It’s already known that green space offers significant benefits in institutional settings, such as hospitals and schools, but new research suggests it may also reduce violence in prisons. In the new study, researchers compared the amount of trees, lawns and shrubs at prisons in England and Wales with data on violence between prisoners, prisoner assaults…  read on >  read on >

For millions of Americans, sneezing, coughing, runny noses, itchy eyes and congestion are sure signs that spring is on the way. The American College of Allergy, Asthma and Immunology (ACAAI) has advice for coping with these classic hay fever symptoms. It recently published a guideline for health care providers caring for patients with these dreaded…  read on >  read on >

Rheumatoid arthritis drugs may save lives of patients hospitalized with severe cases of COVID-19, according to a groundbreaking clinical trial. The findings, first announced in January, have now been peer-reviewed and published in a major medical journal. “We are delighted that our full results are now published after peer review. This confirms the robustness of…  read on >  read on >

FRIDAY, Feb. 26, 2021 (American Heart Association News) — Madeline Neville tried her best to avoid catching COVID-19 while attending Temple University in Philadelphia. In late October, she was visiting her parents near Scranton, Pennsylvania, when she learned one of her roommates had been exposed to the virus. Madeline panicked, realizing that if the coronavirus…  read on >  read on >

The most widely prescribed antidepressants in the United States don’t appear to increase the risk of the deadliest type of stroke, according to a new preliminary study. It examined the association between selective serotonin reuptake inhibitors (SSRIs) and intracerebral hemorrhage. This is when a brain blood vessel bursts and blood spreads into the surrounding tissue.…  read on >  read on >

Menthol cigarettes helped lure about 10 million extra Americans into smoking over 38 years, with often deadly results, according to a new study. Researchers also concluded that menthol cigarettes were responsible for 378,000 premature deaths in the United States during the study period –1980 to 2018. Their report appears in the journal Tobacco Control. The…  read on >  read on >

If you suffer the itchy, sneezy, wheezy consequences of seasonal allergies, you’re probably painfully aware that pollen season is starting earlier and lasting longer than ever. It’s an upshot of climate change, and new research from Germany offers an explanation for this extended sneezin’ season: Pollen is on the move, with early blooming spores now…  read on >  read on >