There was a 6.5% drop in premature births from cesarean sections and induced deliveries in the United States during the pandemic, likely because pregnant women made fewer visits to their doctors, researchers report. They said their findings raise questions about whether some decisions made by doctors during pregnancy may lead to unnecessary preterm births, defined… read on > read on >
The pandemic has worsened longstanding staffing shortages at U.S. nursing homes and other long-term care facilities. Now, a new study shows that high employee turnover rates have yet to improve. Researchers found that after initial workforce losses in the early phase of the pandemic, U.S. hospitals, outpatient centers and other health care settings were getting… read on > read on >
MONDAY, April 11, 2022 (American Heart Association News) — Anyone who has been on the receiving end of a dog’s love and devotion knows these furry friends are nothing if not good for our hearts. There’s plenty of research to show that’s more than a warm, fuzzy feeling. Studies show dog ownership benefits heart health… read on > read on >
Catching COVID-19 appears to increase an older person’s risk of developing a case of shingles. Researchers found that people 50 and older who had a COVID infection were 15% more likely to develop shingles, compared to people who were never infected. That risk climbed to 21% in people hospitalized with a severe case of COVID.… read on > read on >
Too few sexually active teens are getting tested for sexually transmitted diseases (STDs), according to a new report by U.S. health officials. In all, just 20% of sexually active high school students said they were tested for an STD — now called sexually transmitted infections (STIs) — in the past year, according to researchers from… read on > read on >
Rising numbers of coronavirus infections in the United States are not surprising and not yet a cause for alarm, Dr. Anthony Fauci, the nation’s top infectious doctor, said Sunday. There are an average of 31,000 new cases a day nationwide, a 3% increase from two weeks ago, according to a New York Times database. However,… read on > read on >
A new artificial intelligence approach can predict if and when heart patients might die of sudden cardiac arrest far more accurately than a doctor can, and could improve survival rates, according to its developers. “Sudden cardiac death caused by arrhythmia accounts for as many as 20% of all deaths worldwide and we know little about… read on > read on >
Older children and teens are the most vulnerable to severe cases of a rare inflammatory disorder that can occur in youngsters who’ve had COVID-19, a new study finds. It included 232 children aged 18 and younger who were admitted to 15 hospitals in Canada, Costa Rica and Iran with suspected multi-system inflammatory syndrome (MIS-C) between… read on > read on >
Some patients with serious illnesses get cosmetic surgery to look healthier and be more comfortable in social situations or at work, a small study finds. Researchers interviewed 12 patients who had cosmetic surgery at the start or during treatment for conditions such as stroke, advanced melanoma, prostate cancer, advanced cervical or thyroid cancer and Hodgkin’s… read on > read on >
Sitting tai chi provides stroke survivors with recovery benefits similar to those achieved with standard rehabilitation, a new study finds. Tai chi involves a series of slow movements of the hands, arms, neck, legs and core combined with deep breathing. Researchers developed a tai chi routine that stroke survivors can do while sitting. “Tai chi… read on > read on >
