As flu season approaches, a new study is pointing to a possible bonus from vaccination: a lower risk of stroke. Researchers in Spain found that among nearly 86,000 middle-aged and older adults, those who got their annual flu shot were less likely to suffer an ischemic stroke over the next year. Ischemic strokes, which account… read on > read on >
All Health and Wellness:
Stress Before COVID Infection Could Raise Odds for Long COVID
As scientists around the world investigate why long COVID strikes some and not others, a new study finds that suffering psychological distress prior to COVID-19 infection may increase the chances of getting the lingering condition. Researchers from the Harvard T.H. Chan School of Public Health in Boston said they were surprised at the strength of… read on > read on >
Experimental Drug Shows Promise Against Lupus
An experimental drug that has been shown to treat rashes in people with lupus may also help with lupus-related joint pain. Affecting as many as 1.5 million people in the United States, lupus is an autoimmune disease in which the body’s immune system misfires against its own joints, skin, brain, lungs, kidneys and blood vessels.… read on > read on >
AHA News: Her Research Is Getting Worldwide Attention. But For Now, She Needs to Finish High School.
THURSDAY, Sept. 8, 2022 (American Heart Association News) — Explaining her research, Maria Balhara sounds like a typical scientist: She had a hypothesis. She recruited participants to evaluate. She analyzed the data. Soon, she’ll present her work at major scientific conferences. This might be routine stuff for a professor or graduate student. For a 16-year-old… read on > read on >
Nurse Practitioners Are Filling the Gap in U.S. Psychiatric Care
While mental health care has become a full-blown crisis in the United States, a new study finds that psychiatric nurse practitioners are helping to fill the gap. The researchers discovered that the mental health system in the United States has become increasingly reliant on this particular category of specialists to meet the needs of Medicare… read on > read on >
In Rare Move, FDA Panel Gives Support to Controversial ALS Drug in 2nd Review
THURSDAY, Sept. 8, 2022 (HealthDay News) – In a rare second review, a U.S. Food and Drug Administration panel on Wednesday recommended approval for an experimental drug for ALS (amyotrophic lateral sclerosis). The FDA is not obligated to follow its advisors’ recommendations, though it usually does. Wednesday’s vote was 7-2 for approval. The same panel… read on > read on >
Texas Judge Says Obamacare Can’t Require Coverage for Meds That Prevent HIV
THURSDAY, Sept. 8, 2022 (HealthDay News) – Hundreds of thousands of Americans take medications intended to prevent infection with HIV, but a federal judge in Texas ruled Wednesday that a provision in the Affordable Care Act (ACA) that requires free coverage of the drugs violates the religious beliefs of a Christian-owned company. U.S. District Judge… read on > read on >
As Thermometer Rises, So Does Hate Speech on Twitter
Internet hotheads are often literally that, with hateful tweets rising in number as temperatures soar, a new study reports. Temperatures higher than 86 degrees Fahrenheit are consistently linked to heavy increases in online hate messages, according to a review of more than 4 billion English-language tweets. The researchers identified a “feel-good window” between 54 and… read on > read on >
Justin Bieber Takes Break From Touring Due to Health Issues
Singer Justin Bieber said Tuesday that he will take a break from touring while he takes care of his health. Bieber has a condition known as Ramsay Hunt syndrome, which is rare type of viral infection. Caused by the chickenpox- and shingles-related varicella-zoster virus, the syndrome can cause paralysis of the facial nerve and a… read on > read on >
Microneedling Can Help Surgical Scars Fade, Especially If Done Early
A technique called microneedling may help surgical scars heal more attractively — especially if it’s done within a couple of months of surgery, a small study suggests. Researchers found that for 25 patients, microneedling improved the long-term appearance of scars after various types of surgery — based on both patient and doctor ratings. But the… read on > read on >