WEDNESDAY, Feb. 17, 2021 (HealthDay News) – Could the COVID-19 pandemic be taking a toll on kids’ teeth? A new, nationwide poll found the pandemic has made it harder for parents to get their kids regular dental care. But on the other hand, many say their youngsters are now taking better care of their teeth.…  read on >  read on >

MONDAY, Feb. 15, 2021 (American Heart Association News) — Reducing sodium intake by any amount can lower blood pressure over the long term – and may benefit everyone, including people with normal blood pressure, new research shows. While the link between consuming less-salty foods and lower blood pressure is well established, researchers wanted to understand…  read on >  read on >

Despite their reputation for boosting the powers of your immune system, a new study reports that vitamin C and zinc supplements don’t help COVID-19 patients recover from their illness. Giving one or the other, or a combination of both, to patients didn’t significantly reduce the severity or duration of their COVID-19 symptoms. Zinc is important…  read on >  read on >

Too much coffee during pregnancy could lead to kids with behavior problems later on. That’s the key takeaway from new research that examined 9,000 brain scans from 9- and 10-year-olds as part of the largest long-term study of brain development and child health. “The goalposts are moved by caffeine, and there are subtle, but real…  read on >  read on >

A new weight-loss drug is almost twice as effective as current medications, clinical trial results show, and experts say it could revolutionize the treatment of obesity. Overweight and obese people lost an average 15% of their body weight using a weekly injectable 2.4 milligram dose of semaglutide (Ozempic), a new report reveals. What’s more, one-third…  read on >  read on >

If you have bleeding gums, you may need to increase the amount of vitamin C in your diet, a new study suggests. The American Dental Association says bleeding could be a sign of gingivitis, an early stage of gum disease. These new findings from University of Washington (UW) researchers suggest you should also check your…  read on >  read on >

A new drug combination for advanced liver cancer can extend people’s lives substantially more than the long-standing drug of choice, new study findings confirm. The treatment involves two drugs approved to fight various cancers: bevacizumab (Avastin) and atezolizumab (Tecentriq). Avastin, an intravenous (IV) drug, starves tumors by preventing new blood vessel growth. Tecentriq, also given…  read on >  read on >

Fill up that mug: Having one or more cups of caffeinated coffee a day may reduce your risk of heart failure, new research suggests. There was one caveat, however: Decaffeinated coffee doesn’t appear to provide the same protection as caffeine-rich blends. “The association between caffeine and heart failure risk reduction was surprising,” admitted study senior…  read on >  read on >

Keep flossing: A new study finds that gum disease may raise the chances of hospitalization or death if COVID-19 strikes. The reason? Gum disease can be a sign of inflammation throughout the body. “It is well-established that systemic inflammation is not only linked with periodontal disease, but to several other respiratory diseases as well,” explained…  read on >  read on >