As Myths About Fatherhood In Old-Age Are Debunked, Men Are Beginning To Freeze Their Sperm
It used to be thought that people could father healthy children into their 70s and 80s, but that's no longer accepted as the case. Now companies are swooping in to capitalize on those fears. In other public health news: food poisoning, stress, cancer, cavities, psychedelics, and more.
The Washington Post:
Male Angst Prompts A New Fertility Service: Sperm Freezing
Gilbert Sanchez froze his sperm in January, shortly before his 25th birthday. He was healthy and at low-risk for fertility issues. But he wanted to be proactive — just as thousands of young women have been by putting their eggs on ice. Sanchez was headed to graduate school in the fall, and it might be years before he would have a steady job and the wherewithal for a family. He and his girlfriend worried about all the things that could go wrong — disease, war, natural aging — before they might be ready. (Cha, 4/25)
The Associated Press:
Food Poisoning Remains Persistent Problem, US Report Finds
As recent illnesses tied to raw turkey, ground beef, cut melon and romaine lettuce suggest, U.S. food poisoning cases don't appear to be going away anytime soon. The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention said in a report Thursday that the frequency of several types of food poisoning infections climbed last year, but that the increases could be the result of new diagnostic tools that help identify more cases. (4/25)
The New York Times:
Americans Are Among The Most Stressed People In The World, Poll Finds
Americans are among the most stressed people in the world, according to a new survey. And that’s just the start of it. Last year, Americans reported feeling stress, anger and worry at the highest levels in a decade, according to the survey, part of an annual Gallup poll of more than 150,000 people around the world, released on Thursday. “What really stood out for the U.S. is the increase in the negative experiences,” said Julie Ray, Gallup’s managing editor for world news. “This was kind of a surprise to us when we saw the numbers head in this direction.” (Chokshi, 4/25)
Stat:
‘We Need To ... Tell Our Story Better’: Head Of For-Profit Cancer Centers
The for-profit hospital chain Cancer Treatment Centers of America may not have the perceived starpower or reputation of some other institutions that treat cancer patients — but it wields a big influence on how many Americans with cancer get their care. Tasked with shaping that influence is the chain’s new CEO, Dr. Pat Basu, who’s served in the Obama administration and worked for the giant health care company UnitedHealth Group and telemedicine provider Doctor on Demand. (Robbins, 4/26)
The New York Times:
Cavities? Blame Nurture, Not Nature
Environmental factors are more important than genetics in determining who gets cavities, a new study reports. Australian researchers recruited 250 twin pairs when their mothers were still pregnant. They collected health and demographic data on them at 24 and 36 months’ gestational age, at birth, and at age 18 months. When they were 6 years old, the 172 twin pairs still in the study underwent dental examinations. (Bakalar, 4/26)
The Wall Street Journal:
Psychedelics As A Path To Social Learning
How do psychedelic drugs work? And can psychedelic experiences teach you something? People often say that these experiences are important, revelatory, life-changing. But how exactly does adding a chemical to your brain affect your mind? The renaissance of scientific psychedelic research may help to answer these questions. A new study in the journal Nature by Gul Dolen at Johns Hopkins University and her colleagues explored how MDMA works in mice. (Gopnik, 4/25)
WBUR:
Activists And Suicide Prevention Groups Seek Bans On Conversion Therapy For Minors
It is a widely discredited practice aimed at changing a person's sexual orientation or gender identity. In most of the country the therapy is still legal for minors. But advocacy groups are trying to change that by pushing legislation in state houses across the country to ban licensed mental health professionals from practicing conversion therapy on minors. (Fadel, 4/26)
The Associated Press:
Moms-To-Be Teach Each Other In Monthly Group Prenatal Visits
In a big room full of moms-to-be, pregnant women check each other's blood pressure and weight, a nurse-midwife measures their growing bellies, and they all join a seated circle for two hours of candid talk about what to expect when you're expecting. A young woman's revelation about her strange cravings for glue and fabric softener gets some chuckles, followed by the nurse's explanation that odd signs like that can signal iron deficiency. (4/25)
