Anesthesiologists can help save the planet, a new study suggests. Increased use of regional anesthesia instead of general anesthesia may help reduce greenhouse gas emissions that contribute to climate change, according to researchers at the Hospital for Special Surgery in New York City. Unlike general anesthesia, regional anesthesia doesn’t use volatile halogenated agents, such as… read on >
The COVID-19 pandemic may be stressing out most people, but it has had a surprising upside for college students: They’re sleeping better. That’s the upshot of a new study that investigated sleep habits of 139 college students before and after Colorado enacted a stay-at-home order to prevent spread of the new coronavirus. “In the end,… read on >
With U.S. fatalities from COVID-19 now past 115,000, British scientists delivered some welcome news on Tuesday: A drug that appears to cut the odds of death in ventilated patients by one-third. The drug is a low-cost steroid called dexamethasone, which has been in use for decades, noted a team at the University of Oxford. In… read on >
After reopening, states such as Arizona, Florida and Texas are all seeing record-high one-day increases in new coronavirus cases. According to The New York Times, on Tuesday, Florida reported 2,783 new cases, Texas 2,622 and Arizona 2,392. The trio of Sun Belt states are among 20 that have seen upticks in cases over the past… read on >
Sunny days are associated with higher rates of COVID-19, likely because they tempt more people outdoors, putting them at increased risk of infection, researchers say. But they also found that higher heat and humidity may slow the spread of COVID-19. And they said their study might shed light on how different seasons may affect the… read on >
A large cloud of virus-laden droplets can be released high into the air when you flush a toilet — and it can hang around long enough to be inhaled by others, a new study says. The new coronavirus that causes COVID-19 can be found in the feces of infected people, and this finding suggests it… read on >
One Chicago jail is linked with nearly 16% of COVID-19 cases in the city and in Illinois, a new study finds. The researchers said their findings show that U.S. arrest and jailing practices pose a major public health risk during the pandemic and need to change, especially during anti-racism protests across the country. The study… read on >
Back off, Mom and Dad: Teens who feel their parents are overly controlling may have more difficulty with romantic relationships as adults, a new study suggests. The study, which followed 184 teens, found that those with domineering parents had a future that was different from their peers: On average, they did not go as far… read on >
Dental offices responded to COVID-19 lockdowns in much the same way as other medical professions, halting routine visits and only providing emergency care to patients in dire need. But now that stay-at-home orders are lifting, many dentists are reopening, but with new protocols to limit infection. Your dental appointment will not be the same, with… read on >
With U.S. coronavirus cases now past 2 million, a new report finds that COVID-19 is much more lethal for Americans with underlying health issues — illnesses such as heart disease, diabetes or lung ailments. In fact, “deaths were 12 times higher among patients with reported underlying conditions,” compared to healthy individuals, according to an analysis… read on >
