In the scramble to find medicines that beat back COVID-19, researchers from Italy report encouraging results from a small study on a rheumatoid arthritis drug already in use. The drug, anakinra, may help quiet the runaway immune response known as a “cytokine storm,” which imperils some patients with severe COVID-19. “Until a vaccine is available,… read on >
Adults who had rough childhoods have higher odds for heart disease. That’s the conclusion from a look at more than 3,600 people who were followed from the mid-1980s through 2018. Researchers found that those who experienced the most trauma, abuse, neglect and family dysfunction in childhood were 50% more likely to have had a heart… read on >
People suffering from regular migraines despite medication might consider investing in a yoga mat. That’s according to a new trial that tested the effects of a gentle yoga practice — with slow-paced physical postures, breathing exercises and relaxation. Researchers found that people who added the practice to their usual migraine medication suffered about half as… read on >
The latest addition to medical haute couture may be a necklace outfitted with a pendant that people can use to screen themselves for signs of an abnormal heart rhythm condition known as atrial fibrillation. Fashioned by a team of Finnish researchers, the pendant houses a portable electrocardiogram (EKG) designed to transmit heart readings to a… read on >
As the world reels from the coronavirus pandemic, researchers say religion may provide protection from so-called deaths of despair, new research suggests. The study, conducted in 2018-2019, found that those who attend worship services once a week are less likely to die by suicide, drug overdoses or alcohol poisoning. “These results are perhaps especially striking… read on >
As more evidence emerges that COVID-19 is tied to an increased risk of dangerous blood clots, new research suggests that giving patients blood thinners may improve their odds of survival. “Using anticoagulants should be considered when patients get admitted to the ER and have tested positive for COVID-19, to possibly improve outcomes,” study senior author… read on >
The new coronavirus is disproportionately striking minority populations — particularly urban blacks and Navajo Indians living on their reservation. Experts say social and economic factors that predate the COVID-19 crisis may help explain why. “We found that there were large disparities in the proportion of people at risk of COVID-19 from minority and low-income populations,”… read on >
There’s a simple way to limit your guests’ boozing: Give them plenty of alternatives. A British study finds that people are more likely to choose alcohol-free options if they outnumber boozy choices. There were more than 800 people in the study. When presented with eight drink choices in an online questionnaire, participants were 48% more… read on >
Vice President Mike Pence said Tuesday that the White House coronavirus task force will likely disband within a month, even as the number of coronavirus cases climbed passed 1.2 million and the death toll passed 71,000. The slow shutdown will happen because of “the tremendous progress we’ve made as a country,” Pence said during a… read on >
The COVID-19 pandemic has done untold economic damage in the United States, with businesses shuttering and people self-isolating at home to try to slow the spread of the highly contagious coronavirus. You might think hospitals and health care systems would be immune to this wave of financial ruin, since there’s no industry more crucial to… read on >
