It has long been believed that the 1918 flu pandemic disproportionately affected healthy young adults, but a study of human remains tells a different story. Together, Canadian and American researchers found that preexisting medical conditions like asthma and lower income increased the likelihood of death, just as in other pandemics, including COVID-19. “Our circumstances —… read on > read on >
A majority of people who have a minimally invasive heart valve replacement procedure are not getting the recommended cardiac rehab after their surgeries, researchers say. A new study finds that just under 31% of patients who have transcatheter aortic valve replacement (TAVR) are receiving this service within 90 days of the procedure. This could be… read on > read on >
As many doctors and patients hail the advent of weight-loss drugs like Ozempic and Wegovy as the perfect fix for obesity, some experts are urging caution. The drugs are not well-tolerated by everyone struggling with obesity. For some folks, the weight piles back on as soon as the medication stops. There are also financial and… read on > read on >
A California bill would have made free condoms available for high schoolers, but it was vetoed Sunday by Gov. Gavin Newsom because of cost. California has a budget deficit of $30 billion, Newsom noted in his veto of Senate Bill 541. This bill, plus several other measures lawmakers passed, would have increased state budget costs… read on > read on >
Croup can be a scary thing for new parents to watch their babies struggle with, so here is a primer on what it is and how to best treat it. Croup is a common respiratory illness, characterized by a narrowing of the main airway (the trachea), just below the vocal cords. It can be caused… read on > read on >
Exercise has been dubbed “nature’s antidepressant” by doctors for years, and now a new study confirms the notion. The finding follows a four-month look at the impact that running had on anxiety and depression when compared to a common antidepressant. SSRIs (selective serotonin reuptake inhibitors) work by boosting levels of serotonin, a neurotransmitter that’s a… read on > read on >
Researchers have developed an antibody that can reduce Alzheimer’s-like brain damage in lab mice — inspired by the case of one woman with remarkable resistance to the disease. The work, by researchers at Mass General Brigham, Harvard Medical School in Boston, and elsewhere, began a few years ago, with the case of a woman in… read on > read on >
For a subset of patients with advanced lung cancer, radiation therapy can sometimes substantially extend their lives. Now a new study hints that a blood test could be used to identify the people most likely to benefit. Right now, there is no way to cure stage 4, or metastatic, lung cancer — where the disease… read on > read on >
MONDAY, Oct. 9, 2023 (HealthDay News) – One way to help lower the odds for long COVID in people with pre-existing conditions may be to get more sleep. A new study discovered the risk was lower in those who slept six to nine hours a night compared to “short sleepers” who snoozed less. “Habitual short… read on > read on >
Anyone with a cat knows the calm, low rumble of purring, but how does such a small animal make such a low sound? New research suggests it boils down to a pad embedded in feline vocal cord folds. That’s different than previously thought, which was that purring happened through a special mechanism, with cyclical contraction… read on > read on >
