It is safe to donate blood during the coronavirus pandemic? Do cloth face masks offer meaningful protection against COVID-19? These are among the questions Americans are asking, according to the U.S. Food and Drug Administration, and the agency is offering some answers. A number of measures are being taken to protect the nation’s blood supply,… read on >
All Food:
Don’t Believe the Hype: Bogus Products, Coronavirus Scams Abound
Can zinc help shorten a COVID-19 infection? Will vitamin C or other supplements prevent it? These claims and plenty more can be found on social media and internet sites, but be advised: There is no pill or treatment that can prevent or cure COVID right now. “We want to think that there is a quick… read on >
High-Fiber Diets May Lower Odds for Breast Cancer
Whether she gets it from fruits, beans, grains or vegetables, dietary fiber appears to at least slightly lower a woman’s risk for breast cancer, a comprehensive new review finds. The review covered data from 20 different trials involving millions of women. It found that high levels of total fiber consumption “was associated with an 8%… read on >
School Closures Could Be Adding to Kids’ Waistlines
One side effect of the coronavirus pandemic could be long-lasting: U.S. school closures may worsen the child obesity crisis, experts warn. Previous research has shown that kids tend to gain weight when they’re out of school during the summer — especially Hispanic and black youngsters and children who are already overweight. “There could be long-term… read on >
Can Food From an Infected Cook Give You COVID-19?
Even if your takeout dinner was prepared by a cook who has COVID-19, there’s little need to worry about your risk of infection, according to an expert in viruses. “Restaurant kitchens can be one of the safest places in this coronavirus outbreak because they already practice strict hygiene protocols to avoid foodborne illness,” said Paula… read on >
A Pill Left Out, a Child’s Life Lost: Maisie’s Story a Warning to All Adults
Nine-month-old Maisie Gillan spent just a few moments crawling around on a neighbor’s floor, near the end of a dinner party meant to welcome her family to the community. The next morning her parents woke to discover Maisie cold and lifeless. Paramedics responded quickly but couldn’t revive the baby. Police later figured out Maisie had… read on >
Heart Patients Need to Be Wary of Coronavirus
People with high blood pressure and heart disease may be vulnerable to complications from COVID-19, heart experts say. Nearly half of Americans have high blood pressure, according to the American Heart Association (AHA). Based on current knowledge, seniors “with coronary heart disease or high blood pressure may be more susceptible to the coronavirus and more… read on >
‘Stress Eating’ While Social Distancing? Here’s Tips to Avoid It
Trapped in the house with a cupboard full of food: Social distancing during the COVID-19 pandemic can spawn an unintended side effect — stress eating. It may be tempting to ease your anxiety with your favorite comfort foods, but emotional eating can hurt you physically and mentally, according to experts from Rush University Medical Center… read on >
Certain Health Conditions Up Risks for Severe COVID-19
New research suggests that having an underlying health condition might be one of the most significant risk factors for developing a severe case of COVID-19. Scientists at the U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention took a look at a group of U.S. adult COVID-19 patients and found roughly three-quarters of those who wound up… read on >
Major Study Casts Doubt on Routine Use of Stents, Bypass
Folks with clogged arteries do as well with medication and lifestyle changes as they do after undergoing invasive procedures to reopen their blood vessels, a major new clinical trial reports. Bypass surgery, balloon angioplasty and stenting are no better than drugs, eating right and exercising at reducing the risk of heart attack and death in… read on >