In yet another sign that the pandemic has exacerbated disparities in health care, researchers report that the life expectancy of Native Americans plummeted by nearly five years as the new coronavirus raged across the country. The loss in longevity was far greater than any other ethnic group and about three times higher than whites. The… read on > read on >
All Health and Wellness:
‘Forever Chemicals’ May Raise a Woman’s Blood Pressure
Called “forever chemicals” because they linger in the environment, new research suggests that middle-aged women with high levels of perfluoroalkyls and polyfluoroalkyls (PFAS) in their blood may be more vulnerable to high blood pressure. In the study, women aged 45 to 56 who had the highest concentrations of seven of these chemicals were 71% more… read on > read on >
AHA News: She Thought She Had Bronchitis, But the Problem Was Her Heart
MONDAY, June 13, 2022 (American Heart Association News) — Terita Grier has struggled with obesity her whole life. She also has diabetes and high blood pressure, two leading risk factors for heart disease. Her dad died of a massive heart attack a month before she got married in her mid-20s. As she approached 50, Grier… read on > read on >
For 911 Calls, Are Mental Health Specialists Often the Better Choice?
One American city’s “radical” approach to handling low-level 911 calls — sending mental health professionals rather than police — may have taken a bite out of crime, a new study finds. The study evaluated Denver’s STAR program, which removed police from the response to select 911 calls: those involving a nonviolent person suffering from a… read on > read on >
‘Feverish’: Healthy Human Brains Are Hotter Than We Thought
New research gives new meaning to the term “hotheaded” — your normal brain temperature is higher and varies much more than previously thought. The findings could lead to future research into whether disruption of daily brain temperature rhythms might trigger dementia and other brain diseases, the study authors said. The researchers conducted brain scans on… read on > read on >
Vaping-Linked Lung Injuries Can Leave Long-Term Symptoms
Many who suffer vaping-related lung damage will have long-term health problems lasting at least a year, a new study reports. A substantial proportion of patients continue to be wracked with breathing difficulty, brain fog and mood disorders a year after their initial diagnosis with EVALI (E-Cigarette or Vaping Use-Associated Lung Injury), according to researchers at… read on > read on >
Diabetes May Mean Worse Long-Term Outcomes for Breast Cancer Survivors
Breast cancer is tough to beat, but if you also have diabetes and poor blood sugar control your long-term risk of death rises, researchers report. Their study included 488 women with metastatic breast cancer, which is cancer that has spread to other organs. Overall survival rates five years after cancer diagnosis was similar between the… read on > read on >
Do You Live in a ‘Hot Spot’ for Diabetes Complications?
Texas and Florida are big U.S. centers for Americans dealing with short- and long-term diabetes complications, a new study shows. The findings could help direct support to people who need it the most, according to the researchers. “Our analysis has enabled us to create a map of the United States that showcases hot spots of… read on > read on >
Monkeypox Cases Rising Slowly in the U.S., CDC Says
Monkeypox cases continue to climb in the United States, although gradually, federal health officials said Friday. Public health officials have identified 45 cases of monkeypox across 15 states and the District of Columbia, up from 21 the week before, U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention director Dr. Rochelle Walensky said during a media briefing,… read on > read on >
Neurodevelopmental Issues Double in Babies Exposed to COVID in Womb: Study
The babies of women infected with COVID-19 during pregnancy may have developmental difficulties during their first year, a new study suggests. Researchers found that pregnant women with COVID-19 were more likely to have preterm births and infants with developmental problems. The greatest risk was in the third trimester, the study found. “The kinds of diagnoses… read on > read on >