THURSDAY, May 13, 2021 (American Heart Association News) — Approval of a COVID-19 vaccine for people as young as 12 offers parents more than the opportunity to protect their kids. It offers them a chance to be a guide. Adolescents might be wondering whether vaccines are safe or even necessary. They also might be struggling… read on > read on >
Weight-loss surgery can trim waistlines, and new research suggests it could also protect aging eyes. The study found that after bariatric (weight-loss) surgery, a person’s odds for cataracts can drop significantly, especially among younger patients. Why might that be so? According to Swiss researchers, weight loss in obese patients may lower oxidative stress on cells,… read on > read on >
An experimental injectable drug appears more versatile than existing medications in treating people with different forms of severe, hard-to-control asthma, clinical trial results show. There are many different types of asthma brought on by many different triggers, and a number of monoclonal antibody medications — called “biologics” — have been crafted to target distinct asthma… read on > read on >
Like certain health conditions including cancer, diabetes and high blood pressure, new research shows that having HIV or AIDS increases a person’s risk of catching and dying from COVID-19. For the study, researchers from Penn State College of Medicine assessed data from 22 previous studies of 21 million participants in North America, Africa, Europe and… read on > read on >
Researchers say they have developed a rapid test for gonorrhea that could help reduce the spread of the sexually transmitted disease. The test consists of an inexpensive, portable device and a cellphone app that will diagnose gonorrhea in less than 15 minutes. It can also determine whether the strain of the infection will respond to… read on > read on >
In areas of the United States where opioid treatment centers are rare, addicted people can find it nearly impossible to get help, a new study finds. “The study identified clear opioid treatment deserts that undoubtedly stand in the way of access to needed care and that likely exist throughout the state and the nation. These… read on > read on >
Strokes are on the rise among people younger than 50, and new research suggests that packing on the pounds during the teen years is a big reason why. The more overweight you were from ages 16 to 20, the greater your risk of having a stroke before age 50, the new study shows. “Given ongoing… read on > read on >
Contrary to misleading reports spread on social media, a new study finds the COVID-19 vaccine does no damage to the placenta in pregnancy. In a study of placentas from patients who were vaccinated for COVID-19 during pregnancy, researchers found no evidence of any harm. “The placenta is like the black box in an airplane. If… read on > read on >
Can feeling young at heart, or at least younger than your actual age, help older people live healthier, longer lives? Yes, according to researchers in Germany. “Individuals who feel younger than they chronologically are seem to benefit from their younger subjective age in various aspects,” explained study lead author Markus Wettstein. Surveying more than 5,000… read on > read on >
A microchip implanted in the brain has allowed a paralyzed man to communicate by text — at speeds that approach the typical smartphone user. The achievement is the latest advance in “brain-computer interface” (BCI) systems. Scientists have been studying BCI technology for years, with the aim of one day giving people with paralysis or limb… read on > read on >
