The Omicron variant is less likely to give you long COVID than a previous strain of the virus, British researchers say. What was described as the first peer-reviewed report to investigate Omicron and patients’ risk of persistent symptoms found 4.4% of Omicron cases resulted in long COVID. That’s well below the nearly 11% associated with… read on > read on >
All Health and Wellness:
Ageism Is Everywhere and Can Harm Health
In a cancel culture where there’s zero tolerance for prejudice, at least one form of discrimination appears to be alive and well. Ageism involves prejudice based on people’s advancing age. It can be as overt as not hiring someone because they are older, or as subtle as giving a loved one a meant-to-be funny “you’re… read on > read on >
Medicare’s Free Wellness Visit Can Prevent Diabetes Amputation
Annual wellness visits covered by Medicare reduce diabetes patients’ risk of amputation by more than one-third, a new study finds. “Our results confirmed our hypothesis that Annual Wellness Visits are associated with a reduced risk of major lower-extremity amputations, highlighting the importance of connecting patients to preventive care services,” study author Jennifer Lobo said in… read on > read on >
Neuro Symptoms of Long COVID May Persist for Months
Many COVID-19 long-haulers still have neurological symptoms such as headaches, fatigue and memory problems six months later, new research shows. The findings are the first from an ongoing study of long-haulers by researchers at the University of California, San Diego School of Medicine. Long-haulers are people who continue to have symptoms long after their initial… read on > read on >
Squeaky or Furry: New Insights Into Dogs’ Love of Toys
What goes through your dog’s mind when you tell him to find his favorite toy? Hungarian researchers say Fido relies on a mental image based on sensory features. Dogs call to mind the way that toy looks, feels and smells. The finding — from the Family Dog Project at Eötvös Loránd University in Budapest —… read on > read on >
What Anesthesia Works Best for Hip Fracture Surgery?
Patients who have spinal anesthesia while doctors repair a broken hip have more pain and need more prescription painkillers afterward than those given general anesthesia, a new study finds. Spinal anesthesia is increasingly used as a way to reduce pain and painkiller use, but these findings suggest it is having the opposite impact on hip… read on > read on >
Extreme Heat Can Bring Extreme Heart Dangers
The record-breaking heat that’s scorching much of the United States this week poses significant heart dangers, and you need to take steps to protect yourself, the American Heart Association (AHA) says. That’s especially true for older adults and people with high blood pressure, obesity or a history of heart disease or stroke. Heat and dehydration… read on > read on >
Sleep Throughout the Lifespan: When You Get Best, Worst Slumber
Americans are night owls at age 20, get the least sleep at 40, and then finally get more shut-eye after retirement. Those are among the key takeaways from a study that looked at the sleep patterns of Americans of all ages. In short, teenagers and young adults often fall asleep after midnight, while folks in… read on > read on >
AHA News: Kitchen Magnet With List of Heart Attack Symptoms Convinced Him to Go to the Hospital
FRIDAY, June 17, 2022 (American Heart Association News) — Danny Saxon was finishing a job repairing and cleaning a pool this past February when he started feeling like he had bad indigestion. He popped a couple antacid pills and chugged a few bottles of water. He tried to make himself burp, hoping that would alleviate… read on > read on >
Salsa Is Smart: Latin Dance May Boost Your Aging Brain
Latin dance classes may be a great workout and social outlet, but new research suggests that learning the intricate steps of the salsa, samba and merengue may also improve your memory. In the study, a Latin dance program was offered to more than 300 Spanish speakers over four years at 12 different sites in Chicago.… read on > read on >