Could hugging a soft, mechanized pillow that simulates slow breathing help test-stressed students ward off anxiety and stress? British researchers are betting on it. The pillow in question looks like any typical cushion, noted study author Alice Haynes. She’s a Ph.D. candidate at the University of Bristol in the United Kingdom. But when hugged, the… read on >
California will once again be able to set its own car emission standards under a waiver approved Wednesday by the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency. The move reverses a Trump administration decision to revoke the state’s authority to determine its own limits on auto emissions. Under the EPA waiver, California will be allowed to create tighter… read on > read on >
A healthy bank account pays dividends after a heart attack, with new research indicating severe financial strain increases survivors’ risk of death. Researchers analyzed data from nearly 3,000 people, 75 and older, whose health was tracked after they suffered a heart attack. “Our research indicates the importance of financial strain in predicting which patients will… read on > read on >
Want to breathe better air indoors? Go green. Houseplants can make your home or office air cleaner, according to British researchers. In lab tests, they found that three common houseplants — peace lily (Spathiphyllum wallisii), corn plant (Dracaena fragrans), and ZZ plant or fern arum (Zamioculcas zamiifolia) — could reduce levels of a common air… read on > read on >
The often-used steroid spironolactone is not linked to any increased risk of a range of common cancers, according to a new study. The synthetic steroid is routinely used to manage heart failure, high blood pressure and edema, and also used off-label to treat acne, hair loss and excessive hair growth (hirsutism). “Though the U.S. Food… read on > read on >
Pfizer Inc. announced Tuesday that it has launched a Phase 2/3 clinical trial of its COVID antiviral pill known as Paxlovid in children ages 6-17. A news release from the company said the trial will assess the safety and efficacy of the drug in children with COVID symptoms and a confirmed infection who are not… read on > read on >
Kids who’ve suffered a concussion are at heightened risk of mental health issues in the aftermath, a large new study suggests. The researchers found that compared with their peers, children and teenagers with a past concussion were 39% more likely to be diagnosed with a mental health condition — including anxiety disorders, depression and behavioral… read on > read on >
The stories and images flowing out of Ukraine as it defends itself against a Russian invasion are gut-wrenching: Families lugging just a suitcase while crossing the border to safety in Poland in tears; bombed out apartments with people still hiding amid the wreckage; unlucky citizens losing their lives in the crossfire of war. This steady… read on > read on >
Many older Americans have concerns about elective surgery beforehand, but most who go through with it are satisfied with the outcome, a new survey finds. Elective surgery includes many operations for conditions that are not immediately life-threatening, such as knee replacement, hernia repair, cataract removal or taking out a gall bladder. “If your physician is… read on > read on >
People with serious mental illness have up to double the risk of heart disease, and should have their heart health monitored from a young age, a new study finds. Specifically, those mental health issues are bipolar disorder, schizophrenia and schizoaffective disorder. “Previous research has indicated that people diagnosed with a serious mental illness die 10-20… read on > read on >
