Loss of the sense of smell and taste is often an early and enduring symptom of COVID-19. Now, research suggests that for many COVID survivors with long-term sensory loss, it’s also depressing. In a web-based survey completed by 322 adults with COVID and a sudden change in smell or taste, 56% reported decreased enjoyment in… read on > read on >
TUESDAY, April 27, 2021 (American Heart Association News) — Consistent cigarette smoking has a small but significant effect on pulse pressure, according to research that suggests a possible new link between smoking and cardiovascular disease, especially among Black and white women. Pulse pressure is the difference between systolic blood pressure, the top number in a… read on > read on >
TUESDAY, April 27, 2021 (American Heart Association News) — The now-ended pause in use of Johnson & Johnson’s COVID-19 vaccine raised concerns about whether confidence might be rattled in vaccines and how they are monitored for safety. Experts say it should do the opposite. “I think this is a clear example that the system works,… read on > read on >
In rare cases, people hospitalized for COVID-19 can develop heart failure, even if their hearts were previously healthy, new research shows. The researchers found that of over 6,400 COVID-19 patients at their hospital, 0.6% newly developed heart failure. That included eight patients — mostly relatively young men — with no history of heart disease or… read on > read on >
Vitamin D deficiency among Black people may be a risk factor for heart disease, a new, small study suggests. Black adults are more prone to heart disease than whites, and lack of vitamin D — the so-called sunshine vitamin — might be one reason. People with darker skin make less vitamin D than those with… read on > read on >
Raising the legal age for buying tobacco is effective in cutting teen smoking rates, a new study shows. Researchers compared teen and young adult smoking patterns before and three years after a 2016 California law that increased the legal age for tobacco sales from 18 to 21. The University of California, Davis team found that… read on > read on >
So, you’re trying desperately to quit smoking, using e-cigarettes while still using traditional cigarettes. Sound like a good idea? Maybe not, according to a new study that shows that combining vaping with smoking raises the risk for respiratory wheeze and cough. “To help people quit smoking, FDA-approved medications, such as the nicotine patch or the… read on > read on >
Having preeclampsia during pregnancy significantly increases a woman’s future risk of stroke, researchers say. Preeclampsia happens when a woman with previously normal blood pressure suddenly develops high blood pressure, protein in her urine or other problems after 20 weeks into pregnancy. The condition occurs in about one in 25 pregnancies in the United States, according… read on > read on >
The more gun laws a state has, the lower its suicide and murder rates, a new U.S. study finds. Gun violence in the United States is a public health crisis. In 2017, nearly 67,000 Americans died by suicide and homicide. And guns were involved in about half of the suicides and 74% of the murders,… read on > read on >
If you live with a smoker, breathing in their smoke could increase your risk of oral cancer by more than 50%, a new analysis shows. The findings highlight the need for more effective programs to prevent people from being exposed to secondhand smoke, the British authors said. They analyzed five studies from Asia, Europe, North… read on > read on >
