With Labor Day festivities approaching, you might want to think twice about that cocktail. Or at least you should avoid that second round, especially if you have a history of your heart beating irregularly. A new study appears to confirm the existence of “holiday heart syndrome” — a higher risk of atrial fibrillation (a-fib), after… read on > read on >
Monoclonal antibody infusions can help prevent severe COVID-19, but the best protection is to get vaccinated, experts say. Antibodies are made by the immune system to fight infections. “The problem is that our immune system takes two to three weeks to make good antibodies,” said Dr. Turner Overton, co-director of the Alabama Vaccine Research Clinic… read on > read on >
You caught a case of COVID-19 and then you got your first dose of a vaccine. Maybe you now think you are protected from coronavirus infections in the future. Think again: New research shows that prior COVID-19 infection alone doesn’t guarantee a high level of antibodies against the coronavirus or a strong response after just… read on > read on >
A high amount of coronavirus in the lungs is a major contributor to death in COVID-19 patients, new research shows. The findings challenge previous theories that simultaneous infections such as pneumonia or an overreaction of the body’s immune system are significant factors in COVID-19 deaths, the researchers noted. To come to that conclusion, the investigators… read on > read on >
Many parts of the United States saw a significant drop in breast cancer screening of older low-income women during the COVID-19 pandemic, new research shows. The analysis of data from 32 community health centers that serve low-income people found that breast cancer screening for 50- to 74-year-old women dropped 8% between July 2019 and July… read on > read on >
The latest buzz on coffee? It may be good for your heart, a new, large study suggests. Drinking light to moderate amounts — up to three cups a day — may lower the risk of stroke, fatal heart disease and all-cause death, researchers found. “Regular coffee consumption of up to three cups per day is… read on > read on >
Fully half of all young adults with attention deficit hyperactivity disorder (ADHD) may also battle alcohol or drug abuse. And folks with ADHD who have a history of depression or anxiety are particularly vulnerable to substance abuse problems, a new study showed. “People with ADHD may be self-medicating with drugs or alcohol to keep their… read on > read on >
Despite studies showing that it doesn’t work against COVID-19, prescriptions for the anti-parasite drug ivermectin have climbed sharply in recent weeks as COVID-19 cases surge nationwide, the U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention says. Prescriptions for what was originally a drug for animals soared to more than 88,000 a week in mid-August from a… read on > read on >
A good Samaritan can save the life of someone in cardiac arrest if a portable defibrillator is nearby. Now, a pilot study suggests a new way to get the devices into bystanders’ hands: drones. The study, done in Sweden, found that drone delivery was a feasible way to get automated external defibrillators (AEDs) to the… read on > read on >
Demand for Abbott Laboratories’ at-home COVID-19 tests has reached “unprecedented” levels and supply may be limited in the coming weeks, the company says. Sales have skyrocketed due to the surge in cases driven by the highly transmissible Delta variant, CNN reported. “We’re seeing unprecedented demand as case rates rise — and we’ve been scaling up… read on > read on >
