Urban air cleared during the COVID-19 pandemic lockdowns as fewer commuters hit the road daily, and that might have resulted in one unexpected heart health benefit for Americans, a new study suggests. Those reductions in air pollution appear to be linked to a decrease in heart attacks during the shutdowns, according to research slated for…  read on >  read on >

Eating alone may be a recipe for heart trouble if you’re an older woman, Korean researchers suggest. Those who eat by themselves are likely to eat faster and less healthily, which can lead to weight gain, higher blood pressure and cholesterol levels, increasing the risk for heart disease, the new study found. “Women who live…  read on >  read on >

The sale of unproven and unapproved stem cell treatments has skyrocketed in the United States, according to a new five-year study. The study found a fourfold jump since 2016 in the availability of the treatments, which claim to do everything from relieving pain to slowing aging. People who use these treatments are needlessly spending thousands…  read on >  read on >

Whole genome sequencing of blood samples improves detection of rare genetic conditions called mitochondrial disorders, British researchers report. These disorders are inherited and affect about 1 in 4,300 people, causing progressive, incurable diseases. Though they are among the most common inherited disorders, mitochondrial disorders are tough to diagnose because they can affect many organs and…  read on >  read on >

Working in an already dangerous environment, the blood pressure of firefighters jumps when they get an emergency call, new research shows. That could be risky for those who already have high blood pressure, experts say. “All emergency and first responders should be aware of their health,” said senior author Deborah Feairheller, director of the clinical…  read on >  read on >

Setting your clocks back an hour this Sunday also means it’s time to replace the batteries in your smoke detectors and carbon monoxide alarms, the U.S. Consumer Product Safety Commission (CPSC) says. Working alarms are especially important because people are spending more time at home due to the pandemic, which means furnaces, fireplaces and other…  read on >  read on >

At a veterinary clinic in the United Kingdom, the staff noticed a sudden and atypical increase in cats and dogs who were experiencing myocarditis, an inflammation of the heart muscle. Was it a coincidence that these animals were showing up severely ill from a condition that has been linked to COVID-19 just as the highly…  read on >  read on >