Here’s one way in which the pandemic did not exacerbate health care disparities: A new study shows that telemedicine has closed the gap in access to primary care between Black and non-Black Americans. The use of telemedicine boomed during the pandemic, so University of Pennsylvania researchers decided to examine how that affected Black patients’ historically… read on > read on >
Nurses can be trained to detect postpartum depression in new mothers and could be crucial in spotting the condition early, researchers report. Postpartum depression affects about 15% of new moms and can cause persistent sadness, fatigue, feelings of hopelessness and worthlessness, and trouble sleeping or eating. Some women with the condition struggle to care for… read on > read on >
After 30 years, researchers believe they finally have definitive evidence of the primary cause of Gulf War syndrome: exposure to low levels of the nerve gas sarin. Gulf War syndrome is blamed for leaving a quarter million veterans of the 1991 conflict with a disabling array of long-term symptoms. They range from respiratory disorders, profound… read on > read on >
Is there a way to make eating out more environmentally friendly? A team of German researchers thinks the answer is a bright green yes. They’d like restaurants to offer menus that clearly label the environmental impact — or “carbon footprint” — of specific meal options. “In the broadest sense, we asked how restaurant owners can… read on > read on >
Persistent use of steroids and non-steroidal anti-inflammatory drugs (NSAIDs) like ibuprofen to treat acute lower back pain may actually turn it into a chronic condition, a new study warns. However, some experts who expressed concerns about the study published in the journal Science Translational Medicine pointed out that it was not a clinical trial, which… read on > read on >
Americans’ rates of depression and anxiety spiked during the first year of the pandemic, but the increases were much more pronounced among Black, Hispanic and Asian people than among white people, new research shows. From April 2020 to April 2021, the overall incidence of depression or anxiety in the United States rose from about 11%… read on > read on >
Young adults who struggle to afford food face an increased risk of diabetes later in life, possibly due to the long-term effects of eating cheaper, less nutritious food. That’s the conclusion of researchers who analyzed data on nearly 4,000 people from the U.S. National Longitudinal Study of Adolescent to Adult Health. Between the ages of… read on > read on >
It’s no secret that too much social media can be bad for one’s mental health. Now, research suggests that taking even a brief break from TikTok, Facebook, Instagram and Twitter can ease symptoms of depression and anxiety. Staying off social media for a week meant, for some study participants, gaining about nine hours of free… read on > read on >
Does science sell? Sometimes. Using science to sell chocolate chip cookies and other yummy products is likely to backfire, a new study shows, but touting scientific research behind more practical, everyday items — such as body wash — can be an effective marketing strategy. “People see science as cold, but competent. That doesn’t pair well… read on > read on >
Nearly 1 in 4 hospital doctors are mistreated at work by patients, visitors and other doctors, and female doctors are nearly two times more likely than male doctors to face this abuse, a new study reveals. “All members of the health care team share the responsibility to mitigate mistreatment,” said senior study author Dr. Mickey… read on > read on >
