Loneliness a leading cause of depression in older adults

Loneliness is responsible for 18% of depression among people over 50 in England, according to a new study led by UCL researchers.

'Diseases of despair' have soared over past decade in US

'Diseases of despair', such as substance abuse, alcohol dependency, and suicidal thoughts and behaviors, have soared in the US over the past decade, reveals an analysis of health insurance claims data published in the online journal BMJ Open.

Severe COVID-19 infection rare in newborns

Severe COVID-19 infection appears rare in newborn babies, suggests a new study.

Think 'virtual' for family gatherings during the holidays

(HealthDay)—Virtual gatherings are the best choice for family get-togethers this holiday season, an expert says.

Acute exposure to higher ozone levels linked to higher risk of cardiac arrest

Exposure to higher ozone concentrations in the air is significantly associated with a higher risk of out-of-hospital cardiac arrest (OHCA), according to preliminary research to be presented at the American Heart Association's Resuscitation Science Symposium 2020.

Serious disparities in care and outcomes found among Black and non-white heart patients

Adults from underrepresented racial groups who have acute heart blockages and cardiac arrests received fewer early interventions, had longer hospital stays and higher death rates than their white counterparts, according to preliminary research to be presented at the American Heart Association's Resuscitation Science Symposium 2020.

Russia sees record surge in virus cases

Russia registered a record number of new coronavirus infections on Monday with cases in Moscow surpassing a previous high set in May.

iPhone contractor in China admits student labor law contraventions

A Taiwan company crucial for the production of iPhones for tech giant Apple admitted Monday that working conditions for some students employed at a factory in China contravened agreed labor terms.

Lung symptoms common among users of e-cigarettes and related products

One-third of people using e-cigarettes or related products reported symptoms associated with lung or respiratory tract impact or injury, according to an analysis of a 2016 national survey, to be presented at the American Heart Association's Scientific Sessions 2020.

Researchers find link between food insecurity and cardiovascular death risk

Food insecurity is one of the nation's leading health and nutrition issues—about 13.7 million (10.5 percent) of households in the United States were food insecure at some time during 2019, a trend likely to increase in light of the COVID-19 pandemic. According to preliminary research conducted by researchers at Penn Medicine, increasing rates of food insecurity in counties across the United States are independently associated with an increase in cardiovascular death rates among adults between the ages of 20 and 64.

New medication may treat underlying causes of hypertrophic cardiomyopathy

The new, investigational heart medication mavacamten may improve key structural abnormalities of obstructive hypertrophic cardiomyopathy, a condition characterized by thickened heart muscle that obstructs pumping of blood through the heart, according to research from the Phase 3 EXPLORER-HCM trial, to be presented at the American Heart Association's Scientific Sessions 2020.

Biden to name virus team as worldwide cases top 50 million

The global tally of people infected by the coronavirus shot past 50 million on Monday, as United States President-elect Joe Biden geared up to name the scientists who will lead the country's response to its disastrous outbreak.

Virgin's Hyperloop carries passengers for the first time

The Virgin Hyperloop made its first journey carrying passengers Sunday, in a test the company claimed represented a major step forward for the "groundbreaking" technology capable of transporting people at 1,000 kilometers (620 miles) an hour.

Fresh off election victory, Biden turns to virus response

As he begins his transition to the presidency, Joe Biden is pivoting from a bitter campaign battle to another, more pressing fight: reining in the pandemic that has hit the world's most powerful nation harder than any other.

Prescriptions of antipsychotic medications in young children is declining

The use of antipsychotics in young children is declining but doctors continue to prescribe these medications off-label for conditions not approved by the Food and Drug Administration and without the recommended psychiatric consultation, a Rutgers study found.

More economic worries mean less caution about COVID-19

Workers experiencing job and financial insecurity are less likely to follow the CDC's guidelines for COVID-19, such as physical distancing, limiting trips from home and washing hands, according to a Washington State University study.

E-cigarettes can be 'gateway' to cigarettes for teens with no prior intention to smoke

Cigarette smoking remains a leading preventable cause of morbidity and mortality in the United States. And while adolescent cigarette smoking has declined over the past several decades, e-cigarette use presents a new risk for nicotine use disorder. a new study, published Nov. 9 in the journal Pediatrics, finds that e-cigarette use is associated with a higher risk of cigarette smoking among adolescents who had no prior intention of taking up conventional smoking. These findings have strong implications for practice and policy, researches say.

New cancer drugs saved over 1.2 million people in the US over 16 years, new study shows

More than 1.2 million people in the US prevented facing death following a cancer diagnosis, between the year 2000 and 2016, thanks to ever improving treatment options—a large new national study shows.

People with inflammatory bowel disease still die earlier despite increase in life

A study comparing life expectancy of people with inflammatory bowel disease (IBD) and without found that, while life expectancy increased for both groups, people with IBD generally died sooner. The study is published in CMAJ (Canadian Medical Association Journal).

Study examines health literacy and shared decision-making in prostate cancer screening

New research examines the dynamics between men's health literacy, their discussions with their doctors, and their decisions on whether to get tested for prostate-specific antigen (PSA), a potential marker of prostate cancer. The findings are published early online in Cancer, a peer-reviewed journal of the American Cancer Society (ACS).