Toxic Pond Algae Is Killing Dogs -- How to Protect Your Pooch

FRIDAY, Aug. 16, 2019 -- Your dog bounds heedlessly into a local lake or pond, playfully splashing in the water.

But within minutes, your canine companion is staggering, drooling or suffering seizures. Left untreated, the dog will likely die.

Higher Risk of Mental Health Problems for Transgender College Students: Study

FRIDAY, Aug. 16, 2019 -- Transgender college students are two to four times more likely than their classmates to have mental health problems, researchers say.

They analyzed data from more than 1,200 gender-minority students on 71 U.S. campuses who took part in an annual nationwide survey. Gender-minority means their gender identity differs from the sex assigned to them at birth.

Are You an 'Extreme Early Bird'?

FRIDAY, Aug. 16, 2019 -- Early to bed and early to rise? In its extreme form, this tendency is more common than previously believed, according to a new study.

Going to sleep at 8 p.m. and waking up as early as 4 a.m. is called advanced sleep phase. It was believed to be rare, but this study concluded that it may affect at least one in 300 adults.

Do You Know Your Cardiorespiratory Fitness Level?

FRIDAY, Aug. 16, 2019 -- You might know your blood pressure and cholesterol numbers, but do you know your cardiorespiratory fitness level? Experts at the American Heart Association think this number may be an even better gauge of heart health.

Cardiorespiratory fitness shows how aerobically fit you are and how effectively your circulatory system sends oxygen throughout your body.

Is Dairy Fat Different?

FRIDAY, Aug. 16, 2019 -- Dairy foods have been getting a lot of attention from researchers in recent years, notably from studies done both jointly and separately by scientists at Harvard and Tufts universities. They looked at the relationship between full-fat dairy and the risks for heart disease and diabetes.

A 3,000-participant study found that people who included dairy fat in their diet had a lower risk of diabetes. One theory for the link is that people who skip or limit dairy might compensate by eating more refined, low-fiber carbohydrates, which can increase diabetes risk.

Pot Poisonings Among Kids, Teens Double After Medical Marijuana Law Passed

FRIDAY, Aug. 16, 2019 -- Pot-related poisoning calls involving kids and teens more than doubled in Massachusetts after the state legalized medical marijuana, a new study reports.

Calls related to cannabis exposure increased 140% in the years after Massachusetts voted to legalize medical pot in 2012, according to data from the state's regional poison control center.

A Fatty Meal Might Affect How You Absorb CBD

FRIDAY, Aug. 16, 2019 -- Having a cheeseburger with that CBD-infused product? A new study suggests that fatty foods might boost the body's absorption of cannabidiol (CBD).

In 2018, CBD capsules received U.S. Food and Drug Administration approval for use in patients with seizures, but how food affects absorption of the drug has been unclear.

For Heart Patients, CPAP Treatment May Ease Depression: Study

FRIDAY, Aug. 16, 2019 -- Continuous positive airway pressure (CPAP) treatment of obstructive sleep apnea can ease depression in people with heart disease, according to a groundbreaking new study.

"Patients who have had a stroke or heart attack are prone to suffer from low mood and are two to three times more likely to develop clinical depression, which then further elevates their risk of future heart attacks and strokes," said senior author Doug McEvoy, a sleep researcher at Flinders University in Adelaide, Australia.

AHA News: Amid 'Epidemic' of School Vaping, a Search for Solutions

FRIDAY, Aug. 16, 2019 (American Heart Association News) -- One of the toughest challenges for those fighting the problem of vaping in schools may be getting people to realize how big the problem is in the first place.

Many teachers and parents don't know that the number of teens using e-cigarette devices has grown rapidly in just the past several years. Adults might not even recognize the most popular vape products, which look more like something out of Silicon Valley than Marlboro Country.

Exercise Your Blues Away

FRIDAY, Aug. 16, 2019 -- Exercise is good medicine for depression, researchers report.

"The evidence of the use of physical activity and exercise for the management of depression is substantial and growing fast," said study authors Felipe Barretto Schuch, from Federal University of Santa Maria in Brazil, and Brendon Stubbs, from King's College London.