A number of COVID medications have proven their mettle against the “stealth” BA.2 Omicron variant in lab tests, but it’s not clear how effective they would be in real-world use, researchers report. Some evidence suggests that BA.2 can spread more quickly than the already highly contagious earlier BA.1 variant. In lab experiments using non-human primate… read on > read on >
A spike in hospitalizations for a dangerous low-salt condition is the latest in a growing list of health threats linked to climate change. An average global temperature increase of 3.6 degrees Fahrenheit could lead to a 14% increase in hospitalizations for critically low sodium levels in the blood, a condition called hyponatremia, according to a… read on > read on >
German shepherds are one of the most noble dog breeds on the planet, but they can fall prey to an often deadly swallowing disorder. Now, researchers report they have not only identified a gene variant that explains this susceptibility, but they have also designed a test to spot the disease — congenital idiopathic megaesophagus (CIM)… read on > read on >
If Russia’s invasion of Ukraine has left your children confused and frightened, there are several ways to help them feel more secure, a psychologist says. First and foremost: Talk to your kids, and be honest, said Christopher Lynch, director of Pediatric Behavioral Medicine for Goryeb Children’s Hospital in Morristown, N.J. Kids can often tell when… read on > read on >
FRIDAY, March 11, 2022 (American Heart Association News) — When Paula Gallagher arrived at a rehabilitation center five days after her stroke, she felt overwhelmed and devastated. She also couldn’t speak. The clot that reached her brain had stolen her voice. Gallagher, who lives in Madison, Connecticut, was diagnosed with a form of Broca’s aphasia,… read on > read on >
FRIDAY, March 11, 2022 (American Heart Association News) — Mark Brodie was sitting behind his laptop in his home office, grading student papers for a mobile applications class he taught at Simpson College in Indianola, Iowa. Suddenly he couldn’t get his thoughts in order. Everything on the screen and in his mind felt jumbled. He’d… read on > read on >
FRIDAY, March 11, 2022 — Sick people seeking lifesaving care in the United States could fall victim to a hidden part of Russia’s war on Ukraine — vicious cyberattacks aimed at sowing disruption, confusion and chaos as ground forces advance. Cybersecurity experts warn that attacks launched against Ukrainian institutions have the potential to spill over… read on > read on >
This season’s flu shot offered virtually no protection against infection, a new government report shows. While this latest vaccine only cut the risk of getting a mild case of flu by 16%, the agency has noted that flu vaccines typically reduce the risk of illness by 40% to 60%. Still, the shot should offer some… read on > read on >
Women plagued by frequent urinary tract infections often take daily antibiotics to ward them off. But an old antibiotic alternative might work just as well, a new clinical trial finds. Researchers found that the medication, called methenamine, was comparable to standard, low-dose antibiotics in preventing women’s recurrent urinary tract infections (UTIs). Either treatment curbed the… read on > read on >
Inflation, Russia’s invasion of Ukraine and continuing concerns about money and COVID-19 have Americans more stressed than ever, a new poll conducted last week reveals. The biggest concerns: rising costs of food, energy and other everyday items due to inflation (87%); supply chain issues (81%); global uncertainty (81%); Russia’s invasion of Ukraine (80%), and potential… read on > read on >
