TUESDAY, Dec. 10, 2019 (HealthDay News) -- Despite media stories about a "loneliness epidemic" plaguing the elderly, two new studies find that they feel no more lonely than their peers from past generations.

The studies -- one in the United States, one in the Netherlands -- reached the same basic conclusion: Yes, people tend to feel mo... Full Page

TUESDAY, Dec. 10, 2019 (HealthDay News) -- Eye doctors may someday use "smart" contact lenses to track patients' eye health, early research suggests.

A team of scientists in South Korea has packed incredibly small electronic circuitry, batteries and antennae into a soft contact lens. The goal: to monitor eyes for signs of vision troubl... Full Page

TUESDAY, Dec. 10, 2019 (HealthDay News) -- Makeup is a daily staple for most women, but new research finds that 9 of 10 beauty products may harbor superbugs after they're opened.

Beauty blenders (sponges used to apply foundation or other products to the face), mascara and lip gloss get contaminated with antibiotic-resistant bacteria su... Full Page

TUESDAY, Dec. 10, 2019 (HealthDay News) -- A cheap, century-old drug in most Americans' medicine cabinets -- aspirin -- may come to the rescue for people suffering from migraines, a new study finds.

While there are effective prescription medications, many migraine patients in the United States don't have access to them due to limited a... Full Page

MONDAY, Dec. 9, 2019 (HealthDay News) -- Smoking pot regularly during pregnancy won't do your baby any favors, researchers warn.

They studied sonograms from nearly 450 pregnant women who said they used marijuana daily. The researchers concluded that daily use of the drug is associated with delayed fetal growth, which may increase the r... Full Page

MONDAY, Dec. 9, 2019 (HealthDay News) -- The risk of new superbugs that pose a threat to human health and food crops is much higher than previously thought, new genetic research shows.

There's been an uptick in the number of laboratory studies showing how just one mutation could create highly infectious or "hypervirulent" strains of di... Full Page

MONDAY, Dec. 9, 2019 (HealthDay News) -- Childhood obesity may be linked to changes in brain structure that might result in impulsive kids who struggle with problem-solving, a new study reports.

Overweight and obese children tend to have a thinner prefrontal cortex, a part of the brain associated with decision-making and problem-solvin... Full Page

MONDAY, Dec. 9, 2019 (HealthDay News) -- Only a few people seem able to decipher what most people consider unreadable expressions on cats' faces, researchers find.

These "cat whisperers" can discern subtle differences on feline faces that reveal their mood. Women and people in the veterinary field, but not necessarily cat lovers, are m... Full Page

MONDAY, Dec. 9, 2019 (HealthDay News) -- Many American kids aren't vaccinated against measles before they travel overseas to areas where the disease is endemic, a new study finds.

Nearly 60% of these children hadn't received the measles-mumps-rubella (MMR) vaccination before going abroad. This year, the more than 1,200 cases of me... Full Page

MONDAY, Dec. 9, 2019 (HealthDay News) -- Natural compounds added to marijuana-derived vaping liquid produce toxic chemicals in the vapor that users inhale, a new lab study reports.

The compounds, known as terpenes, are added into pure THC distillations to dilute the product and provide the vapor with aroma and taste, said senior resear... Full Page

MONDAY, Dec. 9, 2019 (HealthDay News) -- Skyrocketing prices and insurance limits are driving many people with diabetes to seek medications and supplies from an underground supply chain, a new study found.

"The cost of insulin, which is required in type 1 diabetes and a subset of type 2 diabetes, has increased substantially over the l... Full Page

MONDAY, Dec. 9, 2019 (HealthDay News) -- Depression is common among lung cancer patients and can damage their quality of life and treatment outcomes, a new study indicates.

The findings suggest that doctors should screen lung cancer patients for depression and refer them for mental health care if necessary, said lead author Barbara And... Full Page

MONDAY, Dec. 9, 2019 (American Heart Association News) -- Don't take Keith Shocklee's word for it when he says he didn't look like someone about to have a heart attack.

Check his photos from last year and you'll find a producer who looks lean, strong and maybe a decade younger than his actual age. Or watch the Facebook video selfie of hi... Full Page

MONDAY, Dec. 9, 2019 (HealthDay News) -- New research suggests that a baby's age may offer clues to sudden unexplained infant death (SUID) -- formerly known as SIDS.

The study identified two unique groups of babies who died from SUID -- one who died within a week of birth, and another who died later on.

"SUID is a term that... Full Page

MONDAY, Dec. 9, 2019 (HealthDay News) -- Playing sports may improve the brain's ability to process sounds, a finding that could lead to new therapies for people who struggle with hearing, researchers report.

"No one would argue against the fact that sports lead to better physical fitness, but we don't always think of brain fitness and ... Full Page

MONDAY, Dec. 9, 2019 (HealthDay News) -- If you are pregnant and live in a rural area of the United States, new research shows that you're at higher risk of life-threatening complications or death during or after childbirth.

"Our study suggests that geographic disparities may put rural women at an increased risk of requiring lifesaving... Full Page

SATURDAY, Dec. 7, 2019 (HealthDay News) -- Prescription-grade CBD may help control hard-to-treat seizures caused by a rare genetic disorder, a preliminary study suggests.

The study involved 224 patients with tuberous sclerosis complex (TSC) -- a genetic condition that affects about one in 6,000 people, accor... Full Page

SATURDAY, Dec. 7, 2019 (HealthDay News) -- If you can tackle a tough workout, that may bode well for your longevity, new research suggests.

A woman's risk of dying from heart disease, cancer or other causes is much lower if she can engage in vigorous exercise, scientists report.

The new study included more than 4,700 middle-a... Full Page

FRIDAY, Dec. 6, 2019 (HealthDay News) -- A healthy lifestyle might be your best defense against cancer, an expert says.

About 42% of cancer cases and 45% of cancer deaths are attributable to modifiable risk factors, according to the American Cancer Society.

"Modifiable risk factors are behaviors within one's control, ... Full Page

FRIDAY, Dec. 6, 2019 (HealthDay News) -- If you have a neurological disorder, a video chat with your doctor might be as good as an office visit for checking on your condition.

That's the conclusion of researchers who analyzed 101 studies on telemedicine use for concussion, traumatic brain injury, dementia, epilepsy, headache, multiple ... Full Page