New pediatric obesity program makes treatment more accessible
Pediatric obesity remains a serious health problem in the United States, where one in five children are affected. The U.S. Preventive Services Task Force now recommends that pediatricians screen for obesity during primary care visits and refer families to behavioral intervention programs. While there is growing interest in providing these services, accessibility continues to challenge […]
High Hopes: Optimism Helps Women Live Longer
Latest Mental Health News By Cara Murez HealthDay Reporter WEDNESDAY, June 15, 2022 (HealthDay News) The key to a long life may be your attitude. Researchers at Harvard studied the impact of optimism on women’s lifespans, finding that optimism was associated with greater longevity, such as living past age 90. Lead study author Hayami Koga, […]
Obamacare May Have Helped Lower Suicide Rates
Latest Mental Health News THURSDAY, June 16, 2022 (HealthDay News) Suicide rates are rising more slowly in states that have expanded Medicaid under the Affordable Care Act (ACA), a new study finds. “Suicide is a public health problem, and our findings indicate that increasing access to health care — including mental health care — by […]
Youth Drinking, Pot Use Went Down During Pandemic
Latest Mental Health News THURSDAY, June 16, 2022 (HealthDay News) The COVID-19 pandemic changed kids’ lives in many respects, and sometimes for the better. Pot use, drinking, smoking and vaping all fell among U.S. youth, likely because they had to spend more time at home and less time with their friends, researchers say. The findings […]
Weekend Binge Drinking: Not as Harmless as You Think
Latest Mental Health News By Amy Norton HealthDay Reporter MONDAY, June 13, 2022 (HealthDay News) Many may consider an episode of binge drinking — defined as 5 or more drinks on one occasion — as just being harmless fun. But a new study suggests that even moderate drinkers who indulge in binge drinking can suffer […]
Stress Can Age, Weaken Your Immune System
Latest Mental Health News By Steven Reinberg HealthDay Reporter TUESDAY, June 14, 2022 (HealthDay News) Stress may take a huge toll on your health, weakening your immune system and opening the door to serious illness, a new study suggests. Traumatic events, job strain, daily stressors and discrimination may all speed aging of the immune system, […]
For 911 Calls, Are Mental Health Specialists Often the Better Choice?
Latest Mental Health News By Amy Norton HealthDay Reporter MONDAY, June 13, 2022 (HealthDay News) One American city’s “radical” approach to handling low-level 911 calls — sending mental health professionals rather than police — may have taken a bite out of crime, a new study finds. The study evaluated Denver’s STAR program, which removed police […]
Prediabetes May Be an Independent Risk Factor for MI
Even prediabetes seemed to spell bad news for heart health, according to a national inpatient sample study. Prediabetes — defined as an Hba1c between 5.7% to 6.4% — among hospitalized patients was associated with 41% higher odds for myocardial infarction (MI, OR 1.41, 95% CI 1.35-1.47) in a general model, reported Geethika Thota, MBBS, of […]
Brain Changes May Be Hallmark of Anorexia
Latest Mental Health News FRIDAY, June 10, 2022 (HealthDay News) People with anorexia nervosa show significant shrinkage in three important areas of the brain, new research reveals. The researchers said their study findings highlight the importance of early treatment, to prevent long-term structural brain changes in people with the eating and mental health disorder. The […]
Growing ‘mortality gap’ detected between Democratic and Republican counties
A new study highlights how closely connected politics and health outcomes have grown over time. Investigators from Brigham and Women’s Hospital examined mortality rates and federal and state election data for all counties in the U.S. from 2001 to 2019. The team found what they call a “mortality gap” — a widening difference between age-adjusted […]