In response to claims that a man was denied a heart transplant because he refused to get vaccinated against COVID-19, Brigham and Women’s Hospital in Boston said Wednesday that its transplant policies mirror those used across the United States. In a crowdfunding appeal for 31-year-old D.J. Ferguson, a father of two, his family said the… read on > read on >
All Health and Wellness:
Months After Moderna Booster, Antibodies Decline Faster With Omicron
An initial surge in antibody levels against the Omicron variant after a booster dose of the Moderna COVID vaccine wanes within six months, but the antibodies remained effective against it in lab tests, a new study finds. Researchers analyzed antibody levels in volunteers who received the booster after two doses of the Moderna mRNA vaccine.… read on > read on >
AHA News: Dr. Jeremiah Stamler, the ‘Father of Preventive Cardiology,’ Dies at 102
THURSDAY, Jan. 27, 2022 (American Heart Association News) — Dr. Jeremiah Stamler, a trailblazing cardiologist who helped people understand the critical connection between healthy lifestyle and heart health – and who continued his passionate work well beyond his 100th birthday – died early Wednesday. Stamler, known as “the father of preventive cardiology,” was 102. He… read on > read on >
AHA News: Sound the Fiber Alarm! Most of Us Need More of It in Our Diet
THURSDAY, Jan. 27, 2022 (American Heart Association News) — There are a lot of health factors to keep in mind as we navigate through the dietary day: calories, carbohydrates, protein, saturated fat, vitamins and minerals, to name a few. Did you forget fiber? A lot of people do. “We’ve known this forever, and it has… read on > read on >
More Berries, Red Wine in Diet Might Slow Parkinson’s
Red wine may be a guilty pleasure, but new research shows it might also be a powerful weapon against the ravages of Parkinson’s disease. Why? The antioxidants in red wine, and fruit such as berries for that matter, might slow progression of the movement disorder, a new study suggests. According to researchers, people with Parkinson’s… read on > read on >
Vitamin D Supplements Might Cut Your Odds for Autoimmune Diseases
THURSDAY, Jan. 27, 2022 (HealthDay News) — Taking vitamin D supplements may help stave off psoriasis, rheumatoid arthritis, lupus and other autoimmune diseases, a new study suggests. Previous research has hinted at this connection, but the new study is the first randomized controlled trial to look at what happens when people are given vitamin D… read on > read on >
Newer Rheumatoid Arthritis Drug Might Raise Heart, Cancer Risks
Finding the right medication for rheumatoid arthritis isn’t easy, and a newer pill against the disease carries higher risks of heart attack, stroke and cancer than older RA drugs, a new clinical trial confirms. The study was mandated by the U.S. Food and Drug Administration after earlier safety signals about the drug, called tofacitinib (Xeljanz).… read on > read on >
Almost 1 in 10 U.S. Lung Transplants Now Due to COVID
COVID-19 is changing medicine in yet another way: A new study finds that patients with COVID-related lung damage now account for nearly one in 10 lung transplants in the United States. The researchers analyzed data on more than 3,000 lung transplants nationwide between Aug. 1, 2020, and Sept. 30, 2021. They found that 7% of… read on > read on >
Genes Could Help Drive Febrile Convulsions in Kids
It’s frightening to see your child have a fever-related (febrile) seizure, but researchers are learning more about who’s more susceptible. An international study has identified seven new genes associated with febrile seizures, or febrile convulsions, in young children. Febrile seizures are defined as seizures in children younger than age 5 who have a fever above… read on > read on >
Scientists Discover How the ‘Mono’ Virus Might Trigger MS
A one-two punch from science has clearly tagged the mononucleosis virus, Epstein-Barr, as a major cause of multiple sclerosis. The Epstein-Barr virus (EBV) appears to trigger multiple sclerosis (MS) by tricking the immune systems of some into attacking their body’s own nerve cells, a new study indicates. “We demonstrated that a specific protein in EBV… read on > read on >