Your ability to find your way around may be influenced by your childhood surroundings. Researchers in the United Kingdom and France have discovered that people raised in the country or suburbs are better navigators than those who grew up in cities, particularly those with grid-pattern streets. The study included nearly 400,000 people in 38 countries… read on > read on >
All Health and Wellness:
No Threat From Common Chemicals in Most Face Masks: Study
Reassuring new research finds that most face masks used by people during the pandemic don’t have high levels of chemicals called per- and polyfluoroalkyl substances (PFAS). The chemicals, which have been linked to numerous health harms, are used in many products to repel fluids, but there’s been little research into their presence in face masks.… read on > read on >
Firefighters, Police Can Be Lifesavers If You’re Hit by Cardiac Arrest
You have a much better chance of surviving a cardiac arrest if non-medical first responders immediately begin CPR or use an automated external defibrillator (AED), according to a new study. Researchers also found that firefighters and police who are first to the scene are often underused when someone suffers a cardiac arrest outside of a… read on > read on >
‘Stroke-Heart’ Syndrome Can Signal Danger for Patients
Major heart complications soon after a stroke can put survivors at higher risk for a heart attack, death or another stroke within five years, new research shows. Heart problems after a stroke are common and are referred to as stroke-heart syndrome. These heart problems were known to increase stroke survivors’ short-term risk of disability and… read on > read on >
Newer Mesh Slings for Stress Incontinence a Safe, Effective Option for Women: Study
For women with frequent urine leakage, a newer and simpler “sling” surgery works as well as the standard version, according to a new clinical trial. The study involved women with stress urinary incontinence, where movement that puts pressure on the abdomen — such as running, lifting, coughing or laughing — causes urine leakage. When the… read on > read on >
Many U.S. High School Kids Report Sadness, Stress, Abuse During Pandemic
If there’s any doubt that America’s teens have suffered mightily during the pandemic, a new government survey offers fresh proof of the pain restrictions from the coronavirus has inflicted on this vulnerable group. Many high schoolers have experienced physical and emotional abuse, poor mental health and chronic sadness and hopelessness as COVID-19 raged across the… read on > read on >
New White House Website Speeds Access to Free COVID Care
The Biden administration announced Wednesday that it has launched a new website that includes help for people trying to find free COVID prevention and treatment quickly. COVID.gov will bring into one place several types of critical COVID-19 information, from finding high-quality masks to testing requirements for international travel. “We could not have done this six… read on > read on >
Bong Use at Home Quickly Fills Air With Toxins
Smoking pot through a bong doesn’t protect the nonsmokers in the room from the dangers of secondhand smoke, a new study warns. Bongs have been touted as a safe way to protect nonsmokers from secondhand marijuana smoke. But it can expose them to extremely high concentrations of fine particulate matter — five to 10 times… read on > read on >
AHA News: After COVID-19, Experts Say Watch For These Potential Heart and Brain Problems
THURSDAY, March 31, 2022 (American Heart Association News) — COVID-19 was full of surprises early on, causing mild problems in the short term for some people and serious complications for others. Long term, it may be just as capricious. Studies are spotting potential heart and brain problems up to a year after infection with SARS-CoV-2,… read on > read on >
New Drug May Ease Tourette Tics in Kids, Teens
An experimental drug shows promise in reducing tics in young people with Tourette syndrome. Ecopipam, which failed as a weight loss medication, may reduce tics by 30% in kids and teens with Tourette without the unpleasant side effects of current treatments, researchers say. “This drug significantly reduced tics, compared to placebo, and did not have… read on > read on >