Millions of people worldwide live with a pacemaker that regulates their heartbeat, but exactly what are these devices and how do they work? Pacemakers can save the lives of heart patients by preventing conditions like bradycardia, or a slow heart rate. Since the invention of the pacemaker in 1960, improvements to their original technology have… read on > read on >
An alarming new survey shows that American teen girls are experiencing record high levels of violence, sadness and suicide risk. Schools may be the answer to improving what’s happening for young people, according to the report from the U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. About 3 in 5 girls — 57% — said they… read on > read on >
Often, patients with nonalcoholic fatty liver disease are advised to lose weight, but that can be hard to do and takes precious time. Now, researchers report they have found another strategy can help lower liver fat in people with this condition, which affects nearly 30% of the global population. Exercise of about 150 minutes each… read on > read on >
COVID-19 booster shots appear to benefit folks 50 and older but less so for younger people, a new study suggests. For the study, researchers ran a statistical analysis using death rates from COVID, and looked at the vaccines’ effectiveness in protecting people from dying of the disease. While they were found to be very effective… read on > read on >
Exposure to wildfire smoke can increase the risk of premature birth, new research suggests. For the study, the researchers reviewed birth certificates and hospital delivery data for more than 2.5 million pregnant women in California from 2007 to 2012, and used satellite images and ZIP codes to compare daily estimates of wildfire smoke intensity. The… read on > read on >
The COVID-19 antiviral treatment Paxlovid continues to work against Omicron subvariants BA.4 and BA.5, new research shows. Researchers decided to study Paxlovid’s impact against severe illness and death because doctors have fewer treatment options for high-risk patients as the virus evolves. “We are really struggling with maintaining effective therapeutic options for high-risk patients with COVID-19,”… read on > read on >
It’s not clear why, but youths in U.S. states where medical marijuana is legal report more vaping of cannabis than their peers in states where weed is legal for all adults or it is completely illegal. New research found that about 27% of 12th graders in medical marijuana states reported vaping cannabis compared to 19%… read on > read on >
Researchers studying well water found current monitoring practices often fail to reflect actual groundwater pollution risks. The problem: Spikes in harmful bacteria, like those from animal and human waste, vary depending on the season. They may be higher at times when testing is less likely to be done. “This is concerning because many residents and… read on > read on >
In the wake of natural disasters like wildfires that have destroyed whole communities with alarming speed, some folks are focused on the beloved pets left behind — and how to save others in the future. More than 1,000 pets died in the Marshall fire on Dec. 30, 2021, in Boulder County, Colo., according to new… read on > read on >
You might think about cholesterol when you consider your cardiovascular health. It’s also important to consider your A1C levels. Sugar is just as bad for your heart as cholesterol — if not worse, said Dr. Daniel Lodge, a thoracic surgeon at Penn State Health Specialty Services in Reading, Pa. “Diabetes is a much bigger risk… read on > read on >
