Spring is in the air, and along with it loads of tree, grass and weed pollen. Sneezing, watery and itchy eyes, runny nose and all the other miseries of seasonal allergies can prevent a person from fully enjoying the season of rebirth. Worse, seasonal allergies also can trigger or worsen asthma, or lead to health… read on > read on >
Today is your last chance until 2044 to see a total eclipse of the sun in the continental United States. But be sure to protect your eyes if you plan to watch the moon block the sun’s rays, briefly plunging Earth into temporary darkness. “The eclipse will last a few minutes,” said Dr. David Hinkle,… read on > read on >
Just a little exposure to secondhand smoke may increase your risk for the heart rhythm disorder atrial fibrillation (A-Fib), a new, large study suggests. People who have A-Fib, the world’s most common heart rhythm disorder, are five times more likely to have a stroke than their healthy peers. While passive smoking has been linked to… read on > read on >
A new urine test could spare bladder cancer survivors from a painful follow-up procedure needed to ensure their cancer hasn’t come back, researchers report. People who’ve gotten surgery for high-risk bladder cancer require a cystoscopy — a procedure in which a flexible probe is inserted through the urethra into the bladder, allowing doctors to check… read on > read on >
People preparing to watch Monday’s total eclipse of the sun need to protect their vision during the event, eye doctors say. Powerful ultraviolet rays can do permanent damage to the eyes if people look directly at the sun as the moon is sliding into place before it, said Starr Schroeder, an emergency department nurse at… read on > read on >
America is making headway against heart disease, with heart-related deaths declining over the past three decades. But it appears that only the well-to-do have benefitted, a new study shows. Heart attack rates have stayed the same or gotten worse among the poor during the same 30-year period, researchers found. “The decline in cardiovascular health has… read on > read on >
Obese folks are less likely to benefit from a nerve-stimulation treatment for sleep apnea that’s recently been made available to them, a new study reports. The treatment is likely to be 75% less effective among obese people with BMIs of 32 to 35, compared to patients with lower BMIs, researchers found. “Our study shows that… read on > read on >
People with Long COVID might be able to exercise to improve their health, something that up to now has been discouraged, a new study suggests. “The World Health Organization [WHO] and other major bodies have said that people with post-COVID should avoid intense exercise,” said lead researcher Andrea Tryfonos, a postdoctoral investigator with the Karolinska… read on > read on >
Suicides among U.S. college athletes have doubled over the past two years, according to data from the National Collegiate Athletic Association (NCAA). Suicide is now the second most common cause of death for college athletes after accidents, results show. “Athletes are generally thought of as one of the healthiest populations in our society, yet the… read on > read on >
Overuse of marijuana is increasingly being linked to dangerous bouts of psychosis, and a new study finds that antipsychotics may be needed to keep such patients out of the hospital. Psychotic episodes involve a dangerous psychiatric state in which people lose their connection with reality. These episodes can get so out of control that people… read on > read on >
