Americans don’t like to dwell on dying, so maybe it isn’t surprising that compared to other nations, the United States does just a middling job of providing a good death. The United States ranked in the middle of 81 countries rated on how well their health care systems provide end-of-life care. Only six countries —… read on > read on >
Herd immunity against COVID-19 is unlikely, and coping with the disease will likely hinge on vaccination, treatment and ensuring adequate hospital capacity, a new study conducted in Los Angeles County claims. With herd immunity, most people have antibodies from vaccination or prior infection, so a virus has fewer people to infect and stops spreading. Early… read on > read on >
Some arthritis drugs may reduce the effectiveness of COVID vaccines, according to the Arthritis Foundation, which also offers advice on booster shots. Research is limited, but evidence suggests that disease-modifying drugs used for arthritis may reduce the response of the mRNA COVID-19 vaccines from Pfizer and Moderna, according to the foundation. A small study of… read on > read on >
If you or someone you know has suffered a concussion, a medical evaluation is crucial, an expert says. A concussion is “a short-lived functional brain injury typically caused by a bump or blow to the head,” Cleveland Clinic concussion specialist Dr. Richard Figler said in a clinic news release. “A concussion sets off a chemical… read on > read on >
If the sound of a dental drill sends shivers up your spine, you’re likely in good company: Finnish researchers say that one of every two adults fear the dentist at least a little, while one in 10 are very afraid. But the researchers added that a local dentistry program has found a novel way to… read on > read on >
Having a child with type 1 diabetes can be a challenging health condition for parents to manage, but new research suggests an “artificial pancreas” system may beat standard treatment in controlling the blood sugar disease in young children. Forms of the technology — which automatically monitors and regulates blood sugar — are already available for… read on > read on >
If you need more proof that a third shot of COVID vaccine is needed, new British research confirms that boosters can “neutralize” the virus’ Omicron variant. To arrive at that conclusion, they analyzed 620 blood samples from 364 health care workers and staff at the Francis Crick Institute and the National Institute for Health Research… read on > read on >
In another breakthrough for animal-to-human organ transplantation, U.S. researchers say they’ve transplanted two genetically modified pig kidneys into a living human. The recipient was Jim Parsons, 57, a brain-dead man on life support whose family agreed to allow the surgical team at the University of Alabama at Birmingham (UAB) to use his body for this… read on > read on >
THURSDAY, Jan. 20, 2022 (American Heart Association News) — Make a list of the ABCs of heart health, from arrhythmia to Zumba classes, and you might not think to include a T – for thyroid. But the small gland that produces crucial hormones can have a big effect on the cardiovascular system. “Both an overactive… read on > read on >
THURSDAY, Jan. 20, 2022 (American Heart Association News) — Black and Hispanic adults who live in racially segregated neighborhoods may be more likely to develop high blood pressure than their peers who live in nonsegregated communities, a new study shows. The same was not true for Chinese adults. But the gap begins to close if… read on > read on >
