Thanks to the Omicron surge this past winter, 3 in every 5 Americans have now been infected with COVID-19, a new government report shows. Once Omicron surfaced as the predominant variant in this country, the highest infection rates were seen among children and teens, and the upward shift was steep: Only 1 in 3 Americans… read on > read on >
It seemed a simple prospect — take a low-dose baby aspirin tablet once a day and reduce your risk of ever suffering a heart attack or stroke. But new science has shown it’s not that simple. Noting the drug’s risk of dangerous bleeding, the nation’s leading panel of preventive health experts has reversed course and… read on > read on >
TUESDAY, April 26, 2022 (American Heart Association News) — Olivia Lopez came home from school one day, walked into her mom’s office and announced: “I can’t smell.” It was November 2020, so then-13-year-old Olivia and her mom knew what this likely meant. A test confirmed she had COVID-19. In addition to a loss of smell… read on > read on >
Imagine a birth control pill a woman can take before having sex that prevents pregnancy for the next three to five days. This may become a reality, according to a small, new study. The traditional birth control pill is taken daily, while emergency contraceptive pills are taken after sex to prevent pregnancy from occurring, but… read on > read on >
Seniors are often advised to take calcium supplements, but new research says the pills might significantly increase an aging person’s risk of heart valve problems that contribute to heart failure. People taking either calcium supplements alone or calcium with vitamin D had a higher risk of heart-related death or death from any cause compared with… read on > read on >
Having trouble getting your shut-eye during the COVID-19 pandemic? You may be at increased risk for anxiety, depression and other mental health struggles. That’s the key takeaway from an analysis of data collected from nearly 5,000 people who wore a digital sleep device before and during the pandemic. The authors also examined responses to a… read on > read on >
Women are less likely than men to head back to their jobs after recovering from a severe stroke, but researchers say the reasons for that difference are unclear. “Returning to work after a severe stroke is a sign of successful rehabilitation,” said lead study author Dr. Marianne Hahn. She is a clinician scientist in the… read on > read on >
After childbirth, some women who received an epidural for pain will develop a debilitating headache. But minority women are less likely than white moms to receive the treatment that can provide relief, according to a new study. Researchers also found that even when women from minority groups received this care, it was more likely to… read on > read on >
MONDAY, April 25, 2022 (American Heart Association News) — The progressive narrowing of the aortic heart valve in a group of older men could not be slowed during a recent clinical trial using vitamin K2 supplements, dampening hopes of finding a medical treatment for this common but serious condition. The research, published Monday in the… read on > read on >
Scientists have long known that as the Earth warms due to climate change, plants produce more pollen, making allergy season longer and more pronounced. Now, a new survey finds that hay fever sufferers are increasingly taking notice. In a poll of more than 2,000 U.S. adults conducted by the Harris Poll in partnership with HealthDay,… read on > read on >
