Health News
Accidental shootings by children climbed during COVID. Why is that changing now
(NEW YORK) -- Draquine Floyd Jr. was visiting a family member in April when the 7-year-old found a loaded handgun. While handling it, the gun accidentally discharged, killing him, according to police. Floyd's grandmother, Dorothy Parks, said what her family is going through doesn't seem real. "I will never ever…
What you need to know about the dangers of inhaling wildfire smoke
(NEW YORK) -- Wildfire smoke from Canada has clouded much of the Northeast, leaving millions of Americans exposed to unhealthy levels of particulate matter. Here’s what you need to know on the dangers of wildfire smoke and why it is so toxic to your health. What is considered a dangerous…
What is CHS? How nausea, stomach pain led to a diagnosis and link to cannabis
(NEW YORK) -- An increasing number of cases are being reported of a mysterious, rare condition possibly linked to cannabis use that has caused some people to become severely ill, according to an ABC News investigation. While many people don’t think of cannabis as a substance that could make you…
Men’s retreat program aims to address growing male loneliness
(NEW YORK) -- Tucked away from the main roads in Twentynine Palms, California, is a desert oasis. It's at The Campbell House that the palm trees and greenery thrive amid the hot, unrelenting sun. It's also where some 30 men have gathered for a weekend retreat. The men come from…
What to know about the Air Quality Index from wildfire smoke and how it affects human health
(NEW YORK) -- Heavy blankets of smoke billowing over the U.S. from the wildfires burning in Canada are threatening the health of millions of people -- even non-vulnerable populations with no preexisting conditions. But what about the smoke makes it so hazardous for humans to be around? Wildfire smoke contains fine…
Why smoke from wildfires could cause a host of symptoms — even in healthy people
(NEW YORK) -- It's not just sensitive populations who are at risk in the current poor air quality conditions covering a large swath of the U.S. due to the wildfires burning in Canada. Inhaling toxic smoke and ash from wildfires could weaken the immune system and cause damage to the body,…
Here’s how to stay safe from wildfire smoke amid reduced air quality
(NEW YORK) -- Smoke from wildfires in Canada has spread across most of the U.S. Northeast, triggering air quality alerts in 13 states. The poor air quality extends as far south as the Carolinas. Wildfire smoke and ash can irritate eyes, nose, throat and lungs, making you cough or wheeze…
Pregnant beauty influencer suffers brain aneurysm, in a coma a week before due date
(NEW YORK) -- A beauty influencer and new mother remains in a coma a week after she suffered a brain aneurysm while nine months pregnant, spotlighting the potential risk of stroke during pregnancy. Jackie Miller James simultaneously underwent an emergency C-section and brain surgery last week after suffering an aneurysm…
What’s the connection between hormones and weight? A doctor breaks it down for women
(NEW YORK) -- Dr. Jennifer Ashton is a board-certified OBGYN and obesity medicine specialist who has worked with thousands of female patients over her decades-long career. Ashton, also ABC News' chief medical correspondent, said she had a "lightbulb moment" 10 years ago when she was working one-on-one with a patient.…
Darker-skinned people urged to take extra precautions as laser hair removal industry booms
(NEW YORK) -- For Eshanka Jayasinghe, or Eshi Jay, unwanted body hair negatively affected her self-esteem for years, so she decided to undergo laser hair removal treatments. But the procedure left the YouTuber's body in a worse state, she said, with scarring and damage from her neck down to her arms.…