Tips to Staying Germ-Free at the Gym

Going to the gym is good for your overall health, but if you and the gym aren't practicing good hygiene you could still catch a nasty illness, an expert says.

“Good hygiene prevents sicknesses like a cold, influenza and even salmonella, but cleanliness can also indicate that a gym is well-maintained overall, including the quality of equi...

About 1 in 8 Americans Has Been Diagnosed With Chronic Insomnia

Millions of Americans struggle to fall or stay asleep, a new survey finds.

Some struggle more mightily than others: Roughly 12% of Americans polled said they have been diagnosed with chronic insomnia, the American Academy of Sleep Medicine (AASM) survey revealed.

Who was the most likely to miss out on good sleep? Men (13%) were slig...

Unsafe Neighborhoods Could Drive Up Smoking Rates

It may sound far-fetched, but new research suggests that living in dangerous neighborhoods could trigger an unintended health harm: higher smoking rates among residents.

"High levels of neighborhood threat shape perceptions of powerlessness among residents, amplifying a general sense of mistrust, that can promote maladaptive coping behavio...

Fourth Dairy Worker Infected With Bird Flu, but CDC Says Public Risk Still Low

Amid an ongoing outbreak of bird flu in dairy cows, a fourth case of H5N1 avian flu has been confirmed in another dairy worker, U.S. health officials reported Wednesday.

The latest case was reported in Colorado, the U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) said in a news release.

"As with previous cases, the person is a ...

GLP-1 Drugs Ozempic, Wegovy Linked to Rare Blinding Condition

Trendy weight-loss drugs appear to increase the risk of a rare and potentially blinding eye condition, a new study warns.

People with diabetes prescribed semaglutide (Ozempic, Wegovy) were more than four times more likely to be diagnosed with NAION, researchers reported July 3 in the journal JAMA Ophthalmology.

Further, tho...

Gratitude May Bring Longer Life

People who are grateful for what they have tend to live longer, a new study reports.

Older women who scored highest on a questionnaire measuring gratitude had a 9% lower risk of premature death from any cause, compared to those with the least gratitude, according to findings published July 3 in the journal JAMA Psychiatry.

T...

FDA Bans Food Additive Found in Sports Drinks, Sodas

A regulation allowing the use of brominated vegetable oil in food was revoked Tuesday by the U.S. Food and Drug Administration after the agency concluded the additive was unsafe for human consumption.

Brominated vegetable oil (BVO) contains bromine, which is found in fire retardants. Small quantities of BVO have been used legally in some c...

FDA Warns of 48 Illnesses, One Death Linked to Diamond Shruumz Edibles

The U.S. Food and Drug Administration said Tuesday it is now investigating nearly 50 illnesses and one death that may be linked to eating Diamond Shruumz edibles.

Of the 48 people in 24 states who said they got sick after eating the chocolate bars, cones and gummies, one patient has died and 27 have been hospitalized, the FDA noted in an ...

Florida Keys Issues Dengue Fever Alert After Two Cases Reported There

Health officials in the Florida Keys have issued a dengue fever alert after two confirmed cases of the mosquito-borne disease were reported there.

In the alert, issued this week by the Monroe County Department of Health, officials said they were taking precautions to curb the spread of dengue fever. Those measures include stepping up door-...

When It Comes to Weight Gain, Not All Antidepressants Are the Same

Weight gain is a common side effect of antidepressants, but some types cause people to pack on pounds more than others, a new study says.

Bupropion users are 15% to 20% less likely to gain a significant amount of weight than those taking the most common antidepressant, sertraline, researchers reported July 2 in the Annals of Internal M...