As the war in Ukraine enters its third week, the scale of the devastation is placing the health of all Ukrainians — and the country’s health care system itself — in peril. “It’s mind-boggling,” said James Elder, a spokesperson for UNICEF, who arrived in the western city of Lviv just two days after the Russian… read on > read on >
A day that includes a trip to the emergency room is probably a high-stress one, but man’s best friend could help you cope, new research finds. The study found a reduction in pain, anxiety and depression that ranged from 43% to 48% in patients who were treated with a visit from a trained therapy dog… read on > read on >
Could hugging a soft, mechanized pillow that simulates slow breathing help test-stressed students ward off anxiety and stress? British researchers are betting on it. The pillow in question looks like any typical cushion, noted study author Alice Haynes. She’s a Ph.D. candidate at the University of Bristol in the United Kingdom. But when hugged, the… read on >
A healthy bank account pays dividends after a heart attack, with new research indicating severe financial strain increases survivors’ risk of death. Researchers analyzed data from nearly 3,000 people, 75 and older, whose health was tracked after they suffered a heart attack. “Our research indicates the importance of financial strain in predicting which patients will… read on > read on >
Want to breathe better air indoors? Go green. Houseplants can make your home or office air cleaner, according to British researchers. In lab tests, they found that three common houseplants — peace lily (Spathiphyllum wallisii), corn plant (Dracaena fragrans), and ZZ plant or fern arum (Zamioculcas zamiifolia) — could reduce levels of a common air… read on > read on >
The often-used steroid spironolactone is not linked to any increased risk of a range of common cancers, according to a new study. The synthetic steroid is routinely used to manage heart failure, high blood pressure and edema, and also used off-label to treat acne, hair loss and excessive hair growth (hirsutism). “Though the U.S. Food… read on > read on >
U.S. National Guard soldiers are at heightened risk for problem drinking after military deployment, but less likely to receive help with their alcohol struggles than active-duty service members, a new study finds. Exposure to combat during deployment was the strongest risk factor for problem drinking among the reservists in the study, according to the report… read on > read on >
Two groups of indigenous people in the Bolivian Amazon have some of the world’s lowest dementia rates, and that may offer insight on how to prevent Alzheimer’s disease, a new study suggests. Researchers found only about 1% of older Tsimane and Moseten people have dementia, compared with 11% of people 65 and older in the… read on > read on >
Pfizer Inc. announced Tuesday that it has launched a Phase 2/3 clinical trial of its COVID antiviral pill known as Paxlovid in children ages 6-17. A news release from the company said the trial will assess the safety and efficacy of the drug in children with COVID symptoms and a confirmed infection who are not… read on > read on >
The first person to receive a pig heart transplant in a groundbreaking procedure performed at the University of Maryland Medical Center in January has died, hospital officials said Wednesday. David Bennett, a 57-year-old Marylander, suffered from severe heart disease and had agreed to receive the experimental pig’s heart after he was rejected from several waiting… read on > read on >
