Category: Health alert
Britain says tests on suspected MERS cases prove negative
Tests on two people in Britain suspected of being infected with Middle Eastern Respiratory Virus Syndrome (MERS) have proved negative, hospital officials said on Tuesday. Concerns about the suspected cases had forced a hospital in northern England to shut briefly […]
Insulin resistance might increase Alzheimer’s risk
Insulin resistance may increase the risk for Alzheimer’s disease by depriving the brain of sugar needed for normal cognition, a small study suggests. “By altering insulin resistance in midlife, it may be possible to reduce future risk of Alzheimer’s,” said […]
How ‘healthy’ grocery stores could make you gain weight
You’re standing in the aisle of the local health food store, scratching your head, trying to buy some cookies. Should you go with the certified organic, fair-trade, extra-virgin selection? Or the hormone-free, non-GMO, ancient-grain option? Or should you just go […]
Artificial sweeteners not conclusively better than sugar
A New York Times article proclaimed on Monday that, based on scientific evidence, artificial sweeteners are safer to consume than sugar. But experts say only part of the story is being told here. (Photo: Getty Images) You’ve heard it repeatedly: […]
Family, peers influence teens’ e-cigarette use
Teens are more likely to use electronic cigarettes if their friends and family view them as cool or acceptable, a new study suggests. E-cigarettes, first introduced in China in 2004, are battery-powered devices that let users inhale nicotine-infused vapors. “There […]
Two drinks per day may be harmful to elderly hearts
Elderly people who drank two or more alcoholic drinks per day had hearts with thicker walls and larger pumping chambers, and possibly reduced heart function, researchers say. Alcohol may protect against problems like heart attacks, said senior author Dr. Scott […]
New study backs risk estimate for contraceptive pills
The broadest study of its kind on Wednesday backed estimates that newer kinds of contraceptive pills carry a higher risk of dangerous blood clots. But it also confirmed past advice that the risk is very low in real terms and […]
Toxic co-workers linked to worse mental health for college students
Working college students were more likely to have mental health problems if they had toxic relationships with co-workers than if they were on friendly terms with colleagues in a small new U.S. study. “If you think about a typical 24-hour […]
Soybean oil leads to weight gain
Sugar has been blasted in recent years for its link to obesity and a slew of health problems, but now experts say the food world has a new problem child: Soybean oil. Soybean oil, considered a “healthier” alternative to some […]
Health specialists call for US$2 billion global fund for vaccines
Global health experts called on Wednesday for the creation of a US$2 billion vaccine development fund to feed a pipeline of potential new shots against priority killer diseases like Ebola, MERS and the West Nile virus. The fund would help […]
