With communities across the United States canceling Fourth of July celebrations due to the COVID-19 pandemic, backyard fireworks are likely to be more popular than ever. And that has many health experts worried. They fear injuries will soar among amateurs who don’t know how to use fireworks safely. Even before the holiday, explosives are being… read on >
Despite the existence of conventional medications to manage multiple sclerosis (MS) symptoms, a majority of patients also rely on alternative therapies, including vitamins, exercise and marijuana, a new survey suggests. For the study, researchers at Oregon Health and Science University in Portland asked MS patients if they used “complementary and alternative therapies” — medicines and… read on >
Do you wonder if you’ve been exposed to the new coronavirus in the recent past? Good luck finding out for sure: A new review finds there’s little good evidence of the accuracy of blood antibody tests for COVID-19, especially those performed outside a lab. The new findings “indicate important weaknesses in the evidence on COVID-19… read on >
Americans began to travel less before states started to issue stay-at-home orders, and that may have curbed coronavirus case numbers, a new study suggests. “Our results strongly support the conclusion that social distancing played a crucial role in the reduction of case growth rates in multiple U.S. counties during March and April, and is therefore… read on >
Almost overnight, the pandemic has turned cotton masks into an American wardrobe staple. But a coughing simulation shows that not all cotton masks are equal as a defense against COVID-19. “We focused primarily on nonmedical-grade masks that are recommended for use by the wider public,” said lead author Siddhartha Verma. He’s an assistant professor at… read on >
A blood test may predict which COVID-19 patients are likely to need a ventilator. This finding could lead to a scoring system that would flag at-risk patients for closer monitoring and to personalized treatments. It may also help explain how diabetes makes outcomes worse, according to researchers from the University of Virginia School of Medicine.… read on >
Cardiologist Dr. Willie Lawrence remains haunted by the memory of police shooting his best friend during a 1966 race riot in Cleveland. “I saw my best friend shot in the back and the leg by police. I saw his sister shot five times. I witnessed all that, and that impacted me for the rest of… read on >
If you plan to celebrate Independence Day, you might want to reconsider setting off fireworks, Prevent Blindness suggests. There are other, safer ways to mark the United States of America’s birthday, according to the nonprofit eye health and safety group. It noted that thousands of Americans are injured by fireworks each year, especially around July… read on >
Even as the United States reopens, it’s crucial that people wear face masks when they can’t maintain proper social distancing, experts emphasize. “While it’s tempting to view [things] as being back to normal, that’s simply not the case,” said Dr. Patrick Gavigan, a pediatric infectious disease physician at Penn State Children’s Hospital. “The virus is… read on >
Since the coronavirus pandemic arrived on U.S. shores in March, the number of calls to emergency medical services has fallen by more than 26% compared to the last two years, a new study finds. At the same time, the number of EMS calls to homes where people have died has doubled, researchers say. “The public… read on >
