Telemedicine might help people with stubbornly high blood pressure get their numbers down — and possibly lower their risk of heart disease and stroke in the long run, a new study suggests. Doctors already recommend that people with high blood pressure use a home monitor to track their numbers. But research suggests that home readings,…  read on >

Drug use is common among people taking part in virtual raves and happy hours during the coronavirus pandemic, a new study finds. “We explored whether stay-at-home orders changed how people use drugs — and it appears that drug use during virtual gatherings is somewhat prevalent among the party-going population we studied,” said study author Joseph…  read on >

Parents worry that COVID-19 can make a diabetic child’s condition worse, but an expert has some tips for keeping kids healthy during the pandemic. “If a child has good control of their diabetes, it does not seem as though there will be severe effects if they were to get the virus,” said Dr. Michael Yafi,…  read on >

As the number of coronavirus cases in the United states passed the dubious milestone of 6 million on Sunday, a new report shows COVID-19 is now spreading at a faster rate in children and teenagers than among the general public. The troubling data, from the American Academy of Pediatrics, comes just as schools and universities…  read on >

Americans are generally well-versed about the use of masks to prevent the spread of COVID-19, although knowledge gaps about face coverings persist, a new HealthDay/Harris Poll reveals. About nine in 10 Americans said they are knowledgeable about mask-wearing and that they sometimes, often or always wear a mask when they leave their home and are…  read on >

Older Americans with depression have held up well to the threat of COVID-19, a new study finds. Researchers saw no increase in their depression and anxiety during the early days of the coronavirus pandemic. And they said these seniors showed resilience to the stress of physical distancing and isolation. “We thought they would be more…  read on >

Some fall allergy symptoms mimic those of COVID-19, so seasonal allergy sufferers should follow treatment plans and take precautions to avoid any confusion, an expert says. “A rise in ragweed tends to mark the informal start of the fall allergy season, which typically begins in mid-August,” said Dr. Rachna Shah, an allergist with Loyola Medicine…  read on >

President Donald Trump announced on Thursday that his administration will have a coronavirus vaccine ready for Americans before the year ends. The lofty promise came during his acceptance speech on the final night of the Republican National Convention. “In recent months, our nation and the entire planet has been struck by a new and powerful…  read on >

On the final night of the 2020 Democratic National Convention, the world heard from an improbable source — a 13-year-old named Brayden Harrington. Brayden was invited to speak because he has a frustrating and misunderstood condition that millions of Americans share, including Democratic presidential hopeful Joe Biden. “We stutter,” he explained in a video recorded…  read on >