Keep flossing: A new study finds that gum disease may raise the chances of hospitalization or death if COVID-19 strikes. The reason? Gum disease can be a sign of inflammation throughout the body. “It is well-established that systemic inflammation is not only linked with periodontal disease, but to several other respiratory diseases as well,” explained… read on > read on >
All Health and Wellness:
Being Frail Greatly Raises COVID-19 Death Risk: Study
Severe frailty significantly increases the risk of death in COVID-19 patients, British researchers say. In their new study, the investigators analyzed data from more than 5,700 COVID-19 patients at 55 hospitals in 12 countries. They found that those who were severely frail were three times more likely to die than those who weren’t frail. That… read on > read on >
Not Just Kids: Peanut Allergy Affects Many Adults
Peanut allergy is often thought of as a children’s problem, but three out of four Americans with the condition are older than 17, researchers say. Despite this, treatment remains focused on kids, says Dr. Ruchi Gupta, co-author of a new study and a professor of pediatrics at Northwestern University Feinberg School of Medicine in Chicago.… read on > read on >
Neanderthal Poop Provides Clues to Modern Humans’ ‘Microbiome’
What can poop from ancient Neanderthals tell us? It turns out that it harbors valuable information about modern-day gut health. An international research group led by the University of Bologna in Italy analyzed ancient DNA samples extracted from 50,000-year-old sedimentary feces, the oldest sample of fecal material available. They collected the matter in El Salt… read on > read on >
If Blood Pressure Rises at Night, Alzheimer’s Risk Might Rise, Too
Older men whose blood pressure rises at night may be at increased risk for Alzheimer’s disease, a new study suggests. Blood pressure changes over 24 hours. It typically goes up during the day and dips at nighttime. But some people have an opposite pattern, which is called reverse dipping. “The night is a critical period… read on > read on >
Are Your Allergies Worse? Blame Climate Change
In a grim development for allergy sufferers in North America, a new investigation warns that pollen seasons are getting longer and worse. Over the last three decades, the annual pollen season has expanded by nearly three weeks, accompanied by a 21% jump in pollen concentrations. A big underlying cause: climate change. “It is clear that… read on > read on >
Bans on Evictions, Utility Shutoffs Are Curbing COVID Infections: Study
Bans on evictions and utility shutoffs during the pandemic may not only be keeping people safe and warm in their homes: They might also limit the spread of COVID-19, new research suggests. Over the first nine months of the pandemic, the study found, U.S. counties with those policies reduced COVID-19 infection rates by about 4%.… read on > read on >
FDA Approves ‘Tongue Strengthening’ Device for Certain Sleep Apnea Patients
The U.S. Food and Drug Administration on Friday approved the marketing of a new “tongue strengthening” device to cut down on snoring in patients with mild obstructive sleep apnea. Unlike devices used during sleep, this prescription device is used while awake, and is designed to stimulate and strengthen the tongue so that it doesn’t collapse… read on > read on >
AHA News: Resilience and Quality of Life Go Hand in Hand for Heart Defect Survivors
MONDAY, Feb. 8, 2021 (American Heart Association News) — Melissa Jeng had her first surgery when she was 3 days old – and the first of four open-heart surgeries at 8. Since then, she’s also had over a dozen heart procedures. “I got to the point where I would call them tune-ups,” the 52-year-old from… read on > read on >
¿La estación lo tiene triste? Hay formas de aliviar la depresión invernal
SÁBADO, 6 de febrero de 2021La pandemia de la COVID-19 puede hacer que las dificultades de salud mental sean incluso peores para algunas personas que tienen el trastorno afectivo estacional (TAE). El TAE es un tipo de depresión que es desencadenado por los días con menos luz del sol y los cielos grises del invierno.… read on > read on >