What if a rare viral illness with the potential to cause excruciating pain was in fact treatable, but the only drug for that use was nearly impossible to get, despite being in plentiful supply? That is precisely the dilemma now confronting thousands of monkeypox patients across the United States. “I was in so much pain… read on > read on >
All Health and Wellness:
AHA News: When Her Smartwatch Indicated She Might Be in AFib, She Thought It Was a Mistake
WEDNESDAY, Aug. 10, 2022 (American Heart Association News) — Megan Buchholz groggily read the notification from her smartwatch. Its vibration had roused her out of a deep sleep. At 3 a.m. on a Monday this past March, she read an alert that said the device identified an irregular rhythm suggestive of atrial fibrillation, or AFib,… read on > read on >
U.S.-Russia Nuclear War Could Leave 5 Billion Dead Due to Famine
Even a “small” nuclear war, far short of a global conflict, could kill much of the world’s population due to starvation, a new study projects. Any nuclear war would have obviously devastating effects in the places where it was waged — obliterating cities, instantly killing huge numbers of people, and contaminating local soil and water.… read on > read on >
FDA Stretches Monkeypox Vaccine Supply by Authorizing Smaller Doses
WEDNESDAY, Aug. 10, 2022 (HealthDay) — As at-risk Americans stand in long lines across the country, trying to get the Jynneos monkeypox vaccine, U.S. officials on Tuesday announced they will modify dosing instructions for the shot to help stretch the supply. The U.S. Food and Drug Administration said that instead of sticking with a standard… read on > read on >
Most COVID Patients Who Lose Sense of Smell Regain It Within 2 Years
One of the most disturbing symptoms of COVID-19 has been the sudden loss of taste and smell. Worryingly, some people don’t regain these senses after recovering from their infection, raising the question of whether they’d ever again be able to taste and smell. Now there’s good news on that front — about 9 out of… read on > read on >
A Switch to Salt Substitute Could Slash Your Heart Risks
Swapping salt out for the salt substitute potassium chloride lowers blood pressure, and thereby the risk of heart attack, stroke and cardiovascular disease, a new analysis finds. “It’s in processed and prepared foods where most people in developed countries get their salt,” explained senior researcher Dr. Bruce Neal, executive director of the George Institute for… read on > read on >
Smoking Still Ends 123,000 American Lives Each Year
Cigarettes are still responsible for far too many cancer deaths every year in the United States, a new study finds. In 2019, nearly 123,000 U.S. cancer deaths were from cigarette smoking (30% of all U.S. cancer deaths), leading to nearly $21 billion in annual lost earnings. These losses were much higher in states with weaker… read on > read on >
For Back Pain, Earlier Is Better for Physical Therapy
When people have backaches bad enough to send them to the doctor, prompt physical therapy may be a wise choice, a new study suggests. Researchers found that when those patients had “early” PT — within a couple weeks of seeing a doctor — they were less likely to need other, often pricey, types of medical… read on > read on >
Climate Change Making 218 Infectious Diseases Even Worse
Flooding, heat waves and drought have made 58% of infectious diseases worse, a new analysis claims. For the review of previous studies, published Aug. 8 in the journal Nature Climate Change, researchers found that 218 of the known 375 infectious diseases have been made worse by climate change, including malaria, hantavirus, cholera and anthrax. The… read on > read on >
AHA News: What’s New This Year For School Lunches?
TUESDAY, Aug. 9, 2022 (American Heart Association News) — In the past, school cafeterias might have served as a source for more punchlines than nutrition. But lunch is a more dynamic and, these days, healthy part of students’ lives than many people realize. Some of its importance is obvious. “You really don’t need to do… read on > read on >