On the front lines of the war against COVID-19, masks have become a flashpoint. How well do they protect against the new coronavirus — if at all? To separate facts from fiction, two experts from Penn State Health weigh in to clear up common misconceptions. They laid to rest the claim that no studies have… read on >
With U.S. coronavirus cases surging past 3.8 million on Tuesday, Congress is negotiating yet another pandemic relief package for cash-strapped Americans. The package is likely to include a payroll tax cut, along with funding that would be tied to whether schools fully reopen, the Washington Post reported. Although local and state officials have said they… read on >
Ten risk factors may affect your risk of developing Alzheimer’s disease, a new Chinese study suggests. Focusing on these factors could help doctors develop guidelines for preventing Alzheimer’s, researchers say. The risk factors include mental activity, obesity in late life, depression, diabetes and high blood pressure. The need is urgent: Alzheimer’s is the most common… read on >
As yet another record for the seven-day average of new coronavirus cases in the United States was broken on Sunday, federal health officials prepared to start pooled testing for COVID-19. The strategy could speed results, stretch lab supplies further, reduce costs and expand testing, the Associated Press reported. On Sunday, Kentucky, Louisiana, Oregon and South… read on >
When healthy kids have surgery, serious complications are uncommon. But even in that low-risk scenario, Black children fare worse, a new study finds. Looking at more than 172,000 U.S. children who had inpatient surgery, researchers found that Black kids faced higher post-operative risks. That included more than three times the risk of dying within 30… read on >
Want to boost colon cancer screening rates? Mail testing kits to patients’ homes, a new study says. Colon cancer is easily diagnosed by routine screening, such as colonoscopies and at-home stool testing. But despite recommendations that adults get screened from ages 50 to 75, more than 33% of Americans are not up to date with… read on >
U.S. air quality improved after businesses closed to reduce the spread of the new coronavirus, researchers say. For their new study, they compared air pollution data for 122 U.S. counties between March 13 and April 21, to the same dates and locations going back to 2017. “It has been shown that high air pollution may… read on >
Parents can ease conflict with their teens by showing them warmth, researchers say. In their new study, they analyzed daily diary entries from parents and teens in 151 families. The teens were 13 to 16 years old, and 95% of the parents were women. “By using 21 consecutive days of daily diaries, we were able… read on >
Grilling. Campfires. Fireworks. All are part of summer’s pleasures — but they also pose burn risks. A new survey of 1,000 U.S. adults found that 53% mistakenly think their burn risk is lower than it actually is. Only 11% knew that injuries from the flames of a fire pit or grill are the most common… read on >
Yet another daily record for new U.S. coronavirus cases was shattered on Thursday, with 75,600 new infections reported. It’s the 11th time in the past month that the daily record had been broken, The New York Times reported. The previous single-day record, 68,241 cases, was reported last Friday. The number of daily cases has more… read on >
