Consider it a silver lining, courtesy of the coronavirus: A new government report reveals that both cigarette smoking and electronic cigarette use dropped slightly among American adults during the first year of the pandemic. The findings, published March 18 in the Morbidity and Mortality Weekly Report, are based on a survey of more than 31,000… read on > read on >
Using medical marijuana to treat pain, anxiety or depression may quickly lead to dependence, without relieving symptoms, a new study suggests. Those most at risk for misusing medical marijuana are patients using it to treat anxiety and depression, the researchers found. Based on these findings, the benefits of medical marijuana may have been exaggerated, the… read on > read on >
Moderna said late Thursday that it has asked the U.S. Food and Drug Administration to approve the emergency use of a second booster of its COVID vaccine for all adults. In a statement, the company noted its request is based partly on recent data from the United States and Israel showing how well its vaccine… read on > read on >
Most brain studies that rely on MRI scans don’t include enough people to provide trustworthy results, researchers say. These brain-wide association studies use MRI (magnetic resonance imaging) to see how brain structure and function connect with personality, behavior, thinking, neurological conditions and mental illness. Such studies require thousands of participants to get accurate results, but… read on > read on >
The potentially deadly tick-borne Heartland virus is spreading across the United States and has now been found in Georgia, Emory University researchers report. First identified in Missouri in 2009, the virus is found in the Southeast and Midwest and is spread by the lone star tick. The genetic fingerprint of the virus found in Georgia… read on > read on >
The COVID-19 pandemic has been tough on America’s teachers, and nearly half of those recently surveyed said they’re thinking about quitting their jobs or switching schools. Enforcing mask-wearing and pivoting to remote learning hasn’t been easy. But many teachers and other school staff have also endured harassment and threats of violence from students and parents… read on > read on >
Could cigarette taxes help lower newborn and infant death rates? Yes, claims a new study. The researchers suggest that pregnant women are less likely to smoke when tobacco taxes are raised, leading to fewer infants being exposed to secondhand smoke. Smoking during pregnancy and secondhand smoke exposure are known to increase the risk of infant… read on > read on >
In a finding that reinforces the safety of COVID vaccines, a new study shows that while the shots don’t raise the risk of rare neurological problems, COVID-19 infection might. The researchers focused on four immune-related neurological disorders: Bell’s palsy (facial weakness), encephalomyelitis (inflammation of the brain and spinal cord), Guillain-Barré syndrome (a nerve condition), and… read on > read on >
Rates of postpartum depression among American mothers rose nearly three-fold during the COVID-19 pandemic, along with large increases in major depression and thoughts of self-harm, according to a new study. It included 670 new moms who completed online screening between February and July 2020. One-third screened positive for postpartum depression and 20% had symptoms of… read on > read on >
If your blood pressure spikes when you stand, you may be at increased risk for heart attack and stroke, Italian researchers warn. “The results of the study confirmed our initial hypothesis — a pronounced increase in blood pressure from lying to standing could be prognostically important in young people with high blood pressure,” said lead… read on > read on >
