As the U.S. coronavirus case count eclipsed 1.8 million and the death toll passed 107,000 on Thursday, America’s jobless rolls swelled to nearly 43 million. That’s close to one-quarter of the country’s work force. The U.S. Labor Department reported 1.9 million more people filed new unemployment claims last week, a sobering reminder of the economic… read on >
Face masks help prevent the spread of COVID-19, but some people find them awkward, uncomfortable or downright unbearable to wear. There’s another good option available for people who just can’t get used to strapping on a face mask while out in public, experts say. Plastic face shields offer another means of deterring COVID-19 that some… read on >
For many, work-at-home orders aimed at fighting the COVID-19 pandemic have had an unintended side effect: sleep loss. “We’ve seen a significant increase in reports of stress-related insomnia in recent months,” said Julio Fernandez-Mendoza of the Penn State Health Sleep Research and Treatment Center in Hummelstown, Penn. Stress and worry about the pandemic is one… read on >
There’s been a nearly 60% drop in broken bones among U.S. children during the coronavirus pandemic, but the rate of fractures that occur at home has climbed, a new study finds. The researchers analyzed data on 1,735 youngsters treated for acute fractures at the Children’s Hospital of Philadelphia (CHOP) between March 15 and April 15,… read on >
In the thick of the coronavirus pandemic, it might be hard to tell if you’ve come down with COVID-19, spring allergies or a cold, which all have some similar symptoms. Fever and dry cough are common symptoms of COVID-19, along with shortness of breath and difficulty breathing, sore throat, diarrhea, fatigue, chills, muscle pain, loss… read on >
Whether pot use increases the risk of stroke has been hotly debated, and now a new study adds to evidence that it doesn’t. “Our observational study looked specifically at recent cannabis use by reviewing drug testing data for people admitted to the hospital. While more research is needed with larger numbers of people, our study… read on >
In the thick of the coronavirus pandemic, it might be hard to tell if you’ve come down with COVID-19, spring allergies or a cold, which all have some similar symptoms. Fever and dry cough are common symptoms of COVID-19, along with shortness of breath and difficulty breathing, sore throat, diarrhea, fatigue, chills, muscle pain, loss… read on >
Whether pot use increases the risk of stroke has been hotly debated, and now a new study adds to evidence that it doesn’t. “Our observational study looked specifically at recent cannabis use by reviewing drug testing data for people admitted to the hospital. While more research is needed with larger numbers of people, our study… read on >
A new review shows that protests have now unfolded in every one of the 25 U.S. communities with the highest concentrations of new COVID-19 cases, stoking fears of a spike in new infections. The Associated Press analysis also found that some cities — Minneapolis, Chicago, Washington, D.C., and Los Angeles among them — have witnessed… read on >
Four of the earliest U.S. cases of a rare inflammatory syndrome in kids with COVID-19 are described in a study that offers insight into the condition. The four children — aged 5, 10, 12 and 13 — arrived at Mount Sinai Hospital in New York City with what is known as exaggerated cytokine storm, an… read on >
Lassie desperately trying to get Timmy out of the well isn’t a myth — your dog really wants to save you, a new study suggests. “It’s a pervasive legend,” said researcher Joshua Van Bourg, a graduate student in psychology at Arizona State University in Tempe. “The difficult challenge is figuring out why they do it.”… read on >
If you constantly battle sinus infections, low levels of good bacteria in your nose may be to blame, new research suggests. Previous research has shown that health-protecting strains of bacteria reside in your digestive system, genital tract and on your skin. In this study, researchers found that people with chronic nasal and sinus inflammation had… read on >
Michigan prepared to lift its stay-at-home order on Tuesday — one of the last states to do so. But in New York, Gov. Andrew Cuomo warned that protests rampant in numerous American cities could trigger a second wave of COVID-19 infections. “Protest, just be smart about it,” Cuomo said. New York plans to reopen all… read on >
An Alzheimer’s diagnosis is devastating, no matter your sex. But the disease strikes far more women than men. Journalist and author Maria Shriver is determined to help researchers figure out why women make up two-thirds of those with Alzheimer’s disease. And why certain races and ethnicities are harder hit, too. “Some of the biggest research… read on >
A drug championed by President Donald Trump as a coronavirus panacea appears to be in short supply for people who really need it: lupus patients. More than one-third of U.S. lupus patients who take hydroxychloroquine have struggled to fill prescriptions for the drug during the COVID-19 crisis, a new survey finds. One patient finally filled… read on >
“Social distancing” is the watchword for keeping the new coronavirus at bay, but how far apart is enough? Researchers say they may have an answer. While most public health officials recommend you put 6 feet between yourself and others, a new review of 172 studies from 16 countries concluded that keeping 3 feet apart might… read on >
