Number of American Smokers Who've Tried to Quit Has Stalled

THURSDAY, July 18, 2019 (HealthDay News) -- Even if it takes multiple attempts, a majority of smokers do finally kick the habit. But new research finds the percentage of smokers who are even trying to quit has flatlined.

Between 2001 and 2013, the rate of quit attempts rose steadily among U.S. smokers. But newer data, for the years 201...

15 Minutes Matters With Strokes

THURSDAY, July 18, 2019 (HealthDay News) -- Just 15 minutes can make a difference when someone is struck by a stroke, new research suggests.

The study included more than 6,700 patients in the United States and Canada who suffered an ischemic stroke (blocked blood flow to the brain) and were treated with anti-clotting therapy.

Another Study Casts Doubt on Safety of Herbal Drug Kratom

THURSDAY, July 18, 2019 (HealthDay News) -- The herbal supplement kratom regularly causes serious side effects and doesn't appear safe for use, a new study argues.

Kratom, made from the leaves of a Southeast Asian plant, is usually used to treat pain and addiction. But poison control center data shows it has been tied to seizures, with...

The 'Bottom' Blood Pressure Number Matters, Too

THURSDAY, July 18, 2019 (HealthDay News) -- When it comes to blood pressure readings, the "top" number seems to grab all the attention.

But a large, new study confirms that both numbers are, in fact, critical in determining the risk of heart attack and stroke.

Blood pressure measurements are given as a "top" and "bottom" numb...

As Heat Bakes the Nation, Expert Offers Tips to Stay Safe

THURSDAY, July 18, 2019 (HealthDay News) -- The heat is on.

Across two-thirds of the United States, over 115 million Americans live where some level of heat alert is already in effect, and 290 million will see temperatures soar past 90 degrees at some point in the next week, USA Today reported Wednesday.

As a dome of h...

Money Motivates Smokers to Quit Long Term, Study Finds

THURSDAY, July 18, 2019 (HealthDay News) -- Financial rewards for quitting smoking do help smokers -- including pregnant women -- kick the habit and remain smoke-free, a new study confirms.

"Rewards, such as money or vouchers, have been used to encourage smokers to quit, and to reward them if they stay stopped. Such schemes have been ...

How to Make Your Child's Hospital Stay Safer, Less Stressful

THURSDAY, July 18, 2019 (HealthDay News) -- More than 3 million kids are hospitalized in the United States every year. Whether it's for a planned test or surgery or an injury or other emergency, knowing how to be involved in your child's care can help you get through what's often a stressful event.

The single most important thing you c...

How to Eliminate Added Sugars From Your Diet

THURSDAY, July 18, 2019 (HealthDay News) -- People are getting the message about the dangers of sugar. Nearly 70% of Americans have cut back on foods high in added sugars, according to a survey by the International Food Information Council Foundation. But there's still a long way to go.

One of the key ways to reduce your sugar int...

New Test Can Pinpoint Which Pancreatic Cysts Might Turn Cancerous

WEDNESDAY, July 17, 2019 (HealthDay News) -- To have surgery or not to have surgery? That is the big question for hundreds of thousands of Americans diagnosed each year with a pancreatic cyst.

The dilemma? While cysts are very common, most will not actually lead to cancer. But for doctors, determining which will from which won't is oft...

WHO Declares Congo Ebola Outbreak a 'Global Health Emergency'

WEDNESDAY, July 17, 2019 (HealthDay News) -- The World Health Organization (WHO) on Wednesday called the year-old outbreak of Ebola in the Democratic Republic of Congo a global health emergency, The New York Times reported.

The declaration, made by a panel of experts, follows news this week that the deadly infectious disease had...

Chinese Scientists Cut Local Numbers of Dangerous Mosquito by 94%

WEDNESDAY, July 17, 2019 (HealthDay News) -- Some mosquitoes spread diseases to humans through their bite, passing along harmful pathogens like Zika, dengue fever, West Nile virus and chikungunya.

Now humans are turning the tables, infecting these dangerous mosquitoes with bacteria that sabotage their ability to spawn.

Chines...

A New and Better Way to 'Stage' Alzheimer's Patients?

WEDNESDAY, July 17, 2019 (HealthDay News) -- One of the hallmarks of Alzheimer's is the accumulation of beta-amyloid plaques in the brain, but what part those plaques play in the development of the disease isn't clear.

Now researchers have taken the first steps to trace the progression of plaque buildup in living patients. This way of ...

Autism Largely Caused by Genetics, Not Environment: Study

WEDNESDAY, July 17, 2019 (HealthDay News) -- The largest study of its kind, involving more than 2 million people across five countries, finds that autism spectrum disorders are 80% reliant on inherited genes.

That means that environmental causes are responsible for just 20% of the risk.

The findings could open new doo...

Medical Marijuana Won't Help Ease Opioid Crisis: Study

WEDNESDAY, July 17, 2019 (HealthDay News) -- Some proponents of medical marijuana have claimed that its use against pain might help curb the ongoing crisis of opioid abuse.

But a new study refutes that notion, finding that state laws legalizing medical marijuana have had little impact on the issue.

"When comparing the overall...

Clues to Why Women Have Higher Odds for Alzheimer's

WEDNESDAY, July 17, 2019 (HealthDay News) -- Rates of Alzheimer's disease are higher in women than in men, and researchers now think they know why.

A team from Vanderbilt University Medical Center, in Nashville, Tenn., has identified gender differences in how the Alzheimer's-related protein tau spreads in the brain.

Research ...

Can a Broken Heart Contribute to Cancer?

WEDNESDAY, July 17, 2019 (HealthDay News) -- "Broken heart syndrome" may harm more than just the heart, new research suggests.

While the extreme stress of losing a loved one has been linked to heart troubles in prior research, a new study found that one in six people with broken heart syndrome also had cancer. Even worse, they were les...

At Risk for Alzheimer's? Exercise Might Help Keep It at Bay

WEDNESDAY, July 17, 2019 (HealthDay News) -- Even if you are at high risk for Alzheimer's disease, a little more exercise may buy you time, new research suggests.

Folks with elevated levels of a brain protein called beta amyloid tend to be more likely to develop Alzheimer's disease and experience rapid brain decline later in life, prev...

Menstrual Cups Equal Pads, Tampons in Effectiveness, Data Shows

WEDNESDAY, July 17, 2019 (HealthDay News) -- They're gaining in popularity among women, and a new study finds menstrual cups to be just as safe and as effective as disposable pads or tampons.

British researchers looked at data on the cost-saving devices, gleaned from 43 studies involving more than 3,300 women and girls worldwide.

Exercises to Head Off a Painful Rotator Cuff Injury

WEDNESDAY, July 17, 2019 (HealthDay News) -- The rotator cuff refers to a group of four distinct muscles and tendons that connect to each shoulder and stabilize the humerus, the upper arm bone. These muscles are engaged when you move your shoulder, and work together to give you the needed range of motion to toss a ball or reach for an object on...

Wake Up Your Breakfast With Delicious Whole Grains

WEDNESDAY, July 17, 2019 (HealthDay News) -- If you're looking to change up that sugary bowl of cold cereal, quinoa and amaranth are nutritious alternatives.

These tiny grains (they're actually seeds) make excellent and hearty breakfasts, and are rich in iron, protein and magnesium along with many other vital nutrients. Cinnamon is th...