loneliness and social isolation shaved years off people’s healthy lifespans.The link was more strongly associated with mental health conditions like anxiety and depression.Experts discuss proactive steps people can take to help reduce loneliness in their everyday lives.It’s pretty well known that loneliness can affect your mental health. What’s less … Read more
Los Angeles health authorities have issued an urgent warning about an opioid that is 10 times more powerful than fentanyl after it claimed its first victim in LA County. Officials with the LA Department of Public Health said a fatality in February has been tied to the drug cychlorphine, a powerful synthetic opioid like fentanyl … Read more
An experimental drug developed at Michigan Medicine has reversed a serious form of fatty liver disease in animal studies by targeting an unexpected source of liver damage: the gut. The compound, known as DT-109, works by reducing harmful gut bacteria, protecting the intestinal lining, and preventing inflammatory substances from reaching the liver. According to findings … Read more
Few pitfalls of modern relationships are more confounding than being ghosted — but new research suggests that those who ghost may suffer most. Ghosting, the act of disappearing on a partner without warning, is a full-scale epidemic. A recent survey revealed that 75% of people have been ghosted by a former lover. Ghosting, the act … Read more
Andrea de Armas knew the ultrasound technician thought she was overreacting. De Armas was 26. She had no known family history of breast cancer. But she had found a lump in her breast. Before beginning a rigorous program to train as a physician assistant, she wanted to get it checked out. Being that young in a waiting … Read more
Type 2 diabetes is not necessarily a lifelong diagnosis or a disease that gets progressively worse over time.Today, there is strong evidence to suggest that the risk of developing this metabolic disorder can be reduced by up to 58 percent in people who have prediabetes.Diet and exercise are a key part of that.Researchers in the … Read more
Health and Human Services Secretary Robert F. Kennedy Jr. defended his agency’s handling of an ongoing measles outbreak in Pennsylvania this week, saying state officials had “politicized” the response to the growing number of infections. Kennedy also blamed the covid-19 epidemic lockdown for declining measles vaccination rates, which health experts identify as the main reason … Read more