Pandemic-related stress has prompted many smokers to light up more often, new research shows, while others smoked more because they could. “Working at home allows me to smoke at will rather than being in a smoke-free environment for 8 hours per day,” one study participant told researchers. Whatever the reason, any increase in smoking could…  read on >  read on >

Blacks, Hispanics and Native Americans are significantly underrepresented in U.S. health professions, with little indication that diversity will improve, a new study says. In 2019, Black people made up about 12.1% of the U.S. workforce, but their representation in 10 health professions studied ranged from 3.3% for physical therapists to 11.4% for respiratory therapists. “Our…  read on >  read on >

That piece of sausage you’re about to enjoy? You may want to put it down for something healthier. New research found an association between eating even small amounts of processed meats, 150 grams (a little over 5 ounces) per week, and a higher risk of major heart disease and death. But not all meat is…  read on >  read on >

In January, the coronavirus swept through Brian and Maria Padla’s family of seven in Philadelphia, starting with their oldest daughter, 16, and then infecting Brian, Maria, and their four younger children. The virus seemingly came and went without much fanfare for the family. During their two-week-long quarantine, the kids spent a day or two with…  read on >  read on >

The overall eye health of people with diabetes benefits from preventive drug injections directly into the eyeball, but it’s too soon to tell whether such treatment will better preserve their vision long-term, new clinical trial results show. Regular injections of aflibercept (Eylea) caused a more than threefold reduction in blood vessel leakage inside the retina,…  read on >  read on >

Live well, live longer. New research offers more evidence that the mantra rings true: People who got regular exercise and ate a healthy diet in middle age had a reduced risk of serious health problems as seniors. “Health care professionals could use these findings to further promote and emphasize to their patients the benefits of…  read on >  read on >

Many U.S. parents don’t use child safety seats when they take ride-share vehicles like Uber or Lyft with their young children, a new study finds. “Our results are concerning, as ride-share services are increasingly popular,” said senior study author Dr. Michelle Macy, a pediatric emergency medicine physician at Ann & Robert H. Lurie Children’s Hospital…  read on >  read on >

New research offers insight into why regular, long-term use of low-dose aspirin may reduce the risk of death from colon and rectal cancers. Resarchers found that aspirin prevents blood cells called platelets from producing an enzyme that allows them to clump together. Tumor cells can attach to these clumps and spread (metastasize) throughout the body.…  read on >  read on >