Someday, your smartwatch might be able to tell you if you’re coming down with a virus and how sick you’ll be — even before symptoms start. In a small study, researchers showed that a wearable device, like a Fitbit or Apple Watch, could detect which patients had the H1N1 flu and which had a common… read on > read on >
Kids who are gay, bisexual or questioning their sexuality may be vulnerable to contemplating suicide at a tender age, a new U.S. government study finds. It has long been known that teenagers who are part of sexual minorities have a higher risk of suicidal thoughts and behaviors, compared to their heterosexual peers. That includes kids… read on > read on >
Artificial intelligence (AI) might be able to spot the next virus to jump from animals to humans, Scottish researchers report. Identifying diseases before they become a threat to humans is challenging, because only a few of the nearly 2 million animal viruses can infect humans. By developing machine learning models, researchers can analyze genetic patterns… read on > read on >
It’s no secret that excess weight is bad for the heart. But a new study suggests that obese people who lose a substantial amount of weight may reverse the related cardiovascular risks. Researchers found the odds for high blood pressure and elevated cholesterol were similar in formerly obese Americans who were now at a healthy… read on > read on >
THURSDAY, Sept. 30, 2021 (HealthDay News) – For people with diabetes who have a stroke, there may be an ideal blood sugar target to prevent another one or a heart attack, a South Korean study finds. To determine average blood sugar levels over the past two to three months, the study team used the hemoglobin… read on > read on >
People who stop taking antidepressants after long-time use may face a high likelihood of spiraling into depression again, a new study suggests. British researchers found that among patients who stopped taking their antidepressants because they felt well, 56% relapsed within a year. That compared with 39% of patients who stayed on medication. Experts said the… read on > read on >
A drug previously approved for multiple sclerosis also can treat inflammatory bowel disease in some patients, a new clinical trial reports. The medication, ozanimod (Zeposia), proved effective in helping patients with ulcerative colitis, sending many into full remission, according to results being published Sept. 30 in the New England Journal of Medicine. Ulcerative colitis is… read on > read on >
In a survey of parents in metro Chicago, nearly half of Black parents (48%) said they were reluctant to have their kids vaccinated against COVID-19, researchers say. That’s significantly higher than the 33% of Hispanic parents and 26% of white parents who expressed vaccine hesitancy, the findings showed. “As vaccines are becoming available to younger… read on > read on >
Pregnant women who receive an epidural to ease their pain during labor aren’t any more likely than others to have kids with autism, two new studies show. Earlier research suggested this practice may increase autism risk in offspring, but the pair of studies should put this concern to rest for good, experts say. “Parents can… read on > read on >
WEDNESDAY, Sept. 29, 2021 (American Heart Association News) — For people with heart disease and stroke, COVID-19 vaccines offer protection against the life-threatening disease caused by the coronavirus, and a booster dose could bolster that protection, health experts said. The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, which sets policy on vaccine use, recommended Pfizer booster… read on > read on >
