The pandemic has worsened longstanding staffing shortages at U.S. nursing homes and other long-term care facilities. Now, a new study shows that high employee turnover rates have yet to improve. Researchers found that after initial workforce losses in the early phase of the pandemic, U.S. hospitals, outpatient centers and other health care settings were getting… read on > read on >
Catching COVID-19 appears to increase an older person’s risk of developing a case of shingles. Researchers found that people 50 and older who had a COVID infection were 15% more likely to develop shingles, compared to people who were never infected. That risk climbed to 21% in people hospitalized with a severe case of COVID.… read on > read on >
Too few sexually active teens are getting tested for sexually transmitted diseases (STDs), according to a new report by U.S. health officials. In all, just 20% of sexually active high school students said they were tested for an STD — now called sexually transmitted infections (STIs) — in the past year, according to researchers from… read on > read on >
A new artificial intelligence approach can predict if and when heart patients might die of sudden cardiac arrest far more accurately than a doctor can, and could improve survival rates, according to its developers. “Sudden cardiac death caused by arrhythmia accounts for as many as 20% of all deaths worldwide and we know little about… read on > read on >
Some patients with serious illnesses get cosmetic surgery to look healthier and be more comfortable in social situations or at work, a small study finds. Researchers interviewed 12 patients who had cosmetic surgery at the start or during treatment for conditions such as stroke, advanced melanoma, prostate cancer, advanced cervical or thyroid cancer and Hodgkin’s… read on > read on >
When the world gets you down, go for a walk and make your heart happy. Physical activity is one of the best ways to manage stress and boost your mood, while reducing your risk for heart disease and stroke, according to the American Heart Association (AHA). The AHA recommends at least 150 minutes of moderate-intensity… read on > read on >
With the advent of smartphones came the rise of selfies, shared daily by “like”-seeking millions across social media. But a small new study suggests that, unlike photos taken with regular cameras, smartphone selfies distort facial features in a not-so-flattering way. And those unappealing — if inaccurate — results may be fueling a hankering for plastic… read on > read on >
A rule requiring U.S. federal government employees to be vaccinated against COVID-19 has been reinstated by a federal appeals court. The mandate was introduced in September but enforcement was halted in January by a preliminary injunction issued by a federal judge in Texas, The New York Times reported. On Thursday, the U.S. Court of Appeals… read on > read on >
(HealthDay News) – Medicare announced Thursday that it will limit its coverage of the pricey new drug Aduhelm to Alzheimer’s patients enrolled in clinical trials of the drug. Approved amid controversy last year by the U.S. Food and Drug Administration, the latest decision was meant to protect patients while gathering more clinical data on whether… read on > read on >
If you’re vaccinated and get COVID-19 anyway, which variant you have and whether you’ve been boosted make a difference. Symptoms last longer when breakthrough infections are caused by the Delta variant and not the more contagious Omicron variant, according to European researchers who are reporting other differences in how SARS-CoV-2 variants affect vaccinated patients. They… read on > read on >
