Frontline nurses were plagued by “moral distress” in the early days of the pandemic because they lacked the support to provide high-quality care, a new report reveals. Between May and September 2020, researchers interviewed 100 nurses across the United States who cared for COVID-19 patients. The nurses reported moral distress caused by knowing how to… read on > read on >
All Lifestyle:
Race, Income Can Be Roadblocks to Recovery From Depression
If you’re battling depression, the success of your treatment might be affected by your race, income, job status and education, a new study says. “If you’re going home to a wealthy neighborhood with highly educated parents or spouse, then you’re arguably in a much better environment for the treatment to be effective than if you’re… read on > read on >
Do Zoom Meetings Kill Creativity?
Zoom meetings became the lifeblood of many workplaces during pandemic, but a new study points to a downside: They may limit employees’ capacity for creative thinking. In experiments with workers in several countries, researchers found two broad phenomenon: Coworkers tended to be less adept at generating creative ideas when they communicated by video, versus in-person.… read on > read on >
‘Brain Zap’ Technology May Help Hardcore Smokers Quit
Smoking is said by some to be the hardest addiction to break, and certain people might benefit from brain stimulation to quit, French researchers suggest. Smokers who received noninvasive brain stimulation — using low-intensity electric or magnetic impulses — were twice as likely to go without cigarettes over three to six months as those who… read on > read on >
Pfizer Seeks FDA Approval of COVID Boosters for Children Ages 5-11
Pfizer Inc. announced Tuesday that it has asked the U.S. Food and Drug Administration to approve emergency use of its booster shot for children ages 5 to 11. The application hinges on a study of 140 children with no evidence of prior coronavirus infection. Their antibody levels against the original strain of the virus were… read on > read on >
Antibiotics in Infancy May Weaken Response to Childhood Vaccines
Babies and toddlers who’ve been given antibiotics might have a less vigorous immune response to routine childhood vaccinations, new research warns. The study is the first to suggest that antibiotics might dampen youngsters’ ability to generate infection-fighting antibodies in response to vaccination. Experts cautioned that more research is necessary, and it’s not clear whether antibiotic… read on > read on >
Prescription Steroids Can Pose Dangers for Sickle Cell Patients
People with sickle cell disease who take corticosteroids to treat asthma or inflammation may suffer severe pain and even need to be hospitalized, researchers report. This reaction to corticosteroids can be particularly severe among older people, women and patients not taking the drug hydroxyurea to treat their sickle cell symptoms. These were the most likely… read on > read on >
Smoking Rates Drop for Americans Battling Depression, Substance Abuse
Folks who struggle with depression and substance use disorders often tend to be smokers, but a new study finds that smoking rates among these vulnerable Americans have fallen significantly. “This study shows us that at a population-level, reductions in tobacco use are achievable for people with psychiatric conditions, and smoking cessation should be prioritized along… read on > read on >
Tough COVID Measures Were Tough on Mental Health
As the pandemic unfolded, nations adopted diverse methods to contain COVID-19. Some sought to eliminate the virus, targeting zero community transmission. Others tried to slow transmission through a mix of intermittent lockdowns, workplace, business and school closings, social distancing, the wearing of face masks, and the cancellation of public gatherings and public transport. Efforts to… read on > read on >
Kids Who Witness Domestic Violence May Suffer Mentally for Decades
Witnessing violence between your parents is traumatic when it happens, but a new study finds that trauma can raise your risk of depression and other mental health problems. The study included more than 17,700 Canadian adults who took part in a national survey on mental health. Of those respondents, 326 said they witnessed parental domestic… read on > read on >