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Health News Results - 83

Millions of Americans use the opioid-like herbal supplement known as kratom, but evidence of its dangers continue to mount.

The U.S. Food and Drug Administration has issued another alert ...

An additional cinnamon product sold in the United States has been found to contain high levels of lead, health officials are warning.

In a health alert issued Thursday, the U.S. Food and Drug Administration said the ...

The rate at which young Americans are ending up in hospital ICUs after using fake Oxycontin pills spiked with fentanyl is soaring, especially in the U.S. West, a new report warns.

Medical toxicology data from one unnamed hospital in the western U.S. found the number of cases involving overdoses involving fake "M-30" Oxycontin pills rose from just three in 2017 to 209 during 2022, accordin...

Researchers report they have discovered lead and arsenic in a wide variety of tampon products sold in the United States and Europe. 

Testing revealed lead in all 30 tampons from 14 brands obtained from major online retailers and stores in the U.S., the U.K. and Greece, according to a study published July 3 in the journal

  • Robin Foster HealthDay Reporter
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  • July 8, 2024
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  • The number of people severely sickened after consuming mushroom edibles sold as Diamond Shruumz-brand chocolate bars, cones or gummies has risen, the U.S. Food and Drug Administration said Tuesday.

    "As of June 17, 2024, a total of 26 illnesses have been reported from 16 states," the FDA noted in an

  • Ernie Mundell HealthDay Reporter
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  • June 19, 2024
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  • After helping America through one of its worst tragedies, some responders to the events of 9/11 may now face another foe: Heightened risks for dementia.

    A new study looks at the health of thousands of firemen, construction workers and others who worked at the World Trade Center (WTC) si...

    The number of people severely sickened after consuming mushroom edibles sold as Diamond Shruumz-brand Chocolate Bars, Cones or Gummies has risen, the U.S. Food and Drug Administration said Tuesday.

    As of Monday, "a total of 12 illnesses have been reported from eight states," the FDA noted in an

  • Ernie Mundell HealthDay Reporter
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  • June 12, 2024
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  • In an effort to keep medical debt from destroying credit scores, the Biden administration announced Tuesday that it is moving ahead with a proposal that would remove health care bills from consideration in credit checks.

    Along with making it easier for folks to rent an apartment, get a mortgage or buy a car, the proposed rule would prevent lenders from repossessing medical devices like wh...

    Growing public fascination with "magic"psilocybin mushrooms as a trendy treatment for depression had led to increased interest in another type of psychedelic mushroom, a new study reports.

    Unfortunately, this second sort of shroom -- known as Amanita muscaria -- can be more toxic than fentanyl, cocaine and PCP, researchers say.

    Marketing the two types of mushrooms as essent...

    A potential human-specific antidote to black widow spider venom has been discovered, researchers report.

    They have identified an antibody that effectively neutralizes black widow venom in lab tests of cell cultures, according to a study published June 12 in the journal Frontiers in Immunology.

    This antibody, or one...

    The U.S. Food and Drug Administration is warning Americans to avoid Diamond Shruumz-brand Microdosing Chocolate Bars, after numerous people have been made sick after consuming them.

    Eight severe illnesses related to the edibles have been reported as of Friday in Arizona (four cases), Indiana (two cases), Nevada and Pennsylvania (one case each).

    "All eight people have reported seekin...

    America's poison control centers are increasingly fielding calls on cases of deliberate or accidental poisonings that end in disability or death, a new report finds.

    Researchers at the University of Virginia Health System reviewed more than 33.7 million poison exposures reported to the 55 poison centers in the United States between 2007 and the end of 2021. 

    Over that time, the...

    As an epidemic of drug abuse cuts it way through America, none are left unharmed, even the very young.

    New data finds that the rate of infants dying from drug-related reasons more than doubled between 2018 and 2022.

    In 2018, 10.8% of all deaths to babies under 1 year of age were linked to drugs. Four years later that had risen by 120%, to 24.4% of fatalities, according to research...

    The legalization of cannabis and the popularity of its edible versions is having an unexpected effect: More seniors landing in emergency departments with overdoses.

    A new Canadian study found "cannabis poisonings" in the province of Ontario tripled among older users after edibles became legal, compared to the pre-legalization era.

    "Overall, this study shows the health outcomes of ca...

    A toxin found in paint strippers that's responsible for 85 U.S. deaths over the past five decades will be phased out for many uses, under an Environmental Protection Agency rule finalized Tuesday.

    The cancer-causing solvent methylene chloride will still hav...

    Chemicals found in common household products might damage the brain's wiring, a new study warns.

    These chemicals -- found in disinfectants, cleaners, hair products, furniture and textiles -- could be linked to degenerative brain diseases like multiple sclerosis and autism, researchers report.

    The chemicals specifically affect the brain's oligodendrocytes, a specialized type of cell ...

    More than two-thirds of Chicago kids younger than 6 live in homes with tap water tainted by lead, a new analysis says.

    There are detectable levels of lead in the drinking water supplied to 68% of young children in the Windy City, say researchers with the Johns Hopkins Bloomberg School of Pub...

    As more Americans pop over-the-counter melatonin to help them sleep, their young children are increasingly showing up in ERs after accidentally ingesting the supplements.

    A new report of data from 2012 through 2021 finds a 420% rise in such cases during that time, along with a 530% inc...

    A "universal"antivenom can block the lethal toxins in the venoms of a wide variety of poisonous snakes found in Africa, Asia and Australia, researchers report.

    The antibody protected mice from the normally deadly venom of snakes like black mambas and king cobras, according to findings published Feb. 21 in the journal ...

    A company in Ecuador that processed the cinnamon used in flavored applesauce pouches destined for the American market is the likely source of lead contamination in those products, U.S. investigators said.

    In an update to its investigatio...

    Radon, an invisible, naturally occurring radioactive gas, appears to raise a person's risk of stroke, a new study suggests.

    Already known as the second leading cause of lung cancer, these new findings suggest exposure to radon can increase risk of stroke by as much as 14%, according to a report published Jan. 31 in the journal Neurology.

    "Our research found an increased ris...

    Reiterating a warning first issued in November, the U.S. Food and Drug Administration is urging Americans to stay away from supplements containing tianeptine, known on the street as "gas station heroin."

    The supplements, sold under the brand name Neptune's Fix online and at gas stations and convenience stores, can cause seizures, unconsciousness and even death.

    "FDA is warning consu...

    The health dangers posed by colorful detergent pods continues to plague young children, a new study warns.

    U.S. poison control centers still receive one call every 44 minutes about a young child who's been harmed through exposure to a liquid laundry detergent pod, researchers report.

    The steady stream of calls is evidence that voluntary standards adopted by detergent manufacturers i...

    With blizzards and possible power outages threatening much of America this week, some dangers might not be immediately obvious: carbon monoxide poisoning, fires and electric shock.

    "I urge consumers to follow CPSC's safety tips to prepare ahead of storms to prevent loss of life in a storm's aftermath," said Alex Hoeh...

    Applesauce fruit puree pouches under recall and investigation for toxic lead levels may also contain another toxin, chromium, according to an update released Friday by the U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA).

    The products under recall are Wana...

    Tejocote weight-loss supplements sold through online through Amazon or Etsy could contain a highly toxic substance, the U.S. Food and Drug Administration is warning.

    FDA tests revealed that capsules labeled as tejocote instead contained yellow oleander, a poisonous plant native to Mexico and Central America.

    The FDA found yellow oleander in nine different products labeled as tejocot...

    The U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) proposes to ban a cancer-causing chemical commonly used as a furniture cleaner and degreaser.

    The ban would prohibit most uses of trichloroethylene (TCE) within one year. Limited remaining commercial and industrial uses would be phased out over a longer period and would require stringent worker protections.

    "Today, EPA is taking a vital...

    That beautiful park you walk through could be hiding dangerous levels of lead. So, too, could the soil under the play equipment where your children slide and swing.

    New research in the United States finds that urban parks built on sites where waste was incinerated could be hotspots for lead.

    "We found that city parks and playgrounds built on the site of a former waste incinera...

    Marijuana users may be building up high levels of toxic metals in their blood, a new study suggests.

    According to researchers, people who use marijuana exclusively have significant levels of lead and cadmium in their bodies. These are the same toxic metals found in some cigarette smokers.

    Marijuana is the world's third most commonly used drug, behind tobacco and alcohol.

    "Like...

    Hurricane Idalia is expected to make landfall in the United States Wednesday.

    Idalia was forecast to be a powerful Category 3 storm by the time it reaches Florida's Big Bend, an area prone to storm surge that stretches from Tampa to just south of Tallahassee. It's also expected to hit eastern parts of Georgia and the Carolinas before heading out to sea late Thursday or early Friday.

    Brightly colored "edibles" can be tempting for young kids and are more widely available now that many U.S. states have legalized cannabis for recreational and medical use.

    Unfortunately, it doesn't take much of an edible to make a small child very sick, new research finds, which may explain an uptick in hospitalizations of kids poisoned by cannabis.

    "There are many studies demo...

    One source of lead exposure in children may surprise you.

    It's secondhand smoke, according to a Texas A&M University study.

    "Further research will likely paint a clearer picture of this exposure route, especially in younger children, but the findings ...

    Despite what you see on TikTok, don't consume the laundry powder borax to relieve pain and inflammation or boost bone health.

    Even though videos on the social media site tout it as a treatment, this substance is not safe to consume and could cause kidney failure and multi-organ damage, one expert says.

    Dr....

    In recent years, the legalization of both medical and recreational marijuana has become the new normal across much of North America.

    The problem: New research finds that as legalization has spread, so have cases of cannabis poisoning.

    "We did a systematic review of published studies reporting on what happened to the rates of poisoning after legalization or decriminalization,"ex...

    The number of cases of vape product-related poisonings reported to America's poison control centers doubled between 2018 and early 2023, a new report finds.

    The bulk of those cases were in kids under the age of 5.

    "The public should be aware that e-cigarettes have the potential to cause poisoning exposure and are a continuing public health concern,"warned a team of researcher...

    Some furniture fabrics are coated with questionable PFAS compounds -- often called 'forever chemicals' -- to repel stains, but a new study suggests they may not even do the job they're supposed to.

    The chemicals, widely believed to have a negative impact on human health, don't seem to keep furniture any more or less stain-resistant than untreated fabric, according to a new study.

    A new report from the U.S. Consumer Product Safety Commission (CPSC) reveals deaths from carbon monoxide poisoning are increasing in the United States.

    The report looked at carbon monoxide (CO) deaths from 2009 to 2019, finding 250 consumer product-related CO deaths in 2019, more than any other year.

    Generators and other engine-driven tools accounted for the largest percentage ...

    Opioids pose the greatest poison risk to children in the United States, accounting for more than half of poisoning deaths in infants and toddlers, a new study reports.

    About 52% of poisoning deaths of children aged 5 and younger in 2018 involved the ingestion of an opioid, according to findings published online March 8 in the journal

  • Dennis Thompson HealthDay Reporter
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  • March 8, 2023
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  • Parents in the United States may assume baby food is free of impurities, but a recent research review highlights the much different reality: Most foods made for babies and toddlers have some amount of toxic heavy metals.

    The contaminants include metals, such as lead and arsenic, that can harm brain development, and contribute to learning and behavior problems in children. And they are fou...

    Black and Hispanic women who work as hairdressers are exposed to an array of chemicals, including many that have not been previously identified, a small study finds.

    Researchers found that compared with women of color in office jobs, hair stylists had higher levels of various chemicals in their urine. Those substances included expected ones -- ingredients known to be in salon products -- ...

    Carbon monoxide is a silent, odorless killer, but even during winter heating season, it's possible to stay safe.

    This dangerous gas is produced when fuels burn incompletely.

    This can happen in furnaces, both gas- and wood-burning fireplaces, space heaters and vehicles that burn fossil fuel. It's also possible in water heaters, gas clothes dryers and stoves, as well as other equipmen...

    While U.S. policymakers have attempted to lower lead exposure among children since the 1970s, new research finds that kids living near airports are still being exposed to dangerous levels of the heavy metal.

    "Across an ensemble of tests, we find consistent evidence that the blood lead levels of children residing near the airport are pushed upward by the deposition of leaded aviation gaso...

    People should test for the naturally occurring radioactive gas radon in their homes to help prevent ill health, the American Lung Association urges.

    In some areas, like the state of Connecticut, radon was found to be present at high levels in a quarter (26%) of all homes.

    Radon is emitted from the ground and can enter a house through floor cracks, basement walls and foundations.

    ...

    As more U.S. states legalize marijuana, the number of preschoolers accidentally eating cannabis "edibles" is rising in tandem, a new study shows.

    In the past five years, U.S. poison control centers have witnessed a whopping 14-fold increase in calls about youngsters who got their hands on marijuana edibles.

    In 2017, there were just 207 cases reported nationally. By 2021, that had b...

    U.S. communities with higher Hispanic, American Indian or Black populations also have the highest concentrations of metal in public water systems, new research reveals.

    Researchers from Columbia University Mailman School of Public Health in New York City found significantly higher arsenic and uranium levels in public drinking water in Hispanic and American Indian/Alaska Native communities...

    Winter weather brings with it plenty of hazards, including risks from carbon monoxide poisoning, and fires.

    But the U.S. Consumer Product Safety Commission (CPSC) offers suggestions for staying safe on those cold winter nights.

    When storms knock out power...

    Parents whose toddlers use certain Green Sprouts bottles or cups need to discard them immediately because of a risk of lead exposure, the U.S. Consumer Product Safety Commission (CPSC) warns.

    When the base of the cups come apart, it exposes a solder dot that contains lead, according to a

  • Cara Murez HealthDay Reporter
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  • November 28, 2022
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  • Increasing numbers of young children are showing up in emergency rooms after accidentally ingesting the cough suppressant benzonatate, U.S. health officials reported Tuesday.

    Benzonatate is a non-narcotic cough suppressant first approved by the U.S. Food and Drug Administration in 1958 for children ages 10 and up. It works by reducing the cough reflex in the lungs and airways.

    "Benz...

    Lead is known to damage young children's brains, and a new study suggests the effects may still be apparent in old age.

    Researchers found that among nearly 1,100 older U.S. adults, those who grew up in cities with lead-contaminated drinking water generally scored worse on tests of memory and thinking skills.

    The findings, experts said, suggest that older adults who were exposed to l...

    Getting into prescription or over-the-counter medicines at home is a major source of accidental poisoning for young children.

    Yet, nearly half of parents say they have leftover prescriptions at home, a new poll shows.

    "We found that it's common for parents to keep m...