Category: 4. Health

  • The pandemic pet boom was real. The happiness boost wasn’t

    The pandemic pet boom was real. The happiness boost wasn’t

    A new study challenges the belief in a universal “pet effect” on human well-being. Using data collected during COVID-19 lockdowns, researchers found no significant change in respondents’ well-being when they acquired or lost a pet in their household. The findings suggest that, even during a time of extreme isolation, human-animal bonds may not be as emotionally transformative as we like to believe.

    Humans and their pets, a match made in heaven? Does adopting a new dog make you happier and…

    Continue Reading


    News Source: www.sciencedaily.com

  • Tiny gut “sponge” bacteria found to flush out toxic PFAS “forever chemicals”

    Tiny gut “sponge” bacteria found to flush out toxic PFAS “forever chemicals”

    Scientists have discovered that certain species of microbe found in the human gut can absorb PFAS — the toxic and long-lasting ‘forever chemicals.’ They say boosting these species in our gut microbiome could help protect us from the harmful effects of PFAS.

    PFAS have been linked with a range of health issues including decreased fertility, developmental delays in children, and a higher risk of certain cancers and cardiovascular diseases.

    Scientists at the University of Cambridge have…

    Continue Reading


    News Source: www.sciencedaily.com

  • Researchers tested 200 toddlers — 96 chemicals were lurking in their bodies

    Researchers tested 200 toddlers — 96 chemicals were lurking in their bodies

    A national study published in Environmental Science & Technology finds children aged 2 to 4 years in the United States are routinely exposed to a broad range of potentially harmful chemicals. Many of the chemicals the researchers identified are not routinely monitored and may pose health risks.

    The research was conducted by multiple institutions across the United States in coordination with the Environmental influences on Child Health Outcomes (ECHO), a program supported by the National…

    Continue Reading


    News Source: www.sciencedaily.com

  • Centene Latest Insurer Facing Higher Costs As GOP Preps Bigger Hit

    Centene Latest Insurer Facing Higher Costs As GOP Preps Bigger Hit

    News government-subsidized health insurance provider Centene is withdrawing its 2025 financial guidance comes…

    Continue Reading


    News Source: www.forbes.com

  • Ultrafast 12-minute MRI maps brain chemistry to spot disease before symptoms

    Ultrafast 12-minute MRI maps brain chemistry to spot disease before symptoms

    A new technology that uses clinical MRI machines to image metabolic activity in the brain could give researchers and clinicians unique insight into brain function and disease, researchers at the University of Illinois Urbana-Champaign report. The non-invasive, high-resolution metabolic imaging of the whole brain revealed differences in metabolic activity and neurotransmitter levels among brain regions; found metabolic alterations in brain tumors; and mapped and characterized multiple…

    Continue Reading


    News Source: www.sciencedaily.com

  • Facing Slower Growth, Health Insurer Centene Pulls 2025 Profit Outlook

    Facing Slower Growth, Health Insurer Centene Pulls 2025 Profit Outlook

    Health insurer Centene, one of the nation’s…

    Continue Reading


    News Source: www.forbes.com

  • A Welcome Shift In Direction At CMS–Now Comes The Hard Part

    A Welcome Shift In Direction At CMS–Now Comes The Hard Part

    Recently, leaders at the Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services unveiled a broad new strategic direction for the agency. The updated 2025 strategy, framed around the goal of “Making America Healthy Again,” centers on prevention, choice, competition and accountability across the healthcare delivery system, the…

    Continue Reading


    News Source: www.forbes.com

  • Twice Yearly HIV Prevention Shot, Yeztugo, May Face Access Hurdles

    Twice Yearly HIV Prevention Shot, Yeztugo, May Face Access Hurdles

    The Food and Drug Administration approved lenacapavir (Yeztugo) in June as pre-exposure prophylaxis to reduce the risk of…

    Continue Reading


    News Source: www.forbes.com

  • Is cheese secretly fueling your nightmares? Science weighs in

    Is cheese secretly fueling your nightmares? Science weighs in

    If you find eating some foods makes you sleep badly, you’re not alone — and there may be a physical cause for your bad dreams. Scientists investigating links between diet, sleep problems, and cultural beliefs about diet and sleep have found that healthier evening eating habits lead to better sleep and better recall of dreams, while the consumption of dairy products is associated with nightmares. This is thought to be because lactose intolerance causes overnight digestive upsets which…

    Continue Reading


    News Source: www.sciencedaily.com

  • Synthetic storm: What’s really in your teen’s vape — and why scientists are alarmed

    Synthetic storm: What’s really in your teen’s vape — and why scientists are alarmed

    Novel research has revealed that adolescent vaping of current delta-9-tetrahydrocannabinol (THC), cannabidiol (CBD), and synthetic cannabinoids (SCs) has increased between 2021 and 2023. Also, adolescents are increasingly unsure about the substances they vaped in their e-cigarettes. A new study appearing in the American Journal of Preventive Medicine, published by Elsevier, sheds light on this alarming trend and contributes to informing evidence-based public health policies and harm…

    Continue Reading


    News Source: www.sciencedaily.com