People who are double-jointed might be at increased risk of developing long COVID, a new study reports. Double-jointed folks are 30% more likely to not fully recover from COVID-19 infection, compared with those who are less flexible, researchers report in the journal BMJ Public Health. They also are more likely to experience the persistent fatigue… read on > read on >
All Health and Wellness:
U.S. Abortion Rates Rose After Dobbs Decision, Led by Medication Abortions
Following the historic reversal of Roe v. Wade in June of 2022, the number of abortions in the United States has risen to more than a million per year, with medication abortions representing nearly two-thirds of those cases. The numbers come from a new report by the Guttmacher Institute, a research and policy organization focused… read on > read on >
Could Intermittent Fasting Diets Raise Heart Risks?
Intermittent fasting might be bad for your heart, a new study warns. People who restricted their eating to an 8-hour window had nearly twice the risk of heart-related death compared to folks who ate freely, results show. This runs counter to previous research in which intermittent fasting improved several measures related to heart health, including… read on > read on >
No Brain Injuries Seen Among ‘Havana Syndrome’ Patients
“Havana Syndrome” appears to cause real and severe symptoms among federal employees suffering from the mystery illness, but there’s no evidence of brain injury or biological abnormalities among them, a new report shows. Researchers evaluated 81 U.S. diplomats and other federal employees, mostly stationed abroad, who had complained of hearing noise and feeling head pressure… read on > read on >
FDA Approves First Drug to Treat Yeast Ear Infections in Dogs
The U.S. Food and Drug Administration has approved the first drug to treat yeast ear infections in dogs. DuOtic is also the first ear infection medication that does not contain an antibiotic, the FDA said in its approval announcement. The drug will allow veterinarians to avoid using antibiotics when treating dogs with yeast-only ear infections,… read on > read on >
Staying Social Vital for People With Alzheimer’s, Caregivers
People with dementia — and their caregivers — need active social lives to stay healthy, a new study reports. However, researchers found that both dementia patients and their caregivers had declining social connections as the disease progressed. Patients’ social networks faltered, as failing memory made conversation difficult, causing family and friends to become uncomfortable in… read on > read on >
AI Can Help or Hinder a Radiologist’s Accuracy, Study Finds
Artificial intelligence tools don’t always help radiologists better review a patient’s X-rays or CT scans, a new study claims. AI has been touted as a potential means of improving doctors’ ability to interpret medical images, the researchers said. However, the benefits of AI vary from doctor to doctor, and in some cases it can interfere… read on > read on >
Average Middle-Aged American Is Lonelier Than European Peers
Middle-aged Americans are lonelier than ever, with new research showing they are even more isolated than some of their peers in Europe. That does not bode well for their health. “Loneliness is gaining attention globally as a public health issue because elevated loneliness increases one’s risk for depression, compromised immunity, chronic illness and [premature death],”… read on > read on >
How Blood Sugar Changes Affect Thinking in Folks With Type 1 Diabetes
In people with type 1 diabetes, fluctuations in blood sugar levels can affect thinking skills in various ways, new research shows. Researchers looked specifically at what’s known as cognitive processing speed (how fast people process incoming information) and attention. “Our results demonstrate that people can differ a lot from one another in how their brains… read on > read on >
Science Has Created a Cow That Produces Insulin in Its Milk
There may be an unexpected fix for ongoing shortages of insulin: A brown bovine in Brazil recently made history as the first transgenic cow able to produce human insulin in her milk. “Mother Nature designed the mammary gland as a factory to make protein really, really efficiently,” explained study leader Matt Wheeler, a professor of… read on > read on >