Drug and alcohol abuse increase the risk of breakthrough COVID-19 infection as well as severe illness and death among fully vaccinated people, a new study shows. “First and foremost, vaccination is highly effective for people with substance use disorders, and the overall risk of COVID-19 among vaccinated people with substance use disorders is very low,”… read on > read on >
If you often have a stomachache after eating, you’re not alone, a new survey finds. One in 10 people experience frequent meal-related pain. This includes 13% of women and 9% of men, and is most common in 18- to 28-year-olds (15%), according to an online survey of more than 54,000 people in 26 countries. “The… read on > read on >
Medtronic has expanded a recall of its MiniMed 600 series insulin pumps to include more than 463,000 of the devices. The pumps may deliver incorrect dosing of insulin and the recall has been identified by the U.S. Food and Drug Administration as a Class I recall — the most serious type — because use of… read on > read on >
Black Americans have been persistently hard-hit with heart disease risk factors for the past 20 years — and social issues like unemployment and low income account for a good deal of it, a new study finds. Cardiovascular disease, which includes heart disease and stroke, is the No. 1 killer of Americans, and it’s well-known that… read on > read on >
Statins are proven to lower cholesterol, but they may also come with a downside for patients with diabetes: A new study finds they may make the blood sugar disease worse. Researchers found that among those taking statins, 56% saw their diabetes progress, compared with 48% of those not taking statins. And the higher the dose… read on > read on >
Hoverboards, electric scooters and electric bikes are the transportation of choice for a growing number of Americans, but they’re taking many straight to the emergency room. Injuries associated with these so-called “micromobility products” skyrocketed 70% between 2017 and 2020, according to a soon-to-be-released report from the U.S. Consumer Product Safety Commission (CPSC). That increase dovetails… read on > read on >
TUESDAY, Oct. 5, 2021 (American Heart Association News) — Marla Sewall does it for the endorphins. “It makes me feel good,” said the 52-year-old whose jogs help her maintain her physical and mental health. In addition to her regular outings near her home in the Dallas enclave of Highland Park, she’s completed 13 marathons. Training… read on > read on >
Dr. Francis Collins, the longest serving director of the U.S. National Institutes of Health, plans to step down from his leadership post by the end of the year, the institute plans to announce on Tuesday. Collins headed the government’s effort to map the entire human genetic code 20 years ago, and he is now one… read on > read on >
Nearly half of Americans have high blood pressure and only 24% have it under control, but what’s the best way to treat it — one high-dose pill or two at a lower dose? A large new study suggests that two medications may be better than one for many older patients. Lowering elevated blood pressure to… read on > read on >
Full vaccination with the two-dose Pfizer COVID-19 vaccine has been 90% effective in protecting against hospitalization for at least six months, a new study shows. That includes the time during which the highly contagious Delta variant has been circulating in the United States. For the study, researchers analyzed Kaiser Permanente Southern California data on more… read on > read on >
