Athletes have a much higher risk of the heart rhythm disorder atrial fibrillation than non-athletes, and younger athletes have a higher risk than older athletes, according to a new report from Britain. Atrial fibrillation (a-fib) is an irregular, often rapid heart rate that can impede blood flow. A-fib can increase the risk of stroke, heart…  read on >  read on >

Marriages can remain stable after something as challenging as a brain injury for one of the spouses, new research indicates. Though past reports have suggested that divorce rates were high among those who experienced traumatic brain injury (TBI), that was not true for most people in the current study. “Our data dispel myths about risk…  read on >  read on >

A flu shot might offer some protection against severe effects of COVID-19, a new study suggests. If you are infected with COVID-19, having had a flu shot makes it less likely you will suffer severe body-wide infection, blood clots, have a stroke or be treated in an intensive care unit, according to the study. “Our…  read on >  read on >

Before the COVID-19 pandemic, Sandra Banner was an active octogenarian. She enjoyed going to movies, traveling from her Palm Desert, Calif., home to Los Angeles for Dodgers baseball games and having friends over for happy hours. Early on, she avoided isolation by teaching outdoor tai chi classes and staying engaged online, but once she was…  read on >  read on >

(Healthday News) — The U.S. Food and Drug Administration’s controversial approval of the Alzheimer’s drug Aduhelm should be investigated by the Office of Inspector General (OIG), FDA Acting Commissioner Dr. Janet Woodcock has said. The FDA approved Aduhelm even though an advisory panel of outside experts said there wasn’t enough proof that the drug actually…  read on >  read on >

Some people severely ill with COVID-19 may struggle to regain lost weight for months afterward, a new study shows. While COVID-19 is primarily a respiratory illness, it’s become clear that the infection can wreak havoc on the body in many ways. Gastrointestinal (GI) symptoms — like nausea, diarrhea and even bleeding in the digestive tract…  read on >  read on >

Black churches could prove crucial in improving COVID-19 vaccination rates among Black Americans, a new study suggests. The COVID-19 death rate among Black Americans is three times higher than among white Americans, and health officials had hoped that vaccines would narrow that gap. However, Black communities are disproportionately affected by barriers to vaccination, such as…  read on >  read on >

An elderly woman in Belgium was simultaneously infected with two COVID-19 variants of concern, according to a report describing one of the first documented cases of co-infection. The authors said their findings highlight the need for health care providers to be watchful for double infections and the emergence of new variants. The 90-year-old woman was…  read on >  read on >