The pandemic has dramatically disrupted kids’ normal routines, but a new study suggests the initial lockdowns of 2020 did not necessarily hinder preschoolers’ language development. In fact, researchers found, there was an unanticipated “lockdown boost” in youngsters’ vocabulary growth — possibly because parents were spending more time at home. Studying families in 13 countries, the… read on > read on >
WEDNESDAY, Feb. 9, 2022 (American Heart Association News) — People making less than $35,000 a year may be more likely to have carotid artery stenosis, a leading cause of stroke, a new study found. Carotid artery stenosis is a narrowing of the large arteries on either side of the neck that carry blood to the… read on > read on >
WEDNESDAY, Feb. 9, 2022 (American Heart Association News) — Two years after a chance outing with a friend at an ice rink, Jake Burnam had gone from someone who struggled to connect with a sport to a hockey dynamo. He’d skate up to four nights a week. Jake tried out for his team’s “gold” squad.… read on > read on >
Many states are already dispensing with mask mandates, but the U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention’s director says COVID-19 case and hospitalization numbers in the United States remain too high to ease its mask guidelines. The agency “still recommends that all schools encourage students to wear well-fitting masks consistently and while indoors. And that’s… read on > read on >
Strokes caused by COVID-19 appear to be more disabling and deadly than those not associated with the infectious disease, a new study finds. About one-third of COVID-19 patients develop neurological complications, and many arrive at hospitals with ischemic strokes (blocked blood flow to the brain), according to the researchers who studied cases in North America.… read on > read on >
No contraceptive is perfect, and scientists continue searching for safer, more effective methods. Now, researchers have found a way to trap sperm in semen’s natural gel state, and they believe their findings could point the way to a new type of birth control. Normally, semen liquefies after ejaculation, which enables sperm to swim through a… read on > read on >
Though the days are getting noticeably longer, if you’re feeling down this winter, you might have a form of depression called seasonal affective disorder, or SAD. SAD, which typically begins as daylight shrinks in the fall, affects about 5% of U.S. adults. It’s more common in women than in men, and in people with a… read on > read on >
E-cigarettes have been touted as an aid to quit smoking tobacco cigarettes, but a new study suggests that’s a myth. Researchers found that using e-cigarettes resulted in fewer successful attempts than other smoking cessation aids. And, they added, e-cigarette users weren’t less likely to relapse than those who didn’t use them. “I think the image… read on > read on >
Vaccinated people in California will no longer have to wear masks indoors as of Feb. 15, but schoolchildren will still have to wear masks, state health officials announced Monday. However, they said that unvaccinated people will still have to wear masks indoors, and both vaccinated and unvaccinated people will be required to wear masks in… read on > read on >
Loneliness, isolation and fears about contracting COVID-19 have turned life upside down for people with disabilities, causing high levels of depression and anxiety, a new survey finds. Even before the pandemic, individuals with disabilities were more likely to experience social isolation than their peers without disabilities. But this survey of 441 adults conducted between October… read on > read on >
