Damage to the brainstem could be behind the physical and psychological effects of Long COVID, a new study suggests. Brain scans of 30 Long COVID patients found they had damage to the region of the brainstem associated with breathlessness, fatigue and anxiety, researchers reported Oct. 7 in the journal Brain. “The brainstem is the critical… read on > read on >
In a small, preliminary study, piano lessons provided to cancer patients undergoing chemotherapy appeared to help them maintain brain health. “There were a lot of outside stressors contributing to my mood, but piano practice and going to lessons were always something good and positive that I would look forward to, no matter what else was… read on > read on >
AI isn’t ready to run a hospital’s emergency room just yet, a new study concludes. ChatGPT likely would ask for unnecessary x-rays and antibiotics for some patients, and admit others who don’t really need hospital treatment, researchers reported Oct. 8 in the journal Nature Communications. “This is a valuable message to clinicians not to blindly… read on > read on >
The recent approval of a new epinephrine nasal spray gives patients a powerful new way to keep life-threatening allergic reactions at bay. But that doesn’t mean folks no longer have to worry about anaphylaxis. According to the American College of Allergy, Asthma and Immunology, anaphylaxis can occur within minutes of exposure to an allergen. Common… read on > read on >
Checking your blood pressure at home? Pay attention to arm position. A new study by Johns Hopkins researchers confirms that it makes a “huge difference” when it comes to getting an accurate measurement. And, the authors add, health care providers need to be more careful about it, too. “[Patients] must advocate for themselves in the… read on > read on >
Even as folks in North Carolina continue to clean up following the devastation of Hurricane Helene, a new health danger has emerged: The massive flooding that swept away roads and towns also uprooted the underground nests of yellow jackets, bees and other stinging insects. That has triggered a surge in swarms that attack and sting… read on > read on >
Two new studies show insurers continue to deny claims for preventive care that is supposed to be free under Obamacare. And insurers are more apt to reject claims from patients who are Asian, Black or Hispanic as well as those with low incomes, researchers recently reported in the journal JAMA Network Open. “What we document… read on > read on >
A Wisconsin program that sends suspects in minor drug-related crimes to treatment instead of jail is paying off, a new study shows. Researchers who evaluated the Madison Area Recovery Initiative (MARI) found that non-violent offenders who were given a clinical assessment and six months of substance use treatment were less likely to be arrested, jailed… read on > read on >
Light therapy: It’s long been a go-to therapy for seasonal affective disorder (SAD), a kind of depression that can beset some people when winter looms and days shorten. But new research is suggesting that time spent in front of light box might ease other forms of depression as well. The new review of data was… read on > read on >
Teens from minority groups seeking treatment at pediatric trauma centers are more likely than their white counterparts to be tested for drugs and alcohol. That’s the takeaway from a new study led by researchers at UCLA and Children’s Hospital Los Angeles. “While screening can positively affect patients if it is followed by counseling and treatment,… read on > read on >
