The thickness of a person’s blood can be a matter of life or death if they contract COVID-19, a new study suggests. Patients hospitalized with COVID-19 who have higher blood viscosity are at greater risk of dying from COVID-related complications, the researchers found. “This study demonstrates the importance of checking for blood viscosity in COVID-19…  read on >  read on >

Medical schools are doing a better job of recruiting minority students, but they still struggle to keep those would-be doctors on the roster. That’s the conclusion of a new study that found minorities were more likely to leave medical school than their white peers. And that can mean fewer doctors for under-served communities, the researchers…  read on >  read on >

Medical and recreational marijuana use has surged across the United States as more states legalize the drug, but young female athletes may want to think twice before taking a toke. A new study from the University of Northern Colorado connects regular cannabis use in fit young women to decreased anaerobic power, a component of physical…  read on >  read on >

Adults who tear a key ligament in the knee can fare well with a less extensive type of surgery, preliminary research suggests. The study involved patients treated for a ruptured anterior cruciate ligament (ACL), a strong band of tissue that helps stabilize the knee joint. ACL tears commonly happen during sports that involve jumping or…  read on >  read on >

It may not be long before highly sensitive scans might spot Parkinson’s disease in its early stages, researchers report. A disease of the brain that is characterized by shaking hands, Parkinson’s is a condition that worsens over time, compromising a person’s ability to walk, hold items or even talk. Unfortunately, it can take a year…  read on >  read on >

MONDAY, July 18, 2022 (American Heart Association News) — Adults from the most socially vulnerable counties in the U.S. were more likely to die or experience serious heart problems when hospitalized for COVID-19 than those from less vulnerable areas – even after accounting for differences in underlying conditions or the severity of their COVID-19 infection,…  read on >  read on >

Even moderate drinking may be related to higher iron levels in the brain — a potentially risky situation for memory and thinking skills, a new study suggests. Researchers found that among nearly 21,000 middle-aged and older adults, those who drank as little as a few beers a week showed more iron accumulation in their brains…  read on >  read on >

For thousands of years, people have used meditation to help diminish their pain – but how the process works has always seemed rather mysterious. Today, advanced brain scan technology has revealed how this ancient practice alters brain function and provides pain relief to its practitioners. A first-of-its-kind study used MRI scans to discover that mindfulness…  read on >  read on >