https://medicalxpress.com/health-other-news/ en-us Latest medical news and research in Allied health A tick-borne food allergy that was almost unheard of years ago is now so common in Kentucky that many residents know someone living with it. To help patients, families, clinicians and the community make sense of it, registered dietitians at the University of Kentucky Martin-Gatton College of Agriculture, Food and Environment (CAFE) have published one of the first nutrition-focused guides to the condition. https://medicalxpress.com/news/2026-09-dietitians-nutrition-focused-alpha-gal.html Thu, 17 Sep 2026 10:40:40 EDT news708855842 Families caring for a loved one with young-onset dementia are facing years of uncertainty, financial strain and emotional exhaustion—with many struggling to access timely diagnosis and appropriate support—according to a new Curtin University study appearing in Health Expectations. https://medicalxpress.com/news/2026-09-reveals-young-onset-dementia-impact.html Wed, 16 Sep 2026 12:30:03 EDT news708761325 A new approach to modeling vocal fold fatigue could improve detection and monitoring of problems as they arise, particularly among people whose jobs depend on sustained voice use. The research, published in the International Journal of Information and Communication Technology, uses a physics-based framework to track changes over time. https://medicalxpress.com/news/2026-09-tracks-vocal-fatigue.html Tue, 15 Sep 2026 23:00:01 EDT news708697147 In 2021, Nova Scotia began allowing pharmacists to prescribe preventive treatment for Lyme disease after high-risk tick bites. Researchers found that emergency department visits for tick bites dropped by roughly 50% after the change. These findings suggest that by offering such services for preventive health, community pharmacists may decrease the burden on other parts of the health care system. https://medicalxpress.com/news/2026-09-longer-emergency-room.html Mon, 14 Sep 2026 12:20:02 EDT news708599941 A sports psychology intervention aimed at improving the culture of the McGill Redbirds football team provides valuable insights that can be applied in many organizational settings, researchers say. https://medicalxpress.com/news/2026-09-stronger-teams-sports.html Mon, 14 Sep 2026 11:00:06 EDT news708599282 Chandler Browning always dreamed of being part of The University of Texas at Arlington's nationally recognized nursing program and pursuing her goal of becoming a certified registered nurse anesthetist. Now in her first semester as a nursing student, she is experiencing firsthand UTA's latest innovation in nursing education: treating nurses as "clinical athletes." https://medicalxpress.com/news/2026-09-nurses-athletes.html Sat, 12 Sep 2026 22:50:02 EDT news708323521 An abundance of clinical trials has shown that exercise reduces pain and facilitates everyday activities like climbing stairs for individuals with osteoarthritis. But researchers from the University of South Carolina, McMaster University and the University of Delaware believe it's time for a mindset shift. Instead of viewing exercise as a temporary treatment for the condition, clinicians and patients should view physical activity as a lifelong behavior. https://medicalxpress.com/news/2026-09-it-time-to-change-how.html Thu, 10 Sep 2026 15:40:07 EDT news708262449 When the 988 Suicide & Crisis Lifeline launched nationwide in 2022, it brought new resources and greater standardization to crisis hotlines across the country. For counselors answering those calls, it also meant balancing new performance expectations with the needs of people in distress. https://medicalxpress.com/news/2026-09-crisis-counselors-professional-judgment.html Wed, 09 Sep 2026 15:00:04 EDT news708177623 According to a new randomized study of primary care patients with diabetes, those who received Lifestyle Redesign® occupational therapy generated more than $250,000 in health care cost savings compared with patients who received usual care alone. https://medicalxpress.com/news/2026-09-occupational-therapy-generated-health-primary.html Wed, 09 Sep 2026 10:40:06 EDT news708163502 A study published in the Journal of Sickle Cell Disease by researchers at Binghamton University's Decker College of Nursing and Health Sciences explored how individual and community health experiences of adults with sickle cell disease (SCD) shape resilience—the capacity to adapt to adversity. https://medicalxpress.com/news/2026-09-social-financial-health-factors-resilience.html Wed, 09 Sep 2026 08:00:04 EDT news708147541 Burnout, depression, anxiety and suicide are increasing in the nursing and overall health care workforce, adversely affecting health care quality and safety. A recent randomized clinical trial published in Worldviews on Evidence-Based Nursing shows that nurses experiencing mental distress benefited from combining mental health screening with a digital, self-delivered version of a cognitive behavioral skills–building program. https://medicalxpress.com/news/2026-09-combined-screening-online-skills-nurse.html Wed, 09 Sep 2026 03:10:06 EDT news708086821 As Prime Minister Mark Carney prepares to host the inaugural Canada Investment Summit in Toronto this September, a new review co-led by researchers at UBC argues that the country is leaving one of its largest economic and health care opportunities untouched: the integration of psychological care into primary care. https://medicalxpress.com/news/2026-09-lay-case-psychologists-primary-health.html Tue, 08 Sep 2026 15:00:06 EDT news708092222 For many in the workforce, spending hours at a computer is an unavoidable part of daily life. Sitting for prolonged periods in the same position can contribute to low back pain (LBP), which affects up to 80% of people over their lifetime and remains a leading cause of disability worldwide. A group of French researchers decided to find out whether wearing a soft, flexible lower-back support belt can help people with common, unexplained lower back pain feel better and move more easily. https://medicalxpress.com/news/2026-09-soft-belts-ease-everyday-pain.html Tue, 08 Sep 2026 09:30:01 EDT news708076124 A new program developed by University of Alberta researchers is showing promise in helping stroke survivors stride toward recovery after leaving the hospital. A pilot study published in the Archives of Rehabilitation Research and Clinical Translation confirmed that the intervention, known as BIG STEPS, could safely and practically help people sit less and move more after returning home following hospitalization for a stroke—a "whole-of-the-day" approach that is important for long-term health and wellness, says lead author Dr. Victor Ezeugwu of the Faculty of Rehabilitation Medicine. https://medicalxpress.com/news/2026-09-combines-smartwatch-tracking-personalized-survivors.html Tue, 08 Sep 2026 09:20:14 EDT news708072722 What if much of what we thought we knew about women's health and fitness was suddenly called into question? https://medicalxpress.com/news/2026-09-big-assumption-women-health-years.html Mon, 07 Sep 2026 20:40:01 EDT news707998604 Findings from STAMINA, the largest trial of its kind, published in The Lancet Oncology, show that a purpose-designed lifestyle program offering structured exercise, dietary advice and behavioral support as part of routine cancer care reduced deterioration in quality of life in men undergoing treatment for prostate cancer by up to one-third. https://medicalxpress.com/news/2026-09-trial-prostate-cancer-treatment-side.html Mon, 07 Sep 2026 10:00:04 EDT news707993123 Those experiencing worsening voice quality—in pitch, clarity, volume, reduced vocal range or other voice disorders—and no hearing loss may be at 58% greater risk of cognitive impairment or dementia than those who are not experiencing a voice disorder, according to the first large-scale study of diagnosed voice disorders and cognitive decline. https://medicalxpress.com/news/2026-09-voice-disorder-early-dementia.html Fri, 04 Sep 2026 10:00:08 EDT news707733841 Artificial intelligence (AI) tools are overwhelmingly being used in mental health practices to support administrative tasks, but University of Queensland researchers have found they potentially lack privacy, accuracy and governance safeguards. https://medicalxpress.com/news/2026-09-guidelines-ai-embraced-mental-health.html Thu, 03 Sep 2026 17:00:08 EDT news707673421 Many studies have demonstrated that music-based interventions—such as listening to music—can help reduce pain from a variety of conditions like cancer or osteoarthritis, but researchers still do not understand how or why they help. A new review study led by Joke Bradt, Ph.D., a professor in Drexel University's College of Nursing and Health Professions, examined biological, psychological and social mechanisms that may explain the pain-reducing effects of music. The study, recently published in PAIN Reports, identified important gaps that future research on music-based interventions for pain relief should address. https://medicalxpress.com/news/2026-09-music-ease-pain-evidence.html Thu, 03 Sep 2026 15:40:09 EDT news707659262 Caregivers play an essential role in helping children maintain adequate nutrition during their cancer treatment. But treatment-related side effects, such as nausea and poor appetite, can make feeding a child particularly challenging. Nutrition priorities also shift throughout treatment and beyond. https://medicalxpress.com/news/2026-09-caregivers-children-cancer-engage-culinary.html Thu, 03 Sep 2026 14:40:03 EDT news707656922 Telehealth has transformed health care access, making it easier for millions of patients to connect with physicians without leaving home. New research from the University of Miami Business School finds that sustaining those gains will require health systems to address the operational demands virtual care can place on physicians. https://medicalxpress.com/news/2026-09-telehealth-access-stronger-physician.html Wed, 02 Sep 2026 10:20:04 EDT news707561882 A new Cochrane review finds very low-quality evidence on lumbar supports for chronic low back pain, meaning that no strong recommendations can be made either for or against their use. Lumbar supports are inexpensive back or belt braces that stabilize the lower back. They are commonly prescribed and used around the world for chronic low back pain. https://medicalxpress.com/news/2026-08-widely-braces-lack-strong-evidence.html Tue, 01 Sep 2026 20:00:04 EDT news707385536 Researchers have evaluated a novel smart wheeled walker designed to enhance mobility and safety for aging populations. Published in JMIR Aging, the randomized crossover trial revealed that the smart wheeled walker significantly improved walking speed, reduced exertion and boosted dynamic balance compared with a traditional 4-wheeled rollator. The study was led by Dr. Phurichaya Werasirirat, Dr. Pornpimol Muanjai, Dr. Oranat Sukkho, Dr. Nongnuch Luangpon and Dr. Juntip Namsawang from the Department of Physical Therapy at Burapha University in Thailand, alongside Dr. Audrius Snieckus from the Lithuanian Sports University. https://medicalxpress.com/news/2026-09-smart-walker-boosts-efficiency-dynamic.html Tue, 01 Sep 2026 15:20:08 EDT news707483647 Speech sound disorders (SSD) in children are a common group of developmental difficulties that affect how speech sounds are planned and produced. In her thesis, "Oral Motor, Sensory and Developmental Indicators in Children with Speech Sound Disorders: A Clinical Cohort Study," Helena Björelius studied children ages 4 to 9 who had been referred for specialist assessment of speech and oral motor difficulties. The aim was to increase understanding of factors beyond speech itself, including chewing efficiency, sensory processing and medical and developmental risk factors. https://medicalxpress.com/news/2026-09-children-speech-disorders-additional.html Tue, 01 Sep 2026 10:20:01 EDT news707474137 Days alive and out of hospital were significantly increased in patients with heart failure when a nurse-coordinated collaborative care model was introduced, according to results presented in a Hot Line session at ESC Congress 2026 and published simultaneously in Circulation. https://medicalxpress.com/news/2026-08-nurse-collaborative-outcomes-patients-heart.html Mon, 31 Aug 2026 18:20:01 EDT news707385444 A McGill University-led study suggests that Canada's elite hockey system would benefit from placing greater emphasis on developing well-rounded individuals. The researchers found that while Canada continues to produce world-class athletes, the "win-at-all-costs" culture often associated with elite male hockey players can overshadow the personal growth of players ages 15 to 17 and may contribute to broader issues within the sport, including unhealthy team environments and recurring off-ice transgressions. https://medicalxpress.com/news/2026-08-healthier-elite-male-hockey-players.html Mon, 31 Aug 2026 18:00:02 EDT news707398562 Every year, hundreds of thousands of people in the U.S. live through a stroke. Survivors may face challenges with walking, eating, speaking and other essential parts of life. https://medicalxpress.com/news/2026-08-survivors-caregivers-rehab.html Mon, 31 Aug 2026 13:20:06 EDT news707391182 Chinese esports player Jian "Uzi" Zi-hao was more than a star "League of Legends" player: He was so talented that his team structured its entire strategy around his abilities, funneling resources to him and another teammate, Shi "Ming" Sen-Ming, so the duo could lead the team to victory. Over the course of his career, he earned more than $500,000 in tournament prize money. https://medicalxpress.com/news/2026-08-professional-gaming-brutal-body-field.html Mon, 31 Aug 2026 07:40:01 EDT news707379961 A recent study published in the Journal of Nutrition Education and Behavior (JNEB) examined culinary skills and related barriers among adults with visual impairment. Researchers found that although all participants were classified as having medium or high culinary skills, many continued to experience challenges that limited their independence in the kitchen. Accessible tools and training can help bridge this gap. https://medicalxpress.com/news/2026-08-culinary-skills-adults-visual-impairment.html Sun, 30 Aug 2026 20:30:01 EDT news706968334 Nurses and physicians often recognize what kind of care a patient deserves at a given moment, whether it is more time at the bedside, a change in pain management or a detailed conversation about the goals of a specific treatment. However, these health care professionals sometimes find themselves unable to follow through because of external factors, ranging from understaffing and resource shortages to institutional policies and regulations. https://medicalxpress.com/news/2026-08-philosophical-framework-reframes-moral-distress.html Sat, 29 Aug 2026 14:00:06 EDT news707126333