For most people, wearing a face mask to protect against COVID-19 doesn’t lead to a false sense of security that leads them to forgo other precautions like hand washing, a new study finds. Although it’s not clear how protective face masks are, scientists and policymakers are urging people to use them. The World Health Organization,… read on >
The coronavirus pandemic and the Black Lives Matter movement have prompted some Americans to take a break from social media, new research finds. The national survey by Ohio State Wexner Medical Center of 2,000 people found that 56% changed their social media habits because of tensions brought on by current U.S. events. While 29% said… read on >
At the peak of the pandemic in the United States and United Kingdom, frontline health care workers, especially minorities, had much higher risks for COVID-19 than other individuals, a new study finds. Paramedics, who are often the first to see sick patients, are at far greater risk of testing positive for COVID-19 than others, the… read on >
High blood pressure is often seen as a condition of old age, but a new study finds that it’s common among young Americans — especially young Black adults. The study, of 18- to 44-year-olds in the United States, found that high blood pressure was prevalent across all racial groups: Among both white and Mexican American… read on >
The White House coronavirus task force coordinator warned Americans on Sunday that the pandemic has entered a new stage where infections are far more widespread and face masks are crucial to curbing new COVID-19 cases. “What we are seeing today is different from March and April. It is extraordinarily widespread,” Birx told CNN. “So everybody… read on >
If you’re getting back to a fitness program or gym after spending months in lockdown, be careful not to hurt yourself, a sports medicine expert urges. “One of the most common reasons people get injured is because they overexert themselves when their level of fitness is not where they want it to be,” said Dr.… read on >
Summer means higher odds of getting Lyme disease, so know how to avoid it, health experts say. Lyme disease is caused by a bacterium carried by some ticks and, if left untreated, can cause severe health problems. Ticks can live anywhere, but they thrive in woods and damp, dark or overgrown places. “Mow your lawn,”… read on >
As Hurricane Isaias moved toward the east coast of Florida on Friday, one expert warns that the coronavirus pandemic could make preparing for an active hurricane season even more challenging. The average hurricane season has about 12 named storms, but up to 20 storms are being predicted this season, according to Marshall Shepherd, director of… read on >
A new study explains how the coronavirus hitches a ride on droplets released when you cough, sneeze, talk or speak, and travels around a room. The University of Minnesota scientists hope their work will help schools and businesses take steps to reduce the chance of COVID-19 transmission as they reopen. For the study, they created… read on >
For Ron Panzok and many patients like him, the battle with COVID-19 didn’t end when he left the hospital. From the ambulance ride to North Shore University Hospital on New York’s Long Island to the day he finally woke from a medically induced coma five weeks later, Panzok doesn’t remember a thing. He missed more… read on >
