Obesity is a well-known risk factor for severe COVID-19, and researchers think they’ve uncovered a possible reason why. Obese folks appear to have a blunted inflammatory response to COVID, leaving their immune systems less capable of fighting it, according to a recent study. The findings were a surprise to researchers, given that severe COVID often… read on > read on >
It’s a controversial notion, but couples undergoing fertility treatments may soon be able to select the sex of their baby — with an 80% chance of success, doctors say. Sperm-sorting techniques have been tried and offered before, but the new procedure — which separates sperm cells based on weight — appears much more accurate and… read on > read on >
A proposed bill in Florida would prevent children from learning about menstruation in elementary school, even though some girls get their first periods in those years. The bill would also ban other sex education topics through the fifth grade. Sponsored by Republican Florida state Rep. Stan McClain, the bill advanced out of the House Education… read on > read on >
WEDNESDAY, March 22, 2023 (American Heart Association News) — Multitasking is a way of life for Juan Medina-Echeverria. He’s a husband, a father of two and a second-year medical student living near Chicago. He often listens to his classes while jogging on the treadmill, running the equivalent of 6 or 7 miles for every hourlong… read on > read on >
Sometimes a person may not be able to make it to the bathroom on their own, either because they are recovering from surgery or have long-term health issues. It’s likely that many people will need to think about being able to change a loved one’s bedpan at home. Research published recently in the journal Health… read on > read on >
Much has been made of the so-called “obesity paradox” — the observation that people with a heart condition seem less likely to die if they are overweight or obese. But European researchers now say they’ve debunked that theory, which was based on earlier research that relied on body mass index (BMI, a measure based on… read on > read on >
(HealthDay News) – A drug-resistant bacteria linked to recalled eye drops has now killed three people. The U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention reported Tuesday that infections with Pseudomonas aeruginosa had led to two additional deaths. In all, 68 people have become infected in 16 states. Eight of the patients have lost their vision.… read on > read on >
Taking progestogen-only birth control pills comes with a slightly increased risk of breast cancer — about the same degree of risk associated with taking pills that contain both progestogen and estrogen, new research finds. After five years’ use, investigators found a 20% to 30% heightened breast cancer risk with both types of contraceptives, according to… read on > read on >
Multiple sclerosis (MS) and atherosclerosis both involve an abnormal hardening of body tissue, and recent research suggests they may be linked. MS is a neurodegenerative disease that attacks the brain and spinal cord. Atherosclerosis is hardening of the arteries. Studies show connections between the two, according to Ochsner Health System in New Orleans. In 2018,… read on > read on >
A new study hones in on what part of your brain controls walking. Researchers discovered that two main regions of the cortex were activated as people moved in various ways through an environment. But the occipital place area (OPA) didn’t activate during crawling, while the second region, the retrosplenial complex (RSC), did. RSC supports map-based… read on > read on >
