Parents are increasingly interested in whether medical marijuana can help their children with problems like cancer-related pain and nausea — but there’s concern about interactions with their medications and a general lack of research. That’s one of the main takeaways from a new report in Pediatrics detailing one hospital’s approach to medical marijuana. Doctors at… read on >
People with sickle cell disease are at increased risk for severe complications from COVID-19, an expert says. “Many patients experience a pain crisis, also known as a vaso-occlusive crisis, early in COVID-19 infection before respiratory symptoms develop,” said Dr. Jennie Hart, clinical director of pediatric hematology/oncology at Herman and Walter Samuelson Children’s Hospital at Sinai… read on >
Parks can be good for your health, but fear of crime stops some people from using them, a new study finds. Previous research has shown that urban green spaces can lower stress levels, weight and heart disease risk, and that living near a park is linked to fewer days of anxiety and depression. This new… read on >
When you’re outside this summer, be sure to protect yourself from the sun, the American Academy of Dermatology (AAD) recommends. Skin cancer is the most common cancer in the United States, and nearly 20 Americans die every day from melanoma, the deadliest form of skin cancer. Along with using sunscreen and seeking shade, wearing protective… read on >
States across America reported nearly 60,000 new coronavirus cases on Thursday, setting yet another daily record as the pandemic tightens its grip on a country struggling to reopen. The surge has been largely fueled by states in the South and the West that eased their lockdowns early, The New York Times reported. Single-day case records… read on >
Kids should be able to safely return to reopened schools this fall, resuming their studies with little risk that they will contribute to the COVID-19 pandemic, some infectious disease experts argue. The scientific evidence so far indicates that children do not tend to spread the novel coronavirus between themselves, nor do they appear to regularly… read on >
A nontoxic antiseptic developed in the former Soviet Union may be a valuable weapon for fighting common infections, British researchers say. The drug, miramistin, was developed for the Soviet Space Program. While little known in the West, it blocks or kills flu, human papillomaviruses (HPV), coronaviruses, adenoviruses and HIV, according to University of Manchester scientists.… read on >
Aerosol boxes meant to protect health care workers when they intubate COVID-19 patients may actually increase their exposure to airborne virus particles, an Australian study warns. Intubation is done when patients are placed on a ventilator. Aerosol boxes have been touted as a quick, simple way to protect workers, but their effectiveness and safety were… read on >
With President Donald Trump threatening to cut federal funding for schools that do not fully reopen in the fall, the United States set yet another record for new coronavirus cases on Wednesday with more than 59,000 new infections reported. It was the fifth national record in nine days, according to The New York Times. At… read on >
Want to make smoking less attractive to young people? Try taking menthol cigarettes off the market, a new analysis suggests. The U.S. Food and Drug Administration banned flavors in cigarettes in 2009 because flavors appeal to youth and young adults, and the agency recently announced that it also intends to ban menthol in cigarettes. To… read on >
