health
- WellnessRachel Grumman Bender
Bill requiring prescription for most sunscreens called 'terrible' idea by experts
A Florida state senator proposed a bill requiring a prescription for most sunscreens – but some experts say it could lead to people not using sunscreen, upping the risk of skin cancer.
- WellnessAssociated Press
Judge blocks Michigan's ban on flavored e-cigarettes
A Michigan judge temporarily blocked the state's weeks-old ban on flavored e-cigarettes Tuesday, saying it may force adults to return to smoking more harmful tobacco products and has irreparably hurt vaping businesses. Court of Claims Judge Cynthia Stephens put the prohibition on hold until "further order of this court." The preliminary injunction will be appealed by Gov. Gretchen Whitmer, who ordered the creation of the emergency rules in a bid to combat the epidemic of teen vaping.
- LifestyleRachel Grumman Bender
Record-high STD rates in Hawaii linked to online dating — why apps may be making sex less safe
STDs across the U.S. are on the rise. Hawaii says that the prevalence of online dating is playing a role.
- WellnessKorin Miller
How to get your kids excited about washing their hands
Kids, like adults, need to wash their hands a lot. Here are simple tips to get your children excited about handwashing.
- WellnessKorin Miller
You’re probably washing your hands all wrong. Here's the right way, according to experts.
It seems silly that you’d need a refresher on how to do something you’ve been doing for years, but it’s important to do it right.
- FinanceAdriana Belmonte
'A victim of their own success': How vaccines became a casualty of misinformation in the U.S.
Measles was declared eliminated in 2000, but it's making a comeback due to widespread misinformation about vaccines.
- LifestyleRachel Grumman Bender
Is sleeping too much putting your health at risk?
When it comes to sleep, many people are not getting enough, but as it turns out, getting too much can be a sign of an underlying health issue.
- LifestyleAndie Mitchell
‘I really lost my way’: How one woman lost 100 pounds and got into the best shape of her life
Marissa Schillaci-Kayton's family inspired her to lose 100 pounds: "They deserve to live in a world where my health and well-being is not something they have to worry about," she says.
- WellnessTanya Edwards
Balding, hair loss could be tied to air pollution, new research says
Interesting news for those struggling with hair loss!
- WellnessTime
The Toll Mounts From a Mystery Disease Some Call "The New Polio"
Carter Roberts’ motorized wheelchair didn’t arrive until the day he died. It had been a long time coming and his parents had fought hard to…
- LifestyleRachel Grumman Bender
How long can meth residue contaminate a house?
Homes contaminated by methamphetamines — either by previous owners cooking or smoking it — is an “increasing public health problem," according to a new study.
- LifestyleAndie Mitchell
How one man lost 135 pounds after doctor said he was morbidly obese: ‘The word morbid shook me to the core’
For Eric Hunnicutt, a trip to the doctor left him "frightened" after being classified as "morbidly obese." But it also motivated him to lose 135 pounds.
- WellnessBeth Greenfield
What to say — and not say — when a friend tells you, 'I have breast cancer'
Try to think of these nuggets of wisdom as suggestions — not as edicts or threats designed to freak you into silence. Most people just want to know that you’re there, and that you care.
- WellnessPriscilla Blossom
Legionnaires' outbreak in North Carolina linked to state fair — what you need to know about the disease
More than 100 attendees at the North Carolina Mountain State Fair contracted Legionnaires’ disease. What should attendees and others know about Legionnaires’ disease in order to protect themselves?
- WellnessRachel Grumman Bender
Researchers discover a way to produce promising drug from mushrooms to treat depression
Psilocybin, an ingredient in "magic mushrooms," is a promising treatment for depression. Researchers have now found a more affordable, faster way to produce it.
- WellnessKorin Miller
'Embrace the mess': Why this mom of 3 believes getting outdoors is key to 'disconnecting' from screens
It can be a challenge to keep young kids busy and engaged, and no one knows that better than Ginger Parrish. “Getting outside keeps us from going insane,” Parrish tells Yahoo Lifestyle. “We’ve found a lot of peace outside.”
- WellnessKate Bratskeir
3 signs it’s time to change your pet’s food
Age isn’t the only factor that can affect your pet’s diet. Here's are the signs to look out for if you're thinking about making a switch to your dog or cat's food.
- LifestyleThe New York Times
New York Says End of AIDS Epidemic Is Near
ALBANY, N.Y. -- There was a time when the diagnosis of HIV was a death sentence, when thousands of New Yorkers, primarily gay men, succumbed to AIDS-related illnesses, and the end of the epidemic seemed both medically and mentally impossible.On Wednesday, however, Gov. Andrew M. Cuomo declared that New York is on track to meet its goal to end the AIDS epidemic in the state by 2020.After decades of fearsome infection rates, the state in 2018 had just 2,481 new diagnoses of the virus that causes AIDS, a drop of 11% from the previous year, and 28% less than 2014, when the state began its initiative.The governor's three-pronged plan to combat AIDS is centered around identifying, tracking and treating people with HIV infection, including using pre-exposure prophylaxis, or PrEP, drugs that can drastically reduce the risk of contracting HIV through unprotected sex.The governor said some 32,000 New Yorkers were now using PrEP, an increase of 32% since 2017."This new data shows we are on track to meet that goal and continue our historic progress to finally bend the curve on an epidemic that has taken too many lives for too long," Cuomo said in a statement.Experts in the field say that the progress being made in New York -- particularly in New York City, long an epicenter of infection -- is the result of a number of factors, including the use of PrEP and the ease of antiretroviral drugs, which suppress levels of HIV."Those two things together have been a revolution," said Jen Kates, director of global health and HIV policy at the Kaiser Family Foundation in Washington.In particular, Kates said that the state and the city had embraced rapid initiation of antiretroviral treatment for those diagnosed with HIV, sometimes on the same day as a positive test result.The new data from New York -- where AIDS cases have been reported since 1981 -- is striking when compared to the terrifying early days of the disease, when many otherwise healthy young gay men and others were stricken and died. State health officials say they believe they are on track to lower the number of new HIV diagnoses to a little more than 1,500 per year by 2020.They are also seeking to get the estimated number of people infected every year -- a term known as incidence -- below the number of annual deaths, a metric that officials have said would signal an end of the epidemic.At the same time that New York and cities like San Francisco have made major inroads in fighting AIDS, national health officials have been troubled by a leveling-off in HIV prevention efforts, including in some rural areas and southern states.A February report from the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention showed that rates of infection between 2010 and 2016 had remained stable among gay and bisexual men, who make up more than two-thirds of new infections, with a marked increase among Latino men.New York City officials say the strides there have been remarkable: In 2000, AIDS-related illnesses were the third leading cause of premature mortality. In 2017, the disease had fallen to 10th on that list.Dr. Oxiris Barbot, the commissioner of the city's Department of Health and Mental Hygiene, said the continued declines in HIV infections was a result of a coordinated "data-driven, sex-positive approach.""It's been part of our effort at chipping away at the stigma," Barbot said, adding, "Not only are we seeing decreasing numbers of New Yorkers newly diagnosed with HIV, but they are living long and thriving lives."This article originally appeared in The New York Times.(C) 2019 The New York Times Company
- LifestyleRachel Grumman Bender
Bernie Sanders hospitalized for blocked artery, stent procedure — here’s what recovery will look like
After experiencing chest pains during a campaign event in Las Vegas, presidential candidate Bernie Sanders was treated by doctors for a blocked artery and had two stents inserted.
- LifestyleRachel Grumman Bender
Is there any science behind ‘the Labor Inducer’ burger?
Pregnant women who are ready to go into labor are eating this Minneapolis restaurant's spicy burger called "the Labor Inducer." But could eating such foods actually induce labor?
- WellnessKorin Miller
Is grain-free dog food bad? A vet explains the pros and cons of this trendy diet
If you follow a low-carb diet, it’s only natural to wonder if it’s a good idea for your pet to do the same. After all, you feel good going grain-free... wouldn’t your dog feel better too?
- LifestyleMegan Johnson
Subway employee fired after video shows counters being cleaned with a mop
A Chicago Subway restaurant is up and running again after it was reportedly shut down over the incident.
- LifestyleRachel Grumman Bender
Tests on black market marijuana vape pens reveal contaminants, including pesticides
NBC News hired a lab to test THC vaping pens from both legal distributors and black market sources. They found "deeply troubling" results, including lung-damaging chemicals in the counterfeit cartridges.
- LifestyleRachel Grumman Bender
CDC says it’s flu vaccine time — here’s what you need to know
Get your tissues ready — flu season is coming. The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention recommends getting the flu vaccine by late October.
- LifestyleAbby Haglage
CDC reports 52 percent increase in vaping-related illnesses amid shakeup at Juul
As the CEO of Juul steps down, the principal director of the CDC is warning about the dangers of the "nicotine salts" it contains.
