White Americans had a greater decline in potentially avoidable hospitalizations during the early months of the coronavirus pandemic than Black Americans, according to a new study. The findings suggest that Black patients may have had less access to outpatient care that could have helped keep them out of the hospital for non-COVID health problems. Researchers… read on > read on >
The pandemic is turning what should be a joyful time for pregnant women into a stress-filled experience. Why? Fears that their infants might catch COVID-19 is one of the main reasons anxiety levels are soaring, a new survey finds. Researchers from Washington State University analyzed responses from more than 160 pregnant and postpartum women (those… read on > read on >
The antibiotic cefazolin is a safe alternative to prevent infection in most surgical patients who are allergic to penicillin, according to a new study. Cefazolin is a type of antibiotic known as a cephalosporin. It’s the recommended antibiotic for most surgical procedures, but some doctors are reluctant to give it to patients with penicillin-allergies based… read on > read on >
Nearly one-third of seniors who take thyroid hormone also take drugs known to interfere with tests of thyroid function, a new study finds. It’s common for older adults to take a thyroid hormone (levothyroxine) to treat low levels of natural thyroid hormone. But tests used to determine the dose and effectiveness of treatment can be… read on > read on >
THURSDAY, March 198 2021People really do vary in how fast they age, and the divergence starts in young adulthood, a new study suggests. The researchers found that by the tender age of 45, people with a faster pace of “biological aging” were more likely to feel, function and look far older than they actually were.… read on > read on >
An ongoing debate about when and how often women should undergo screening mammograms is intensifying in medical circles. A new study and an editorial published online March 15 in JAMA Internal Medicine are adding new fuel to the fight. The research suggests many U.S. screening centers are testing women earlier and more often than necessary,… read on > read on >
THURSDAY, March 18, 2021 (American Heart Association News) — When her 3-year-old daughter’s earache stretched into a sixth hour, Sarah Conaway decided it was time to get some answers. Even if it was 3 a.m. Conaway woke her mom, who lived with them, and they drove to the nearby children’s hospital in Omaha, Nebraska. Sitting… read on > read on >
THURSDAY, March 18, 2021 (American Heart Association News) — Stroke death rates have increased among middle-aged adults in rural counties in the U.S., according to new research that also found declining deaths in urban areas have recently stalled. Overall, stroke deaths dropped nationally for more than four decades before progress started slowing in recent years.… read on > read on >
Don’t believe everything you hear: A sizable minority of Americans are still hesitant about getting the new COVID-19 vaccine, but their fears are mostly not warranted, a leading vaccine expert says. “Not only has it been shown to be safe in tens of thousands of people before approval, it’s been shown to be safe in… read on > read on >
Reinfection with COVID-19 in people who’ve already had the illness is very rare, and most people are protected against reinfection for at least six months, a new report finds. However, immunity appears to drop sharply in those aged 65 and older, researchers found. Reporting Wednesday in The Lancet, a team of Danish scientists looked at… read on > read on >
