Doctors could soon have a new tool to help diagnose chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD). A questionnaire called CAPTURE successfully identified almost half of clinical trial participants who had moderate to severe forms of previously undiagnosed COPD, researchers report. “The goal with trying to find COPD is to treat it earlier, which will help make…  read on >  read on >

A COVID infection appears to drive up diabetes risk, new research warns. The good news? Being vaccinated before becoming infected appeared to eliminate any increase in post-infection risk. The finding follows a deep dive into the medical records of roughly 23,700 patients. At an average age of 47, all were treated for COVID infection at…  read on >  read on >

Most people hospitalized for COVID-19 are taking months to bounce back, a new study confirms. More than 70% of patients reported experiencing lingering symptoms, including coughing, rapid or irregular heartbeat and breathlessness. About half had fatigue or physical limitations. All of these symptoms are associated with long COVID-19. “My clinic patients often want to know…  read on >  read on >

Congestive heart failure is a scary diagnosis nobody wants to hear, but what is the condition and how do you manage it? Plenty of people are affected: Roughly 5.7 million Americans are living with congestive heart failure, with 670,000 new cases diagnosed each year, according to the American Heart Association (AHA). But, in reality, having…  read on >  read on >

How close a person lives to a major road could have an impact on their eczema risk. New research suggests that folks who live farther from one are less likely to develop the skin condition. A 13-year medical chart review focused on patients in Denver, from infants to age 18. Those with eczema were compared…  read on >  read on >

Americans have less medical debt now than they did a couple years ago, possibly because of policies and programs that gave more people access to health insurance and relief funds. About 8.2 million fewer people had medical debt on their credit reports in early 2022 compared to early 2020, according to the U.S. Consumer Financial…  read on >  read on >

Keeping your heart healthy has numerous benefits, including a reduced risk for coronary heart disease, stroke, heart attack and even dementia. Eating healthy foods is one big step you can take to protect your heart, but most folks wait too long to change what they eat. “Many people ignore their diet until they develop cardiovascular…  read on >  read on >