Birth rates tend to fall during pandemics, and history is repeating itself with the COVID-19 scourge, researchers say. Fewer babies have been born in much of Europe and the United States. Earlier in the pandemic, U.S. births declined 7%, a new study finds. In Europe, birth declines varied. In Italy they dropped 9%, in Spain… read on > read on >
If you have a cardiac arrest, your odds of survival are best in an airport or airplane, a new study finds. That’s because automated external defibrillators (AEDs) are readily available and so are people ready to help, researchers explained. “Our findings emphasize that cardiac arrest in travelers is survivable and that early resuscitation interventions matter,”… read on > read on >
It’s not just athletes on the field who suffer when outdoor temperatures get too high. Members of college and high school marching bands are at increased risk of heat-related illness, too, researchers warn. “They go out there, and they often wear these really heavy wool uniforms,” said lead author Andrew Grundstein of the University of… read on > read on >
Emotional changes in the run-up to menopause can sometimes lead to depression. It can be important to see a doctor to help determine whether you’re just feeling stressed or “blue” — or whether you might have clinical or major depression, a condition associated with a chemical imbalance in the brain. Changing hormones during perimenopause —… read on > read on >
When hair sprouts where you don’t want it, you can always shave, but other ways to remove unwanted body hair can last longer. The downside: Chemical hair removers can cause burning, itching or redness. “Hair removal creams, lotions and gels are quick and easy to use, but they can sometimes irritate the skin,” dermatologist Dr.… read on > read on >
It’s no wonder many teens are pooped out. “The obligations of school, work, family and friends make it hard for teenagers to get sufficient sleep to perform their best,” said Dr. Raman Malhotra, president of the American Academy of Sleep Medicine (AASM). “While it might seem like teens sleep a lot, most are sleep deprived… read on > read on >
An advisory panel to the U.S. Food and Drug Administration on Friday recommended a third Pfizer-BioNTech COVID vaccine booster shot for all Americans aged 65 or older, as well as for those deemed to be at high risk for severe illness. According to The New York Times, that vote came after a near unanimous decision… read on > read on >
Shedding excess weight does much more for the long-term heart health of young people than building muscle, new research suggests. It’s not that gaining muscle while young proved to be a cardiovascular problem. It’s just that losing fat offered bigger heart benefits. “We absolutely still encourage exercise,” said study lead author Joshua Bell, a senior… read on > read on >
Pfizer is expanding the recall of its anti-smoking drug Chantix (varenicline), the company announced Friday. The nationwide recall of all Chantix 0.5 mg and 1 mg tablets was prompted because they may contain levels of a nitrosamine, N-nitroso-varenicline, that are at or above levels approved by the U.S. Food and Drug Administration. Long-term ingestion of… read on > read on >
FRIDAY, Sept. 17, 2021 (American Heart Association News) — About a month into the COVID-19 pandemic, LeCount Holmes saw on television that Maryland Gov. Larry Hogan was within a mile of his house for a big announcement. Because Prince George’s County was one of the areas hardest hit by the coronavirus, a former regional hospital… read on > read on >
