The United States could save thousands of lives each year by addressing its lack of enough primary care doctors, a new study projects. There has been a shortfall of U.S. primary care doctors for a long time, with much of the problem concentrated in rural areas and poverty-stricken urban centers. And the future looks bleak:… read on > read on >
Among older Americans, deaths from falls are up sharply, dovetailing with a surge in use of medications that increase the risk of falling, researchers say. Two decades ago, about 57% of U.S. seniors took medications that increased their risk of falls. By 2017, that number had risen to 94%, and deaths caused by falls had… read on > read on >
TUESDAY, March 23, 2021 (American Heart Association News) — Hana Hooper went to college with dreams of becoming a veterinarian. She aspired to boost her knowledge of biology and intended to amplify her interest in art. She was 18, and her future was aflame with potential. “We thought she’d go and have a normal college… read on > read on >
U.S. health officials called the results of AstraZeneca’s coronavirus vaccine trial into question early Tuesday, saying the company may have used outdated data that could have changed its conclusion about the efficacy of the vaccine. On Monday morning, AstraZeneca had announced that its vaccine was 79 percent effective in protecting against COVID-19 infection in the… read on > read on >
The smoke from forest fires is sending children to emergency rooms with respiratory problems at higher rates than ever before, a new study finds. “Kids are particularly vulnerable to pollution from wildfires, so they can have asthma exacerbation and other respiratory problems,” said senior researcher Tarik Benmarhnia, an associate professor of family medicine and public… read on > read on >
Those little blue pills were designed to help men experiencing impotence. But Viagra and drugs like it might also lower the risk of dying or experiencing a new heart attack in men with heart disease, according to new Swedish research. “Potency problems are common in older men and now our study also shows that PDE5… read on > read on >
Groggy during the day? Feeling burned out at work? That could put you at increased risk for COVID-19 and more severe illness, a new study suggests. “We found that lack of sleep at night, severe sleep problems and high level of burnout may be risk factors for COVID-19” for frontline health care workers, according to… read on > read on >
More than half of the food Americans eat is “ultra-processed” — and it’s making them sick. Higher consumption of these highly processed foods is associated with an increased risk of cardiovascular disease and death, according to a new study, and yet they account for 58% of calories in a U.S. diet. Each additional serving increased… read on > read on >
Blood sugar levels in youngsters with type 1 diabetes improved during Britain’s first national COVID-19 pandemic lockdown, researchers say. “Children and families found it easier to manage this disease when they were forced to stay at home. This helps us to understand the pressure that is put on patients and families when trying to live… read on > read on >
The first drug approved in the United States to treat thyroid eye disease may come with an unwelcome side effect for many: A small, new study finds that up to two-thirds of patients who take the medication experience hearing problems. Teprotumumab (Tepezza) was approved by the U.S. Food and Drug Administration in January 2020. In… read on > read on >
