If you’re a senior who can’t smell onions, smoke, chocolate or natural gas, it’s time to see your doctor. Seniors who lose their sense of smell — which doctors call olfactory dysfunction — have higher odds of dying from all causes within five years, new research shows. Scientists had previously found a link between olfactory… read on >
When the new coronavirus pandemic first began, respiratory distress immediately became the hallmark of severe COVID-19 illness. News reports focused on the inability to breathe, low oxygen saturation levels and the alarming need for ventilators. But six months later, experts are becoming increasingly concerned about a very different COVID-19 phenomenon, one that spares the lungs… read on >
Here’s more proof that masking up reduces transmission of COVID-19: A new Massachusetts study found that wearing face coverings resulted in a decrease in coronavirus cases among health care workers as infections were increasing in the surrounding community. “We found clear benefits to universal masking for preventing infectious spread within the work environment,” researcher Dr.… read on >
For years, people with implanted heart devices have been told they can’t undergo MRI scans. But a new study adds to evidence that, with certain measures in place, the procedure is safe. The study focused on patients with older pacemakers and implantable defibrillators that were not designed to be more compatible with MRI scanners. The… read on >
COVID-19 patients who have kidney disease or whose kidneys are damaged by the virus have a much higher risk of dying from the illness, a new study suggests. Researchers who studied 372 patients admitted to four intensive care units (ICUs) in the United Kingdom found that even those who had less severe kidney disease to… read on >
Halloween is risky enough this year with the coronavirus pandemic, so don’t risk your vision as well by wearing costume contact lenses, the American Academy of Ophthalmology (AAO) says. Costume contact lens packaging that claims “one-size-fits-all” or “no need to see an eye doctor” is false, the academy said. Poorly fitted contact lenses can scrape… read on >
A resurgence of the new coronavirus is bearing down upon the United States, with hundreds of thousands more deaths likely to occur over the next few months, according to one of the nation’s top epidemic modeling teams. But there’s one thing everyone can do to forestall the surge and save lives — wear a face… read on >
A culture of toughness and resilience is encouraged among elite college rowers, but it can keep them from reporting injuries, a new study finds. There’s an overall myth among athletes that admitting pain is a sign of weakness and failure, the researchers said. Irish and Australian rowers in this study felt compromised by lower back… read on >
High levels of a protein that lubricates the knee joint may actually be a harbinger of impending joint disease, a surprising animal study suggests. The researchers looked at the role of the protein, known as lubricin, in anterior cruciate ligament (ACL) injuries in dogs because it may also be involved in similar injuries in humans.… read on >
Kids growing up in poverty show the effects of being poor as early as age 5 — especially those who are Black, a new study suggests. The research adds to mounting evidence that children of Black parents who are also poor face greater health inequities than whites. “Our findings underscore the pronounced racialized disparities for… read on >
