Even though many Americans might not even know what pulse oximeters are, the tiny devices are flying off pharmacy shelves as high-risk folks worry about COVID-19. That’s because they perform a critical function, measuring the concentration of oxygen in the blood. How? Just clip the device onto a patient’s finger for a reading. A healthy… read on >
Heart failure raises the risk of complications and death from COVID-19, and requires extra vigilance during the pandemic, the American Heart Association (AHA) says. More than 6 million people in the United States have heart failure. It occurs when the heart no longer pumps blood as well as it should. “When the cardiac system is… read on >
Work stress may increase your risk for ending up in the hospital with peripheral artery disease, a new study suggests. Peripheral artery disease (PAD) occurs when cholesterol or other fatty substances accumulate in blood vessels away from the heart — usually in the legs — and restrict blood flow. Left untreated, PAD increases the risk… read on >
Bats and coronavirus have been evolving together for millions of years, researchers report. In a new study, investigators compared different kinds of coronaviruses living in 36 bat species found on islands in the western Indian Ocean and coastal areas of the African nation of Mozambique. The researchers discovered that 8% of all the bats they… read on >
Young people who pull themselves out of poverty may be no better off when it comes to their heart health, a new study suggests. Researchers found that “upwardly mobile” U.S. adults tended to be less stressed and depressed than peers who spent their whole lives below the poverty line. Unfortunately, it did not make a… read on >
With job losses skyrocketing because of the coronavirus pandemic, hunger is a growing issue for millions of Americans, according to a new report. Surveying more than 10,000 people across the United States late last month, researchers found that nearly 4 in 10 had too little to eat or difficulty obtaining healthy foods. Southern states have… read on >
While health experts continued to call for a national strategy to test more Americans for coronavirus, President Donald Trump on Monday announced a “blueprint” for boosting testing capacity as some states began reopening their economies. But the national guidance says states must develop their own testing plans and rapid-response programs while the White House provides… read on >
The coronavirus pandemic has triggered a wave of accidental poisonings from household cleaners and disinfectants. With the National Poison Data System recently reporting a more than 20% spike in such emergencies, the American Cleaning Institute (ACI) emphasized the need to store cleaning products safely away from children. Bleach and alcohol-based hand sanitizers account for a… read on >
Grocery shopping has become a daunting endeavor during the coronavirus pandemic, but there are things you can do to protect yourself and others, the U.S. Food and Drug Administration says. Prepare a shopping list in advance and buy just one to two weeks’ worth of groceries at a time. Buying more than you need can… read on >
You can’t hug or shake hands these days without risking coronavirus infection, but new research finds that sexual intercourse might be safe. Researchers analyzed semen samples from 34 men in China an average of one month after they were diagnosed with mild to moderate cases of COVID-19, the illness caused by the coronavirus. Laboratory tests… read on >
