As face masks have become the norm during the coronavirus pandemic, people have learned to communicate more clearly with their mouth covered, new research finds. For the study, researchers asked participants to record sentences in three speech styles — casual, clear and positive-emotional — while they were masked and unmasked. Background noise was added to… read on > read on >
Livestock workers have an elevated risk of getting infected with dangerous, antibiotic-resistant “superbug” bacteria, a new study shows. Researchers from Michigan State University expected that finding when studying those risks by reviewing 15 years of published literature. They just didn’t expect the risks to be as high as what their research uncovered. “This is a… read on > read on >
Developing diabetes during pregnancy may increase a woman’s risk for heart disease later in life, according to a new study. It included about 1,100 women without type 1 or type 2 diabetes. Those who developed diabetes during pregnancy (gestational diabetes) were twice as likely by mid-life (average age: 48) to have calcium in their arteries,… read on > read on >
Here’s a new reason to make sure your kids get their seasonal flu shot. A new study showed that it reduces kids’ risk for symptoms and severe illness if they get COVID-19. That conclusion is drawn from medical records of more than 900 children diagnosed with COVID-19 between February and August of last year. Those… read on > read on >
Doctors need to do a better job of discussing low blood sugar with patients who take high-risk diabetes medications such as insulin, researchers say. Low blood sugar (hypoglycemia) is the most common serious side effect of diabetes treatment. Severe cases can lead to falls, emergency department visits, and may increase the risk of stroke and… read on > read on >
SATURDAY, Feb.6, 2021The COVID-19 pandemic can make mental health struggles even worse for some people with seasonal affective disorder (SAD). SAD is a type of depression triggered by the shorter daylight hours and gray skies of winter. It causes symptoms such as overeating, social withdrawal and decreased energy. Pandemic-related effects such as stress, anxiety and… read on > read on >
An unfortunate Connecticut man apparently suffered through two separate bouts of COVID-19 four months apart, adding to evidence that reinfection can occur after natural immunity wanes, doctors say. The 43-year-old Hispanic man had a life-threatening first infection with COVID in April, suffering from respiratory failure so bad he wound up on a ventilator, said Dr.… read on > read on >
Keeping a safe distance because it is safer for everyone during a pandemic also carries a personal payoff. A new study finds that social distancing reduces your individual risk of contracting COVID-19. “The evidence from our work indicates there is value in socially distancing — not only to reduce the spread of a virus within… read on > read on >
COVID-19 vaccine shortages are leading some to question whether the United States would be better off simply trying to give a single dose to as many people as possible. This view has been bolstered by early data from Israel indicating that a single dose of vaccine is extremely effective and can drive down infection rates.… read on > read on >
Getting a driver’s license is an important milestone for many teens and young adults, including those with autism. But all beginner drivers face hazards on the road. New research analyzing motor vehicle crashes shows that teens with autism are half as likely to crash due to speeding as their peers, but three times more likely… read on > read on >
