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 >
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 >
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 >
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 >
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 >
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 >
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 >
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 >
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 >
With online medical visits growing in popularity, a new study offers some reassurance: Diagnoses made via video are usually on the money. Mayo Clinic researchers found that of preliminary diagnoses made during video appointments at their centers, 87% were later confirmed during in-person visits. The caveat is, the accuracy varied somewhat according to the type… read on > read on >
