That smartphone in your hand could be triggering your allergies, a new study by an 18-year-old high school student suggests. A science fair project by Hana Ruran, of Hopkinton, Mass., found that cellphones are often loaded with cat and dog allergens, bacteria and fungi. “I have my phone always with me. It’s always in my…  read on >  read on >

In a finding that challenges the notion that immigrants are freeloaders in the American health care system, a new study shows they are paying a lot more through health care premiums and related taxes than they actually use in care. In fact, the amount that immigrants pay in makes up for some of the amount…  read on >  read on >

Evaluating a person’s psychological stress can be a good way to gauge their risk of heart and blood vessel disease, new research suggests. And a brief questionnaire could help with the assessment, the study findings showed. “Our study is part of the accumulating evidence that psychological distress is a really important factor in a cardiovascular…  read on >  read on >

Telemedicine became widespread during the pandemic, and that may have shifted patient views about using technology as way to communicate with their doctors, a new study suggests. Certain groups, including Black patients and those with lower education levels, became especially more apt to use it. “Our findings suggest that more Americans are becoming comfortable with…  read on >  read on >

Infants and children sick with RSV are flooding pediatricians’ offices and children’s hospitals across the United States, due to an early surge of the common childhood virus this year. But within one or two “sick seasons,” doctors expect to have on hand long-sought tools to help blunt the impact of respiratory syncytial virus (RSV). As…  read on >  read on >

As the daylight hours shrink, people’s moods can wind up in the tank. Rest assured, you’re not alone. It’s the SAD season for those affected by seasonal affective disorder. That’s the depression, fatigue and withdrawal that shorter days and longer nights often bring. “The seasonal mood change can come in different shapes and forms,” said…  read on >  read on >

It’s time for time to fall back an hour, but fortunately that change is more in line with humans’ circadian rhythm than springing forward. This provides an opportunity for people to “fix” their circadian rhythm, that 24-hour body clock that regulates hormone release and temperature, said an expert from Baylor College of Medicine who offered…  read on >  read on >