Lyme Disease More Widespread Than Believed. According to a new report, prolonged illness in Americans with Lyme disease is more prevalent, serious, and costly than previously thought. Investigators found Lyme disease patients are nearly five times more likely to have post-treatment Lyme disease syndrome-related symptoms such as fatigue, nerve pain, joint pain, and memory and…

Lung Cancer Now the #1 Cancer Killer of Women in Wealthy Nations. According to a new report, lung cancer has overtaken breast cancer as the leading killer of women in developed countries. Experts explain that an increase in female smokers in the 1970s is the likely explanation for the upsurge in lung cancer-related deaths among…

Colon Cancer Rates on the Rise Among Americans Under 50. An analysis of National Cancer Institute data reveals that overall colon cancer rates fell by roughly 1% every year between 1975 and 2010. However, the rate of colon cancer among people ages 20 to 34 actually rose 2% annually and individuals between ages 35 and…

Internet Addiction is a Worldwide Problem. An analysis of 31 nations found the overall global prevalence of Internet addiction is around 6%. Internet addiction is the inability to inhibit Internet use, which can adversely affect a person’s life, including their health and relationships. Investigators noted that Internet addiction varies among regions around the world from…

Hospital Infection Rates Falling. A report from the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) reveals that the rates of many types of hospital-acquired infections are on the decline. The researchers found a 46% decline in “central line-associated” bloodstream infections, a 19% decrease in surgical site infections, an 8% drop in multidrug-resistant Staphylococcus aureus (MRSA)…

E-Cigarettes May Lead to More Respiratory Infections. According to new laboratory findings, vapor from electronic cigarettes may increase young individuals’ risk for contracting respiratory infections due to the vapor impairing the immune response in the epithelial cells that line the inside of the lungs. Lead author Dr. Qun Wu writes, “Epithelial cells are the first…

Cancer Death Rates in the US Continue to Drop. Death rates from cancer in the United States (US) continue to fall (down 22% since a peak in 1991), according to the annual report from the American Cancer Society (ACS). The ACS argues that continuing the fight against cancer across all segments of the population could…

Over 16 Million Children Live in States Where They Can Buy e-Cigarettes Legally! While 28 states have enacted laws forbidding the sale of electronic nicotine delivery systems (ENDS, which include e-cigarettes) to minors during the previous two years, the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) reports that 10 states in the United States still…

Obesity Tied to Half a Million Cancers Worldwide. A new report indicates that obesity is associated with nearly 500,000 new cancer cases worldwide every year, and almost two-thirds of obesity-related cancers occur in North America and Europe. Study leader Dr. Melina Arnold explains, “Our findings add support for a global effort to address the rising…

Riding Adult-Sized ATVs Can Be Deadly for Youth. Riding an all-terrain vehicle (ATV) poses a high-risk for injury or death to children and teens. Dr. Mary Aitken, a professor of pediatrics and public health at the University of Arkansas for Medical Sciences, writes, “Finding a more effective way to communicate the risks of these vehicles…