Though some think that vaping is a safer alternative to smoking traditional cigarettes, Canadian research suggests it could raise the risk of developing asthma or having asthma attacks for teens and adults. “Emerging research really suggests that vaping may actually worsen preexisting health conditions such as asthma,” said study author Teresa To, senior scientist in…  read on >  read on >

People with heart failure are 20% more likely than those with cancer to develop depression within five years of their diagnosis, a new study finds. Nearly 1 in 4 patients with heart failure are depressed or anxious, according to the German researchers. “The treatment of mental illnesses in cancer patients — psycho-oncology — is long-established,…  read on >  read on >

(HealthDay News) – A good movie can be more than mere entertainment: It can also help you feel more prepared to tackle life’s challenges and be a better person, a new study suggests. This may be why folks sometimes choose films with difficult subjects or those that make them sad, researchers say. “Meaningful movies actually…  read on >  read on >

A single dose of a COVID-19 vaccine isn’t enough to develop adequate antibodies in kidney dialysis patients, Canadian researchers report. “We advise that the second dose of the [Pfizer] vaccine be administered to patients receiving hemodialysis at the recommended 3-week time interval and that rigorous SARS-CoV-2 infection prevention and control measures be continued in hemodialysis…  read on >  read on >

Frequent middle-ear infections are the nemesis of many parents and young children. Now a new study suggests that a common treatment — “ear tubes” — may not prevent future bouts. Middle-ear infections (or acute otitis media) are second only to the common cold in creating childhood misery. They occur when the air-filled space behind the…  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 >