As scientists around the world investigate why long COVID strikes some and not others, a new study finds that suffering psychological distress prior to COVID-19 infection may increase the chances of getting the lingering condition. Researchers from the Harvard T.H. Chan School of Public Health in Boston said they were surprised at the strength of… read on > read on >
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AHA News: Her Research Is Getting Worldwide Attention. But For Now, She Needs to Finish High School.
THURSDAY, Sept. 8, 2022 (American Heart Association News) — Explaining her research, Maria Balhara sounds like a typical scientist: She had a hypothesis. She recruited participants to evaluate. She analyzed the data. Soon, she’ll present her work at major scientific conferences. This might be routine stuff for a professor or graduate student. For a 16-year-old… read on > read on >
Experimental Drug Shows Promise Against Lupus
An experimental drug that has been shown to treat rashes in people with lupus may also help with lupus-related joint pain. Affecting as many as 1.5 million people in the United States, lupus is an autoimmune disease in which the body’s immune system misfires against its own joints, skin, brain, lungs, kidneys and blood vessels.… read on > read on >
Too Little Exercise, Too Much Sitting Could Raise Breast Cancer Risk
Sitting on the couch or behind a desk could be increasing your risk of breast cancer, a new genetics-driven study suggests. People more likely to engage in physical activity based on their DNA had a 41% lower risk of invasive breast cancer, researchers report. Previous research also has shown a link between exercise and reduced… read on > read on >
Nurse Practitioners Are Filling the Gap in U.S. Psychiatric Care
While mental health care has become a full-blown crisis in the United States, a new study finds that psychiatric nurse practitioners are helping to fill the gap. The researchers discovered that the mental health system in the United States has become increasingly reliant on this particular category of specialists to meet the needs of Medicare… read on > read on >
Vitamin D Supplements Won’t Shield You From COVID-19, Studies Find
While vitamin D got some attention early in the pandemic, it does not reduce the risk of either COVID-19 or other respiratory infections, two new clinical trials found. Both studies, one done in the United Kingdom and the other in Norway, found that boosting levels of vitamin D in adults during the pandemic didn’t help… read on > read on >
In Rare Move, FDA Panel Gives Support to Controversial ALS Drug in 2nd Review
THURSDAY, Sept. 8, 2022 (HealthDay News) – In a rare second review, a U.S. Food and Drug Administration panel on Wednesday recommended approval for an experimental drug for ALS (amyotrophic lateral sclerosis). The FDA is not obligated to follow its advisors’ recommendations, though it usually does. Wednesday’s vote was 7-2 for approval. The same panel… read on > read on >
Texas Judge Says Obamacare Can’t Require Coverage for Meds That Prevent HIV
THURSDAY, Sept. 8, 2022 (HealthDay News) – Hundreds of thousands of Americans take medications intended to prevent infection with HIV, but a federal judge in Texas ruled Wednesday that a provision in the Affordable Care Act (ACA) that requires free coverage of the drugs violates the religious beliefs of a Christian-owned company. U.S. District Judge… read on > read on >
Dirty Air Could Raise COVID Risks for Poor Pregnant Women
While exposure to smog is a known risk factor for preterm birth and low-birth weight, new research suggests it also may heighten risk of COVID-19 infection for pregnant low-income women. Scientists at Columbia University Mailman School of Public Health analyzed the COVID test results for more than 3,300 pregnant women in New York and also… read on > read on >
As Thermometer Rises, So Does Hate Speech on Twitter
Internet hotheads are often literally that, with hateful tweets rising in number as temperatures soar, a new study reports. Temperatures higher than 86 degrees Fahrenheit are consistently linked to heavy increases in online hate messages, according to a review of more than 4 billion English-language tweets. The researchers identified a “feel-good window” between 54 and… read on > read on >