Health
US hospitals strained by IV fluid supply limits after Helene hit production site
By Deidre McPhillips, CNN (CNN) — Hospitals across the United States are rationing critical intravenous fluids and postponing some surgeries as the national supply chain continues to reel from severe disruptions triggered by Hurricane Helene two weeks ago. Now more threats – including respiratory virus season and another hurricane – are looming. Baxter International’s North
Continue ReadingWhat the 5 stages of grief are, and how to get through them
By Kristen Rogers, CNN (CNN) — When someone you love dies, the world as you’ve known it is totally upended. One way people cope, psychologist Sherry Cormier said, is by trying to find some sort of certainty. This need for structure is probably one factor behind the popularity that latched onto the “five stages of
Continue ReadingThe end of a shortage of popular weight-loss drugs may mean many people lose access to them
By Meg Tirrell, CNN (CNN) — If there’s a diet, Janet McCaskill says, she’s done it. “I’ve tried WeightWatchers. I’ve tried keto. I’ve gone to a nutritionist,” said the 58-year-old grandmother, who lives in Knightdale, North Carolina, outside Raleigh. Some of the eating plans worked, she said – until they didn’t. At the end of
Continue ReadingYour preference for spicy foods may be all in your head
By Sandee LaMotte, CNN (CNN) — In my family, I am officially known as “Baby Spice.” No, my grown children are not comparing me to one of the Spice Girls, the pop music group that wowed young fans in the 1990s. I earned that moniker because I am a total wimp when it comes to
Continue ReadingCovid-19 may increase the risk of heart attacks, strokes and deaths for three years after an infection, study suggests
By Brenda Goodman, CNN (CNN) — Covid-19 could be a powerful risk factor for heart attacks and strokes for as long as three years after an infection, a large new study suggests. The study was published Wednesday in the medical journal Atherosclerosis, Thrombosis, and Vascular Biology. It relied on medical records from roughly a quarter
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As bird flu outbreak expands in California, dairy farms report it’s worse than they expected
By Brenda Goodman, CNN (CNN) — A third farmworker has tested positive for bird flu in California, according to the state’s health department. If confirmed by the US Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, this would be the 17th human case of H5N1 flu in the US since March, when the virus was first detected
Continue ReadingWhat a doctor wishes women knew about their breasts
By Katia Hetter, CNN (CNN) — It’s time to think about your breasts — not just this month because it’s Breast Cancer Awareness Month, but every month. One in 8 women will be diagnosed with invasive breast cancer in their lifetimes, according to the American Cancer Society. Breast cancer is the second leading cause of cancer death for women in
Continue ReadingBaby Boomers are living longer than previous generations but have worse health, study finds
By Rosa Rahimi, CNN London (CNN) — Baby Boomers may be expected to live longer than their predecessors, but a recent study has found that they are more likely to suffer from worse health than previous generations. Researchers at the University of Oxford and University College London (UCL) found that people born since 1945 have
Continue ReadingWhat this high school senior wants adults to know about classroom phone bans
Personal essay by Mary Frances Ruskell, CNN (CNN) — When my friends and I walked into homeroom on the first day of school this year, my teacher told all of us to put our phones in a black plastic box on an old desk by the classroom door. Handing over our phones during class is
Continue ReadingCDC will start screening travelers from Rwanda to the US for Marburg virus
By Katherine Dillinger, CNN (CNN) — Amid an outbreak of Marburg virus in Rwanda, travelers coming into the United States who have been in Rwanda in the previous 21 days will be screened starting next week, the US Department of Health and Human Services announced Monday. There are no confirmed cases of Marburg virus disease – a
Continue ReadingFDA antidepressant warnings of suicide risk among kids may have the opposite effect, study finds
By Kristen Rogers, CNN (CNN) — The US Food and Drug Administration has warned that antidepressants may be linked with suicidal thoughts and behaviors among youth since 2003, leading to a black box warning for minors in 2005 and an expansion to young adults in 2007. The black box, or boxed, warning refers to a
Continue ReadingWhy a ‘go bag’ can mean the difference between life or death during a disaster
By Matt Villano, CNN (CNN) — When hurricanes bear down, floodwaters rise, wildfires rage and that big earthquake finally strikes, it’s critical that you and your family members are ready to evacuate. Perhaps the most important thing to bring with you: a “go bag” full of emergency supplies. Go bags exist to save you from
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Certain arm positions commonly used for blood pressure checks may lead to inaccurate results. Here’s the right way to do it
By Jacqueline Howard, CNN (CNN) — A new study found that having your arm in the wrong position during blood pressure checks — either at home or the doctor’s office — can result in readings “markedly higher” than when your arm is in the recommended position: appropriately supported on a table with the middle of
Continue ReadingMost of today’s children are unlikely to live to 100, analysis says
By Sandee LaMotte, CNN (CNN) — Gerontologist Jay Olshansky is used to backlash about his views on human longevity. Decades ago he and his coauthors predicted children, on average, would live to only age 85 — only 1% to 5% might survive until their 100th birthday. Many recoiled from his splash of cold reality, Olshansky said,
Continue ReadingFood poisoning dangers are real after severe weather. Here’s how to protect yourself
By AJ Willingham, CNN (CNN) — Hurricanes and other natural disasters often create a cascade of unexpected complications, including extended power and water outages, flooding, mold damage and other emergencies. Now add the increased danger of food poisoning to that list. There is the possibility for a rise in foodborne illnesses like salmonella and E.
Continue ReadingThe cooking method you need to learn to get excited about vegetables this fall, expert says
By Madeline Holcombe, CNN (CNN) — When you think of a meal, are vegetables the forgettable side character or the villain? What if they could be the star of the show? “Eat more vegetables,” doctors and dietitians say over and over. But for many people, it’s hard to do, because they aren’t excited about veggies
Continue ReadingOne change I made to my social media use made a big difference on my mood
By Madeline Holcombe, CNN (CNN) — I was listening to the podcast “The TryPod,” when cohost Zach Kornfeld mentioned he had swapped checking his phone first thing in the morning for a game of pickleball. The switch had made his morning mood so much better, he said. It seemed a passing comment, but it struck
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Fluoride in water prevents some cavities but concern about health risks raises questions about the tradeoffs
By Deidre McPhillips, CNN (CNN) — The public health practice of adding fluoride to water supplies faces new scrutiny as a few recent reports raise concerns about potential health risks and suggest the benefits may not be as significant as they once were. A new report from the Cochrane Collaboration, an independent group that systematically
Continue ReadingTwo California farmworkers test positive for bird flu
By Brenda Goodman, CNN (CNN) — Two farmworkers in California tested positive for H5 bird flu, the US Centers for Disease Control and Prevention confirmed on Thursday. The confirmation came hours after the California Department of Public Health announced the first two presumptive positive cases in humans in the state. Both workers’ specimens were submitted
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