Health & Fitness

Summary: The SACS-R detection tool is extremely accurate at detecting autism in young children, a new study reports. Source: La Trobe University Researchers have found an early screening tool for autism developed by La Trobe University, Australia, researchers—and already used in Australia and 10 other countries—is the world’s most effective, and detects children 3+ years earlier than traditional testing. Published in JAMA Network Open, the five-year study of over 13,500 Victorian children found the SACS-R to be extremely accurate in identifying very young children on the autism spectrum. Of the infants and toddlers aged 12 to 24 months flagged by the tool, 83% were later diagnosed with autism. When used alongside a SACS-Preschool check, 96% of children on the autism spectrum were identifi...

A new study adds support to the idea that eating better foods is beneficial even without obtaining weight loss – with the Nordic diet reducing blood sugar and cholesterol even when no weight was lost.   "It's surprising because most people believe that positive effects on blood sugar and cholesterol are solely due to weight loss," University of Copenhagen nutritionist Lars Ove Dragsted said. "Here, we have found this not to be the case. Other mechanisms are also at play." While the better-known and thoroughly studied Mediterranean diet is highly recommended for good health, it is not always practical for people in other regions of the world to consume, due to limitations of what grows locally or cultural challenges. So the concept of healthy regional diets, like the Nordic diet, has ...

New research found eating protein from a variety of sources was associated with a lower risk of developing high blood pressure. Participants who ate four or more protein sources a week had a 66% lower risk of developing hypertension compared to those who had two or fewer protein sources a week. Experts recommend eating a well-balanced diet, exercising, and getting enough sleep to keep blood pressure in check. What you eat can have a major impact on your overall health. Especially when it comes to heart health, you’ll often hear medical professionals touting diets (like the Mediterranean diet) that increase vegetables, heart-healthy fats, and whole grains, while slashing animal products and sodium. But a new study looked at a lesser talked about nutrient’s ability to impact ...

NEWYou can now listen to Fox News articles! CLEVELAND, Ohio – As pandemic restrictions are lifted across the U.S., millions of immunocompromised Americans feel they're in limbo, unsure about how safe they really are. It's estimated that 7 million Americans — 2.7% of the population — are immunocompromised, though they make up between 40-44% of serious breakthrough COVID infections, according to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. People with organ transplants, cancer, HIV, autoimmune diseases and other immunity-compromising conditions are considered at greater risk.  The CDC estimates at least 7 million Americans — 2.7% of the population — are immunocompromised, though they make up between 40-44% of serious breakthrough infections. (Cleveland Clinic) Mik...

Scientists recently discovered a new coronavirus variant that combines the omicron variant and the delta variant of the novel coronavirus. Details: The new variant — called “deltacron” — combines the spike protein of the omicron variant with the “body” of the delta variant, according to a new study posted on Tuesday on medRxiv. With that in mind, here’s a quick breakdown of the top delta variant symptoms and omicron variant symptoms to be aware of as the variant emerges. The top delta variant symptoms The delta variant started to spread across the United States in the late summer and early fall of 2021, delaying a return to normal in the country. The Food and Drug Administration at that point released a list of the eight delta variant symptoms ...

"));var p=b(h[i.size_id].split("x").map(function(e){return Number(e)}),2);f.width=p[0],f.height=p[1]}f.rubiconTargeting=(Array.isArray(i.targeting)?i.targeting:[]).reduce(function(e,t){return e[t.key]=t.values[0],e},{rpfl_elemid:l.adUnitCode}),t.push(f)}else Object(r.logError)("Rubicon: bidRequest undefined at index position:".concat(o),n,e);return t},[]).sort(function(e,t){return(t.cpm||0)-(e.cpm||0)})},getUserSyncs:function(e,t,n,r){if(!U&&e.iframeEnabled){var i="";return n&&"string"==typeof n.consentString&&("boolean"==typeof n.gdprApplies?i+="?gdpr=".concat(Number(n.gdprApplies),"&gdpr_consent=").concat(n.consentString):i+="?gdpr_consent=".concat(n.consentString)),r&&(i+="".concat(i?"&":"?","us_privacy=").concat(encodeURIComponent(r))),U=!0,{type...

Enlarge / Transmission electron micrograph of a SARS-CoV-2 virus particle isolated from a patient sample and cultivated in cell culture. Covid-19 Coverage View more stories Researchers in France have reported the first compelling genetic evidence of a recombinant SARS-CoV-2 virus that contains elements of both the omicron coronavirus variant and the delta variant. However, health experts at the World Health Organization and elsewhere have been quick to note that such a recombinant virus is expected to arise and, so far, there's no reason to be worried about the hybrid. The delta-omicron recombinant—a combination of the delta AY.4 subvariant's backbone and the omicron BA.1 subvariant's spike protein—has been circulating at very low levels since...

As the Omicron coronavirus surge subsides, researchers are keeping an eye on a highly transmissible subvariant known as BA.2. Although it doesn’t appear to have the capacity to drive a large new wave of infections, the variant could potentially slow the current decline of Covid cases and make treatments more difficult. Here’s what we know so far about BA.2. It’s not really new. Scientists first discovered the Omicron variant in November, and it quickly became clear that the viral lineage already existed as three genetically distinct varieties. Each branch of Omicron had its own set of unique mutations. At the time, the most common was BA.1, which quickly spread across the world. BA.1 was almost entirely responsible for the record-shattering spike in cases this winter. At first, BA.1 was ...

A nurse practitioner prepares to administer a flu vaccination.Photo: Joe Raedle (Getty Images) This winter’s flu vaccine was a particularly bad match for the most common influenza strain in circulation, a new analysis from the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention found. Thankfully, the flu season was much milder than usual for the second year in a row, as ongoing covid-19 precautions likely blunted the spread of flu as well. The estimates come from the CDC’s long-running surveillance program of people with suspected flu-like symptoms who visit various outpatient sites throughout the country. Overall, the odds of catching a case of confirmed flu were only slightly lower for vaccinated people, the researchers found. Against all flu strains detected at these sites, the vaccine was...

Photo: New Africa (Shutterstock) We know that if we want to maintain our health, prevention and early detection of diseases or disorders is key. Still, seeing a physician regularly can be expensive and logistically challenging—and a lot of people simply don’t do it. While the home test kit universe is exploding (you can test everything from your cholesterol to your colon health from the comfort of your home these days), it’s still in the early stages. Many of these tests are both expensive and much less reliable than the tests performed by medical professionals. But there are ways you can effectively monitor your health at home without seeing a doctor or spending money on an at-home testing kit. One of the most powerful advantages of a DIY home health test is that you can do them at ...