Compared with white patients, Black adults are at a distinct disadvantage when it comes to hospital safety in the United States, a new report warns. Black patients are significantly less likely to gain access to “high-quality” hospitals, an Urban Institute analysis found. As a result, they’re much more likely to undergo surgical procedures in facilities… read on > read on >
Brain activity increases when you start to learn a new language, but slows down as you become more proficient, a new, small study finds. “In the first few months, you can quantitatively measure language-skill improvement by tracking brain activations,” study co-author Kuniyoshi Sakai, a neuroscientist at the University of Tokyo, said in a school news… read on > read on >
Add another part of your body to the list of what COVID-19 can invade: New research shows mouth cells can be infected with the new coronavirus. Previous studies have shown that the coronavirus infects the upper airways and lungs, the digestive system, blood vessels and kidneys, which may explain the wide-ranging symptoms experienced by COVID-19… read on > read on >
If you must travel during the spring break, be sure to follow recommended COVID-19 pandemic safety measures, an emergency medicine doctor advises. Millions of people are packing airports, while only one-quarter of the U.S. population has received at least one shot of a COVID-19 vaccine, noted Dr. Lewis Nelson, director of the department of emergency… read on > read on >
There’s no cure for endometriosis, but women have several treatment options for the painful condition, an expert says. With endometriosis, tissue that normally lines the inside of the uterus grows outside of it, where it can reach the fallopian tubes, ovaries, bowel, bladder, diaphragm and, more rarely, other parts of the body. It can reduce… read on > read on >
“Couch potatoes,” take note: Sedentary behavior now accounts for up to 8% of non-communicable diseases and deaths worldwide, researchers say. Physical inactivity is a known risk factor for premature death and several non-communicable diseases, including heart disease, stroke, high blood pressure, type 2 diabetes and several cancers. In a new study, researchers analyzed 2016 data… read on > read on >
Black people have higher diabetes death rates than white people in the 30 largest cities in the United States, a new study finds. But placing a cap on the price of insulin could narrow that racial gap, according to researcher Joanna Buscemi, of DePaul University in Chicago. Insulin medication is needed by all people with… read on > read on >
Teenage pot use can hamper a kid’s future chances of landing a good job with a large salary, mainly by interfering with his or her education, a new study of twins has found. A teenager who uses more marijuana than their identical twin is less likely to wind up in a highly skilled occupation with… read on > read on >
The mRNA vaccines from Pfizer and Moderna have proven to be potent weapons against COVID-19 infection among health care workers, first responders and essential workers in the real world, a new U.S. government study shows. After following nearly 4,000 volunteers in six states over a 13-week period, researchers from the U.S. Centers for Disease Control… read on > read on >
Middle-aged adults looking to boost their muscle mass do not need to bulk up on protein, a new study suggests. Researchers found that 10 weeks of strength training plus a moderate amount of protein were enough to build muscle in previously sedentary middle-aged people. And extra protein brought no added gains. The findings run counter… read on > read on >
