A new study has some heartening news for coffee lovers: That morning cup is unlikely to make your heart skip a beat. The study, published March 23 in the New England Journal of Medicine, found that drinking coffee does not seem to predispose healthy people to premature atrial contractions. PACs are a normal occurrence for… read on > read on >
That road noise outside your window could be wreaking havoc on your blood pressure. A new study published March 22 in JACC: Advances found that the roaring engines, blaring horns and wailing sirens can themselves elevate high blood pressure (hypertension) risk, aside from questions about the impact of air pollution. “We were a little surprised… read on > read on >
A rare strain of the parasite Toxoplasma has killed four sea otters along the California coast, raising concerns about a potential public health risk. “The appearance of this lethal type of Toxoplasma in coastal California is concerning for two main reasons: First, because of potential population health impacts on a threatened species, and second, because… read on > read on >
The death of a parent is heartbreaking for a child or teenager, and those who experience it are known to be at an increased risk for depression and other mental health issues later in life. But a new study finds that children who participated in a bereavement program with their families following the loss of… read on > read on >
If you’ve been suffering from caregiver stress, you’ve got plenty of company. It affects about 36% of the 53 million unpaid family caregivers in the United States, according to a recent report by the AARP and the National Alliance for Caregiving — and it can ultimately lead to caregiver burnout. To give you some tools… read on > read on >
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 >
