While exposure to smog is a known risk factor for preterm birth and low-birth weight, new research suggests it also may heighten risk of COVID-19 infection for pregnant low-income women. Scientists at Columbia University Mailman School of Public Health analyzed the COVID test results for more than 3,300 pregnant women in New York and also… read on > read on >
A technique called microneedling may help surgical scars heal more attractively — especially if it’s done within a couple of months of surgery, a small study suggests. Researchers found that for 25 patients, microneedling improved the long-term appearance of scars after various types of surgery — based on both patient and doctor ratings. But the… read on > read on >
With online medical visits growing in popularity, a new study offers some reassurance: Diagnoses made via video are usually on the money. Mayo Clinic researchers found that of preliminary diagnoses made during video appointments at their centers, 87% were later confirmed during in-person visits. The caveat is, the accuracy varied somewhat according to the type… read on > read on >
America’s middle-income seniors could face a time of financial reckoning within the next decade, with the rising costs of health care and assisted living overwhelming their meager savings, a new study reports. The number of middle-income seniors in the United States is expected to nearly double by 2033, with 16 million people 75 or older… read on > read on >
COVID-19 vaccines will likely go the way of flu shots in the future, with updated doses given annually, U.S. health officials said Tuesday. “In the absence of a dramatically different variant, we likely are moving towards a path with a vaccination cadence similar to that of the annual influenza vaccine, with annual updated COVID-19 shots… read on > read on >
The stresses of the COVID-19 pandemic may have led to a significant jump in the number of young American adults seeking help for mental health woes, new data shows. Between 2019 and 2021, the percentage of American adults overall who said they’d sought and received any mental health treatment over the past year rose from… read on > read on >
WEDNESDAY, Sept. 7, 2022 (HealthDay News) – While researchers explore the possibilities of COVID-19 vaccines that don’t require an injection, public health officials in India and China have already each approved new needle-free versions for their citizens. In India, regulators on Tuesday approved a nasal vaccine developed in the United States and manufactured by the… read on > read on >
High levels of air pollution during the first six months of life could affect the colonies of bacteria in babies’ guts, increasing their risk for allergies, obesity, diabetes and issues with brain development, according to new research. Researchers said their new study is the first to show a link between inhaled pollutants from traffic, wildfires,… read on > read on >
Patients suspected of having amyotrophic lateral sclerosis (ALS) may soon be able to get a diagnosis much more quickly, not wasting the precious time many have left, new research suggests. In 2020, a blood test for ALS based on microRNA (short segments of genetic material) was developed by scientists from the company Brain Chemistry Labs,… read on > read on >
Children should get their flu shot as soon as it is available, preferably by the end of October, a leading medical group recommends. Flu vaccination lagged last year, with 55% of children getting their vaccines, the American Academy of Pediatrics (AAP) noted. Coverage levels were 8 percentage points lower for Black children compared with white… read on > read on >
