Pregnancy might offer women some protection from developing long COVID, a new study says. Women infected with COVID-19 during pregnancy were 14% to 30% less likely to develop lasting symptoms from their illness, researchers reported recently in the journal Nature Communications. “Though we observed that pregnant women have a significant risk of long COVID, it… read on > read on >
A non-intoxicating extract of cannabis appears to help children and teenagers with autism, a new study says. Cannabidiol (CBD) enhanced social responsiveness, reduced disruptive behavior and alleviated anxiety among kids with autism, researchers reported today at the European Congress of Psychiatry in Madrid. “The global population prevalence of autism spectrum disorder diagnosis amongst children and… read on > read on >
The U.S. government has shut down or paused several major anti-smoking efforts. Public health leaders say the cuts could reverse decades of progress that have smoking rates in the country at all-time lows. Last week, the Department of Health and Human Services (HHS) made major cuts to tobacco control offices at the U.S. Centers for… read on > read on >
The Trump administration has decided not to expand Medicare and Medicaid coverage for popular obesity drugs, blocking a Biden administration initiative that could have helped millions of Americans access the medications. Catherine Howden, a spokeswoman for the Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services (CMS), said that expanding coverage for these drugs “is not appropriate at… read on > read on >
Lung cancer screening can save the lives of former and current smokers, but most aren’t taking advantage of it, a new study says. Fewer than 1 in 5 people eligible for lung cancer screening go through with a chest CT scan, according to research published April 2 in the Journal of the American Medical Association.… read on > read on >
More people die from heart problems during heatwaves where high temperatures stretch through both the day and night, a new study says. Heatwaves that offer no relief at night — known as compound heatwaves — are much more deadly than soaring daytime temperatures alone, researchers reported April 1 in the Journal of the American College… read on > read on >
Smoke from wildfires driving you mad? You’re not alone, a new study says. Short-term exposure to air choked with wildfire smoke increases people’s risk of mental health problems, according to findings published April 4 in JAMA Network Open. Hospital emergency rooms experience surges in patients with mental health conditions on days when smoke pollution is… read on > read on >
Don’t be surprised if you get a bill for that note your doctor sent you through his clinic’s patient portal. About 1 in 7 patients have been billed for messages sent to them through a patient portal, according to a new study published April 4 in JAMA Health Forum. “Even though we don’t know the… read on > read on >
A notorious hospital-associated infection has been spreading through hospitals much more readily than people suspected, a new study says. The bacterium Clostridium difficile – commonly called C. diff – spreads within intensive care units more than three times as much as previously thought, researchers reported in JAMA Network Open. C. diff can spread covertly from… read on > read on >
Ozone air pollution increases the risk of asthma among preschoolers and kindergarteners, a new study says. Relatively small increases in ozone smog in a child’s first two years of life is associated with an increased risk of asthma and wheeze at 4 to 6 years of age, researchers reported April 2 in JAMA Network Open.… read on > read on >
