Prescriptions for Antidepressants Increasing among Individuals with no Psychiatric Diagnosis – In Americans, there is a marked increase in antidepressant use among individuals with no psychiatric diagnosis, revealed by researchers. Americans are no strangers to antidepressants.
Breastfeeding for up to 6 months after birth can reduce their risk of developing asthma-related symptoms in early childhood and may prevent asthma – Children who had never been breastfed had an increased risk of wheezing, shortness of breath, dry cough and persistent phlegm during their first 4 years, compared to children who were breastfed for more than 6 months, revealed by researchers.
International survey highlights great public desire to seek early diagnosis of Alzheimer’s — Results from Europe and US highlight interest in early diagnosis despite wide fear of and familiarity with the condition – Results of an international survey reveal that over 85% of respondents in the five countries surveyed say that if they were exhibiting confusion and memory loss, they would want to see a doctor to determine if the cause of the symptoms was Alzheimer’s disease. Over 94% would want the same if a family member were exhibiting the symptoms.
Insurance status affects access to dental appointments – A study using research assistants who posed as mothers of a 10-year-old boy with a fractured front tooth seeking an urgent dental appointment measured dentists’ willingness to provide treatment to children with Medicaid/CHIP versus private insurance.
Severe obesity not seen to increase risk of depression in teens — Study does find possibly greater vulnerability among white adolescents – According to a new study, severely obese adolescents are no more likely to be depressed than normal weight peers. The study, which has been released in the Journal of Adolescent Health, did find that white adolescents may be somewhat more vulnerable to psychological effects of obesity.
Despite highest health spending, Americans’ life expectancy falls behind other countries’ — Obesity, smoking, traffic fatalities and homicide ruled out as causes of failure of US to keep up with gains in life expectancy in other countries – America continues to lag behind other nations when it comes to gains in life expectancy, and commonly cited causes for our poor performance-obesity, smoking, traffic fatalities and homicide-are not to blame, according to a study by researchers at Columbia University’s Mailman School of Public Health.
Report outlines knowledge gaps for 20 suspected carcinogens — PCBs, diesel exhaust among agents identified as focus of further research – A new report from the American Cancer Society and other world-leading health groups identifies gaps in research for 20 suspected carcinogens whose potential to cause cancer is as yet unresolved.
Success against malaria bolsters case for further investment, new report shows — World Vision cites analysis released today by Roll Back Malaria Partnership. – A new study linking funding increases in the global fight against malaria to a drop in deaths from the disease also shows that resources from donor governments still fall short of those needed for maximum impact against the world’s fourth-biggest killer of children, according to a global health policy analyst at international aid agency World Vision.
Physicians’ moods affect quality of care, according to Ben-Gurion University study – A new study by a researcher at Ben-Gurion University of the Negev (BGU) reveals that physicians’ moods impact the number of prescriptions, referrals and lab tests ordered, as well as the amount of time they spend talking with their patients.
Many parents, high-priority adults who tried to get H1N1 vaccine unable to get it — Most who tried and didn’t get it say they will try again. – In US, majority of adults who tried to get the H1N1 vaccine for themselves or their children have been unable to do so, revealed in a poll from Harvard School of Public Health (HSPH).
