Brain scans pinpoint unique responses to chronic pain, paving way for better treatments

Philly Voice (Health) 5/26 7:35A Michael Tanenbaum

A new study on the relationship between chronic pain and the brain found that patients have unique brain activity linked to their perceptions of pain. The first-of-its-kind research used implanted electrodes in four people with chronic pain over...

Balance declines with age, but exercise can help stave off some of the risk of falling

Philly Voice (Health) 5/26 5:54A Evan Papa, Tufts University

Falls are the leading cause of injuries in adults ages 65 and older, and the most common cause of hip fractures and traumatic brain injuries. A number of physical changes with aging often go unseen preceding falls, including muscle weakness,...

Unlocking the Power of Ashwagandha: A Comprehensive Guide to its Health Benefits

PhillyBite Healthy 5/26 2:29A PhillyBite.com@gmail.com (Philly

Philadelphia, PA - Welcome to a comprehensive exploration of ashwagandha benefits! Ashwagandha, also known as Withania somnifera, is an ancient medicinal herb used in Ayurvedic medicine, the...

A brain abnormality may help explain the cause of sudden infant death syndrome

Philly Voice (Health) 5/25 11:14A Brian A. Saunders

New research into the cause of sudden infant death syndrome found that babies that die of SIDS are more likely to have an altered version of a brain receptor that typically triggers infants to gasp for air when they fail to get enough oxygen...

Tastykake recalls chocolate Kandy Kakes due to possible peanut allergens

Philly Voice (Health) 5/25 6:49A Kristin Hunt

The FDA announced a voluntary recall of some chocolate Kandy Kakes after peanut butter Kandy Kakes were found in the packaging. Tastykake customers with peanut allergies in Pennsylvania, New Jersey, Delaware, Maryland, Virginia and West Virginia...

Paralyzed man walks using 'digital bridge' between brain and spine

Philly Voice (Health) 5/25 6:06A Franki Rudnesky

Researchers in Switzerland have helped a paralyzed man walk again more than a decade after he suffered a spinal cord injury. They used a device that creates a 'digital bridge' for communication between the brain and spine, according to a study...

To prevent skin cancer, free sunscreen is available at 46 Pennsylvania state parks this summer

Philly Voice (Health) 5/25 5:37A Maggie Mancini

Pennsylvania is offering free sunscreen at 46 state parks this summer, including French Creek, Ridley Creek, Nockamixon, Neshaminy and others in the Philadelphia region. Visitors will find sunscreen dispensers near the parks' beaches and swimming...

Fewer gay and bisexual men are getting HIV, but prevention barriers still persist

Philly Voice (Health) 5/24 8:26A Maggie Mancini

A drop-off in HIV infections among young gay and bisexual men is driving an overall decline in new HIV cases, a new CDC report finds. Estimated infections dropped 12% from 2017 to 2021, with those among young gay and bisexual men falling by 34%....

ChatGPT and other generative AI could foster science denial and misunderstanding

Philly Voice (Health) 5/24 6:39A Gale Sinatra, University of Sout

Generative AI platforms, like ChatGPT, can produce misinformation on science, health and other topics. They can create 'hallucinations,' a benign term for making things up. And they don't always accurately solve reasoning problems. Media...

Millions struggle with body dysmorphia, a mental health condition concerning obsession with...

Philly Voice (Health) 5/23 12:51P Franki Rudnesky

Body dysmorphic disorder (BDD) is a mental health condition in which a person becomes obsessed with one or more perceived flaws in physical appearance. It affects millions of Americans. Several celebrities have been outspoken about their struggle...

Social media is a driver of youth mental health crisis, U.S. surgeon general warns

Philly Voice (Health) 5/23 9:59A Michael Tanenbaum

U.S. Surgeon General Dr. Vivek Murthy issued an advisory Tuesday on the harmful effects of social media on children and adolescents. The report highlights statistics on depression, anxiety and other mental health problems that research has...

Hot weather makes falling asleep more difficult, but these tips lead to more ZZZ's

Philly Voice (Health) 5/22 10:17A Franki Rudnesky

Hot temperatures and extended sunlight make it more difficult to fall asleep during the summer, because they disrupt the body's internal temperature controls and the release of the sleep hormone melatonin, experts say. The best ways to beat the...

Young people are having less sex than their parents did at their age. Researchers explore why

Philly Voice (Health) 5/22 6:33A Phillip Reese

Single people have long been less likely to report going without sex than married people or couples that live together. But the gap has been widening among young people in recent years. Rising computer use may play a role in the trend. Young...

Remote work is an underestimated benefit for family caregivers

Philly Voice (Health) 5/19 5:20P Joanne Kenen, KFF Health News

About one-fifth of U.S. workers are family caregivers, and nearly a third have quit a job because of their caregiving responsibilities, according to a report from the Rosalynn Carter Institute. Remote work can't fill all the caregiving gaps, but...

In the 1840s, Dr. Mütter used a revolutionary "flap" surgery to help burn victims

Philly Voice (Health) 5/19 8:11A Kristin Hunt

Dr. Thomas Dent Mütter, the namesake of the Mütter Museum, helped pioneer plastic surgery procedures like the Mütter flap, a grafting operation intended to help burn victims. The doctor practiced in Philadelphia in the mid-1800s and taught at...