For millions of Americans, sneezing, coughing, runny noses, itchy eyes and congestion are sure signs that spring is on the way. The American College of Allergy, Asthma and Immunology (ACAAI) has advice for coping with these classic hay fever symptoms. It recently published a guideline for health care providers caring for patients with these dreaded…  read on >  read on >

Helping your brain stay sharp with age may be as simple as changing up the food on your plate at dinnertime, a new study suggests. The study focused on the healthy “Mediterranean” diet, a regimen reliant on olive oil, beans, nuts, fruits, vegetables and whole grains, with chicken and fish largely replacing red meat. Dairy…  read on >  read on >

Dental hygienists have a low rate of COVID-19, even though their jobs are considered high-risk, a new study says. The U.S. Occupational Safety and Health Administration (OSHA) declared hygienists at high risk for COVID-19, so researchers decided to investigate. They analyzed survey data collected in October from nearly 4,800 dental hygienists in all 50 states…  read on >  read on >

During the pandemic, people with asthma have worried that their respiratory condition might raise their risk of severe illness or death from COVID-19, but new research findings should calm their fears. After analyzing data from 57 studies that included a total of over 587,000 people, scientists discovered that rates of asthma among people with COVID-19…  read on >  read on >

For people who have livedoid vasculopathy, which causes painful ulcers on the feet and lower legs, new research may bring newfound hope. The disease is a rare medical mystery with no known cause and no commonly accepted cure, according to researchers who outlined the case of a single patient whose condition seems to have been…  read on >  read on >

Many older Americans lack knowledge about antibiotics, with some admitting to using leftover medication, a new survey reveals. More than 2,200 adults, aged 50 to 80, were questioned. Nine out of 10 said they’re cautious about using antibiotics, and nearly that number knew that overuse of the drugs can lead to them becoming ineffective, according…  read on >  read on >

Researchers have identified more than 140,000 viruses that live in the human gut, including half that were previously unknown. The number and variety of viruses found in more than 28,000 gut microbiome samples gathered from different parts of the world are surprisingly high, according to the study authors. The researchers added that their findings will…  read on >  read on >

The emergence of new SARS-CoV-2 variants could require a quick pivot on the part of pharmaceutical and medical device companies, to help stay one step ahead of COVID-19. The U.S. Food and Drug Administration issued guidelines Monday encouraging drug and test developers to pay attention to new coronavirus variants and be prepared to make that…  read on >  read on >

People with chronic heartburn may face increased risks of several rare types of cancer, a large U.S. government study shows. Researchers found that among more than 490,000 Americans aged 50 and up, those with gastroesophageal reflux disease (GERD) had about twice the risk of developing cancers of the esophagus or larynx (also known as the…  read on >  read on >