FRIDAY, July 16, 2021 (American Heart Association News) — One balmy Wednesday evening, Kumar Seetharam devoured a slice of cheese pizza at his in-laws’ house, then headed to a tennis court to hit balls with his 15-year-old daughter, Faith. For Kumar, an avid tennis player, the exercise was a welcome break. The Florida resident was… read on > read on >
All Health and Wellness:
Friends, Family Key to Turning a ‘No’ on Vaccination to a ‘Yes’
Public health officials and government workers are trying everything they can to promote COVID-19 vaccination — advertisements, news releases, cash lotteries, and even incentives like free beer, joints or doughnuts in some places. But nothing sways a vaccine-hesitant person more than a word with a family member, friend or their own doctor, a new Kaiser… read on > read on >
$340 Million Settlement Proposed in EpiPen Lawsuits
Pfizer Inc. has agreed to pay $345 million in a proposed settlement to resolve lawsuits over steep EpiPen price increases. EpiPens are auto-injectable devices that deliver the drug epinephrine for emergency treatment of a life-threatening allergic reaction called anaphylaxis. In 2016, a number of class-action lawsuits were filed against Pfizer and its subsidiaries Meridian Medical… read on > read on >
Fermented Foods Could Boost Your Microbiome
Fermented foods may seem like just another health fad, but a small trial suggests they can help strike a healthier balance in the body’s gut bacteria. In a study of 36 people, researchers found that those randomly assigned to eat plenty of fermented foods, such as yogurt, kimchi and kombucha, showed an increase in their… read on > read on >
A Better Test to Help Spot Glaucoma?
Glaucoma is a leading cause of vision loss in older people, and early detection can bring better treatment. Now, researchers in Australia say their experimental genetic test for glaucoma can identify 15 times more people at high risk for the disease compared to a current genetic test. “Early diagnosis of glaucoma can lead to vision-saving… read on > read on >
Remote Learning Hurt High School Students Academically, Emotionally
There were academic, social and emotional consequences for U.S. high school students who attended classes remotely during the COVID-19 pandemic, new research shows. The study included more than 6,500 students in Orange County Public Schools in Florida, who were surveyed in October 2020, when two-thirds were attending school remotely and one-third were attending in person.… read on > read on >
Why Many Black & Hispanic Americans Distrust COVID Vaccines
Language barriers and distrust of the health care system are among the reasons why many Black and Hispanic Americans are reluctant to get COVID-19 vaccines, a new study finds. The two groups — which have been disproportionately affected by the pandemic — have followed safety precautions such as mask use and testing, but are hesitant… read on > read on >
More Than a Quarter of Long COVID Patients Still Not Recovered After 6 Months
How long can some COVID symptoms linger? New research suggests that more than a quarter of adults who had COVID-19 in 2020 weren’t fully recovered six to eight months later. There’s growing evidence that COVID-19 can cause long-term physical and mental health problems. These cases — called long-haul COVID — are a growing issue for… read on > read on >
Statin’s Health Benefits Far Outweigh Any Potential Harms: Study
The heart benefits of cholesterol-lowering statins in people without heart disease far exceed the risks of any side effects, a new review finds. Statins are widely prescribed to people with heart disease, and recent guidelines recommend greater preventive use of the drugs even before heart issues are diagnosed. But it hasn’t been clear whether the… read on > read on >
Even a Little Lead in Drinking Water Can Harm People With Kidney Disease
No amount of lead in drinking water is safe for people with kidney disease, a new study warns. Low levels of lead in drinking water are widespread in the United States. These findings suggest that U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) rules on allowable lead levels in drinking water pose a risk to the 30 million… read on > read on >