Eye tests are an important way to catch potential eye-related issues in children, but more than two-thirds of kids in the United States are not receiving them at their checkups. Those with Medicaid and other public health insurance were far less likely to receive these vision checks in the past year at their primary care… read on > read on >
All Health and Wellness:
Space Travel Takes Toll on Astronauts’ Blood, Bone
When astronauts travel to space, the experience depletes their red blood cells and bone, according to a new study. Fortunately, it appears their bodies can eventually replenish them after they’ve returned to Earth, thanks to fat stored in the bone marrow. “We found that astronauts had significantly less fat in their bone marrow about a… read on > read on >
Another Source of Lead Exposure for Kids: Secondhand Smoke
One source of lead exposure in children may surprise you. It’s secondhand smoke, according to a Texas A&M University study. “Further research will likely paint a clearer picture of this exposure route, especially in younger children, but the findings here can inform current efforts to eliminate low-level lead exposure in children,” said co-author Dr. Genny… read on > read on >
1 in 5 U.S. Mothers Say They’ve Been Mistreated During Maternity Care
From receiving no response to cries for help to being verbally abused, 1 in 5 U.S. mothers say they were mistreated by a health care professional during pregnancy and delivery. Rates of mistreatment during maternity care were higher among Black, Hispanic and multiracial women, according to a survey of more than 2,400 new moms published… read on > read on >
Three Deaths Linked to Listeria-Tainted Milkshakes From Restaurant in Washington State
A strain of listeria bacteria found in milkshakes at a restaurant in Washington state has been linked to six hospitalizations and three deaths. The milkshakes were sold at Frugals restaurant in Tacoma, Wash. Only the Tacoma site of Frugals, a small fast-food chain in Washington and Montana, appears to have been affected, according to the… read on > read on >
Skipping Aspirin After Heart Attack Raises Odds for Recurrence
If you’ve had a heart attack, your doctor likely told you to take a low-dose aspirin daily to stave off a second heart attack or stroke, but most people don’t follow through with this advice over the long-term. Those folks who don’t take daily low-dose aspirin consistently are more likely to have another heart attack,… read on > read on >
FDA Approves RSV Vaccine for Pregnant Women to Help Shield Newborns
Women may soon have a vaccine they can take during a pregnancy to help protect their newborn from respiratory syncytial virus (RSV), following U.S. Food and Drug Administration approval of the shot, called Abrysvo, on Monday The vaccine is designed to be given to pregnant women between 32 and 36 weeks of pregnancy as a… read on > read on >
Stay Fit to Avoid A-Fib and Stroke
People can help reduce their odds of developing atrial fibrillation or stroke through one piece of standard medical advice: stay fit. According to a new study in 15,000 people, physical fitness was found to have a lower likelihood of these conditions. The findings will be presented this weekend at the European Society of Cardiology Congress… read on > read on >
Eye Scans Could Spot Parkinson’s in Earliest Stages
British researchers may have found a way to diagnose Parkinson’s disease several years sooner. Researchers at University College London and Moorfields Eye Hospital say that eye scans may be able to detect signs of Parkinson’s up to seven years before diagnosis. “I continue to be amazed by what we can discover through eye scans. While… read on > read on >
COVID May Help Trigger High Blood Pressure
COVID-19 patients face a markedly greater risk for developing persistently high blood pressure, even if they never had blood pressure concerns before, new research indicates. The rise in risk seen among otherwise heart-healthy patients also appeared to be notably greater among COVID patients than in influenza patients. The findings, said senior study author Tim Duong,… read on > read on >