TUESDAY, Feb. 1, 2022 (American Heart Association News) — Although Danecia Williams was 24 and healthy, her first pregnancy took a toll on her body. Her blood pressure spiked, straining her heart and other organs. Doctors diagnosed her with preeclampsia and closely monitored her and the baby for months. They braced for what might happen…  read on >  read on >

TUESDAY, Feb. 1, 2022 (American Heart Association News) — From life’s earliest moments to its latest stages, music can help make us healthier and happier. It can soothe and invigorate, improve mental health and even help someone stay alive. “There’s great appreciation for the value music can provide that’s non-pharmacological and non-invasive,” said Daniel Tague,…  read on >  read on >

Vaccinations have been given to the first volunteers in a Phase 1 trial of Moderna’s experimental HIV vaccine, the company has announced. The vaccine uses mRNA technology — similar to that utilized in breakthrough COVID vaccines — to deliver HIV-specific antigens that could trigger an immune response against the virus that causes AIDS, the company…  read on >  read on >

Colon cancer rates are increasing for younger Americans, along with rates of obesity. Could slimming down reduce young people’s risk for malignancy? A new study suggests that even a small amount of weight loss may cut your odds for benign growths in the colon known as adenomas, or polyps. Left unchecked, these growths can lead…  read on >  read on >

Enforcement of a rule limiting power plant emissions of mercury and other hazardous pollutants will be resumed, the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency announced Monday. It’s the latest move by the Biden administration to reinstate environmental protections lifted by the Trump administration. “The science is clear: we must limit mercury and toxic air pollution to protect…  read on >  read on >

Telling people to isolate in a bedroom when COVID-19 strikes may not be enough to keep the virus from spreading to others in the household, a new study suggests. Airborne coronavirus particles were found both inside and outside the rooms of people with COVID-19 who were supposed to be self-isolating at home, according to researchers…  read on >  read on >

Hospitalizations for dangerously high blood pressure more than doubled in the United States from 2002 to 2014, new research shows. This jump in hospitalizations for what’s called a “hypertensive crisis” occurred even though data show overall progress in Americans controlling their blood pressure and a decrease in blood pressure-related heart problems during that period. “Although…  read on >  read on >

If you eat a lot of meat, you may be at increased risk for multiple sclerosis (MS), a new study suggests. MS is an autoimmune disease in which the body attacks the insulation around nerves. It’s not clear what triggers the attack, but mounting evidence suggests bacteria plays a role. Gut bacteria can affect the…  read on >  read on >

Moderna’s COVID-19 vaccine has received full approval for use in people 18 and older, the U.S. Food and Drug Administration announced Monday. The vaccine, which has been available for that age group under emergency use authorization (EUA), will be marketed as Spikevax. It’s not yet fully approved or authorized for use in people younger than…  read on >  read on >