THURSDAY, April 15, 2021 (American Heart Association News) — Body mass index may be more helpful in predicting the risk of a common type of irregular heartbeat in women, while waist size may better predict that risk in men, new research suggests. The link between obesity and atrial fibrillation, or AFib – when the heart…  read on >  read on >

The magic ingredient in “magic mushrooms” may be at least as effective as standard medication for depression, an early clinical trial suggests. The study of 59 patients with major depression tested the antidepressant escitalopram (Lexapro) against psilocybin, which is the psychedelic substance in hallucinogenic mushrooms. Over six weeks, it appeared that just two doses of…  read on >  read on >

States that required people to mask up last year had lower rates of COVID-19 than those with no mask requirements, a new study finds. Researchers examined data from all 50 states and Washington, D.C., to assess mask policies, people’s self-reported use of masks in public, and COVID rates from May through October 2020. They factored…  read on >  read on >

Where you live could affect your brain health as you age, a new study claims. Specifically, it found that middle-aged and older people in poorer neighborhoods showed more brain shrinkage and faster mental decline than those in affluent neighborhoods. “”Worldwide, dementia is a major cause of illness and a devastating diagnosis,” said study author Dr.…  read on >  read on >

Starting the school day a little later helps middle and high school students get more and better sleep, according to a new study. The research is based on annual surveys of about 28,000 elementary, middle and high school students and their parents. The surveys were completed before and two years after school start times were…  read on >  read on >

Before the pandemic began, suicide risk was twice as high among female nurses compared with American women as a whole, a new study warns. Even within the health care community itself, female nurses were found to be roughly 70% more likely to die by suicide than female doctors. Why? Study author Matthew Davis said that…  read on >  read on >