THURSDAY, April 15, 2021 (American Heart Association News) — High blood pressure. Structural racism. What do they have in common? Researchers say they are two of the biggest factors responsible for the gap in poor heart and brain health between Black and white adults in the United States. And they are inextricably linked. Studies show… read on > read on >
THURSDAY, April 15, 2021 (American Heart Association News) — Body mass index may be more helpful in predicting the risk of a common type of irregular heartbeat in women, while waist size may better predict that risk in men, new research suggests. The link between obesity and atrial fibrillation, or AFib – when the heart… read on > read on >
The magic ingredient in “magic mushrooms” may be at least as effective as standard medication for depression, an early clinical trial suggests. The study of 59 patients with major depression tested the antidepressant escitalopram (Lexapro) against psilocybin, which is the psychedelic substance in hallucinogenic mushrooms. Over six weeks, it appeared that just two doses of… read on > read on >
The fate of Johnson & Johnson’s coronavirus vaccine hung in the balance on Thursday after a government advisory committee said it needed more time and evidence to determine whether unusual, but severe, blood clots seen in a handful of people were caused by the vaccine. So far, only six clotting cases have been officially reported… read on > read on >
States that required people to mask up last year had lower rates of COVID-19 than those with no mask requirements, a new study finds. Researchers examined data from all 50 states and Washington, D.C., to assess mask policies, people’s self-reported use of masks in public, and COVID rates from May through October 2020. They factored… read on > read on >
‘Bleeding’ stroke patients with COVID-19 are more than twice as likely to die as those without COVID-19, new research shows. For the study, a research team from the University of Utah analyzed data from 568 hospitals in the United States. They compared a control group of more than 23,300 patients without COVID-19 who suffered a… read on > read on >
Where you live could affect your brain health as you age, a new study claims. Specifically, it found that middle-aged and older people in poorer neighborhoods showed more brain shrinkage and faster mental decline than those in affluent neighborhoods. “”Worldwide, dementia is a major cause of illness and a devastating diagnosis,” said study author Dr.… read on > read on >
Americans’ eating habits have changed for the worse during the COVID-19 pandemic, including an increase in eating disorders, researchers say. For their study, the University of Minnesota team analyzed information gathered between April and May of 2020 from participants in a study called Project EAT. The analysis found a link between the pandemic and several… read on > read on >
Stress does not trigger binge eating in people with eating disorders, new research suggests. The findings challenge a common theory that’s never been directly tested in patients, according to the study authors. Their research included 85 women (22 with anorexia, 33 with bulimia and a control group of 30 without an eating disorder). The study… read on > read on >
Starting the school day a little later helps middle and high school students get more and better sleep, according to a new study. The research is based on annual surveys of about 28,000 elementary, middle and high school students and their parents. The surveys were completed before and two years after school start times were… read on > read on >
