In a finding that reinforces the safety of COVID vaccines, a new study shows that while the shots don’t raise the risk of rare neurological problems, COVID-19 infection might. The researchers focused on four immune-related neurological disorders: Bell’s palsy (facial weakness), encephalomyelitis (inflammation of the brain and spinal cord), Guillain-Barré syndrome (a nerve condition), and… read on > read on >
Could cigarette taxes help lower newborn and infant death rates? Yes, claims a new study. The researchers suggest that pregnant women are less likely to smoke when tobacco taxes are raised, leading to fewer infants being exposed to secondhand smoke. Smoking during pregnancy and secondhand smoke exposure are known to increase the risk of infant… read on > read on >
Rates of postpartum depression among American mothers rose nearly three-fold during the COVID-19 pandemic, along with large increases in major depression and thoughts of self-harm, according to a new study. It included 670 new moms who completed online screening between February and July 2020. One-third screened positive for postpartum depression and 20% had symptoms of… read on > read on >
If your blood pressure spikes when you stand, you may be at increased risk for heart attack and stroke, Italian researchers warn. “The results of the study confirmed our initial hypothesis — a pronounced increase in blood pressure from lying to standing could be prognostically important in young people with high blood pressure,” said lead… read on > read on >
Omicron appears to have hit America’s youngest children much harder than any previous variant of the virus, a new government report shows. Five times as many kids aged 4 and younger landed in the hospital during the Omicron wave than were hospitalized when Delta was the predominant strain, according to findings published March 15 in… read on > read on >
In yet another sign that severe COVID-19 is tough to recover from, a new study shows that some survivors who required mechanical ventilation take days or even weeks to regain consciousness after sedation is halted and their breathing tube is removed. For the study, the researchers analyzed data on 795 patients with severe COVID-19 who… read on > read on >
WEDNESDAY, March 16, 2022 (American Heart Association News) — You know that phrase “you are what you eat”? Nutrition scientists are getting to the bottom of what that means with an emerging area of research called precision nutrition. It’s a growing field of study that assumes each person may have unique responses to eating specific… read on > read on >
WEDNESDAY, March 16, 2022 (American Heart Association News) — When Randy Fritz went to his primary care physician for a checkup, he hadn’t been to see his doctor in more than a decade, but he wasn’t concerned. Why would he be? He played tennis and racquetball regularly with nary a problem. He ate healthy foods.… read on > read on >
Since Russia invaded Ukraine, millions have fled their homes and sought refuge wherever they could find it. Each individual story is intensely personal, but mental health experts warn of a refugee crisis that risks leaving a nation of 43 million with deep psychological scars for years to come. Marina, from Kyiv, now counts herself among… read on > read on >
Russia’s invasion of Ukraine has become a humanitarian crisis. More than 3 million people have fled as refugees into neighboring countries, while thousands of civilians who remain in Ukraine have been injured by Russian shelling and missile attacks. In response, relief organizations have flooded the area to provide health care and aid to the suffering.… read on > read on >
