Taking vitamin D supplements won’t improve painful symptoms of irritable bowel syndrome (IBS), British researchers report. IBS is a chronic digestive disorder that can cause stomach cramps, bloating, diarrhea and constipation. Symptoms come and go for some people, but the condition can severely affect quality of life for many. Previous research has suggested a link…  read on >  read on >

Go ahead, put your credit card away: Handling cash and coins isn’t likely to give you COVID-19. European researchers treated various coins and paper money with different concentrations of SARS-CoV-2, the virus that causes COVID. A stainless steel surface was used as a control. “Under realistic conditions, infection with SARS-CoV-2 from cash is very unlikely,”…  read on >  read on >

U.S. gun sales increased early in the COVID-19 pandemic, and many of those firearms ended up in homes with teens, researchers say. “This finding is concerning because we know that the single biggest risk factor for adolescent firearm injuries is access to an unsecured firearm,” said study co-author Dr. Patrick Carter. He is co-director of…  read on >  read on >

Growing numbers of Americans aren’t getting enough iron in their diets most likely due to changes in farming practices and a shift away from red meat, researchers report. The upshot: Rates of iron-deficiency anemia are on the rise. “Iron deficiency remains a major public health issue even in a developed country such as the United…  read on >  read on >

Better health and self-image might just be a samba or some funky moves away. That’s true for postmenopausal women who, a new study says, can dance their way to better physical and emotional health. “In addition to the positive effects on physical, metabolic and mental health aspects, dance promotes a moment of leisure, fun, socialization,…  read on >  read on >

Exactly what symptoms of early COVID-19 infection you suffer may depend on both your age and gender, a new study finds. “As part of our study, we have been able to identify that the profile of symptoms due to COVID-19 differs from one group to another. This suggests that the criteria to encourage people to…  read on >  read on >