The highly transmissible Delta variant of COVID-19 has highlighted a fear shared by infectious disease experts worldwide: That increasingly dangerous mutations will continue to crop up until most people around the globe are vaccinated. “There are going to be more variants and they may eventually be variants of concern or variants that pose problems for… read on > read on >
There have now been more than 40 million cases of COVID-19 recorded among Americans, according to a database maintained by The New York Times. That’s nearly one-fifth of the global total of cases. With the Delta variant of the SARS-CoV-2 virus cutting a swathe through the United States, and about 47% of the eligible population… read on > read on >
Sit. Fetch. Stay. Detect seizure. Yes, you read that correctly. While many dogs are adept at following basic instructions such as “sit” and “roll over” with some practice and the promise of a treat, new research shows dogs can detect seizures by scent up to an hour before they occur, potentially saving their human’s life.… read on > read on >
A lost or altered sense of taste, dry mouth and sores are common among COVID-19 patients and those symptoms may last long after others disappear, Brazilian researchers report. Nearly 4 in 10 COVID patients experience impaired taste or total loss of taste, but dry mouth affects even more — up to 43%, according to their… read on > read on >
Many people with asthma know their illness can flare up at night, and new research suggests the body’s internal clock could be to blame. The findings could prove important for treating and studying asthma, the researchers said. “This is one of the first studies to carefully isolate the influence of the circadian system from the… read on > read on >
Cancer patients who get the Pfizer COVID-19 vaccine appear to maintain the same levels of antibodies as people without cancer, Israeli researchers report. They compared the rate of COVID infections after the second dose of the Pfizer vaccine (Comirnaty) among 154 patients with solid tumors with that of 135 patients without cancer. In all, 79%… read on > read on >
Exercising during pregnancy can benefit babies’ lungs, Scandinavian researchers report. “This study offers a fascinating hint that increased physical activity of mothers is associated with better lung function in their babies and, therefore, possibly their health in later life,” said Jonathan Grigg, head of the European Respiratory Society Tobacco Control Committee, who was not involved… read on > read on >
People with HIV have an increased risk of sudden cardiac death, a new study warns, especially if the virus isn’t well-controlled. Sudden cardiac death occurs when the heart unexpectedly stops beating, usually due to an abrupt electrical malfunction. “People living with HIV are already known to have a higher risk of heart attack, stroke, heart… read on > read on >
Adults with autism, intellectual disabilities or mental health disorders are at increased risk for COVID-19 and severe illness, researchers report. Being aware of the heightened risk is important in prioritizing COVID-19 prevention measures, such as vaccination, testing, masking and distancing for these groups, the researchers said. “These high-risk populations should be recognized by clinicians, and… read on > read on >
Young people appear to have normal lung function after recovering from COVID-19, new studies find. In one, Swedish researchers found that even asthma patients had no significant impairment in lung function. In the other, German researchers found unimpaired lung function after kids and teens had a COVID-19 infection — unless their infection was severe. “The… read on > read on >
