This Just In

A roundup of new and noteworthy insights from the week’s most talked-about studies:

1 EPIDURALS MAY REDUCE RISK OF POSTPARTUM DEPRESSION

A new study presented at the American Society for Anesthesiologists’ annual meeting found that the more pain relief a woman experienced during birth, the more likely she was to rank lower on the depression scale six weeks postpartum.

2 AMERICANS ARE EATING MORE SEAFOOD

They ate an average of 15.5 lb. of seafood in 2015, nearly 1 lb. more than in 2014, according to a new government report. The amount is still shy of the 8 oz. or more per week–which amounts to 26 lb. per year–that the government recommends.

3 DENTAL CHECKUPS COULD HELP PREVENT PNEUMONIA

People who never go to the dentist had an 86% greater risk of pneumonia than those who get twice-yearly checkups, according to a study presented at a forum of the Infectious Diseases Society of America and other groups, based on 2013 Medical Expenditure Panel Survey data. The authors suggest that regular cleanings reduce bad bacteria.

–J.Z.