THURSDAY, April 14, 2022 (American Heart Association News) — Even though her neck was throbbing, Saundra Minge invited her 7-year-old nephew and 3-year-old niece over for a Labor Day swim. She chalked up the pain to sleeping funny and thought it would go away. For five hours, she played with the kids in the pool.…  read on >  read on >

Staving off Alzheimer’s disease might just take a healthy diet, exercise and an active mind, a new study suggests. Women and men who follow a healthy lifestyle live longer — and longer without Alzheimer’s or other dementias, researchers say. “Eating a healthy diet rich in vegetables, berries, whole grains, and low in fried or fast…  read on >  read on >

One in five Medicare recipients use medical marijuana and two-thirds say it should be covered by Medicare, a new survey reveals. Medical marijuana is legal in 37 states, four territories and the District of Columbia, but it isn’t covered by Medicare, the federal health insurance program for older Americans. Possession of marijuana remains illegal under…  read on >  read on >

As doctors learn more about the consequences of COVID-19, they are confirming that heart inflammation is rare among hospitalized COVID patients. That’s the good news — but those who develop it are much more likely to require intensive care, a new study suggests. Inflammation of the heart muscle (acute myocarditis) is typically triggered by a…  read on >  read on >

A federal mask mandate for planes, trains, airports and some bus services that was set to expire in five days will be extended until May 3, the U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention announced Wednesday. The spread of the Omicron subvariant BA.2 — which now accounts for more than 85% of new coronavirus cases…  read on >  read on >

By now, most people have heard that exercise is good for their health. A new review suggests it can it also make a difference in major depressive disorder. Researchers analyzed 15 existing studies with data on exercise and depression, finding an association between physical activity and depression risk. The investigators estimated that almost 12% of…  read on >  read on >

Johnson & Johnson must pay $302 million to the state of California for deceptive marketing of pelvic mesh implants for women, an appeals court ruled on Monday. However, that is $42 million less than the $344 million originally assessed in 2020. Superior Court Judge Eddie Sturgeon had ruled in an earlier non-jury trial that the…  read on >  read on >

Strong natural protection against cancer-causing mutations may explain why some longtime smokers don’t develop lung cancer, according to a new study. Researchers compared mutations in cells lining the lungs from 14 never-smokers, ages 11 to 86, and 19 smokers, ages 44 to 81. The smokers had used tobacco up to 116 pack years. One pack…  read on >  read on >