Workplace exposure to pesticides may boost a person’s risk of chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD), a new study finds. COPD is a group of lung diseases that cause airflow blockage and breathing problems. Emphysema and chronic bronchitis are the two main types of COPD. According to the U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, it’s… read on > read on >
Tempted to take your workout into the great outdoors? Be aware that there are both benefits and risks to exercising outdoors during the winter. “There’s actually some advantages to working out in cold weather – with no heat and humidity to deal with you may be able to work out longer in cold weather which… read on > read on >
Most parents have dealt with having to hurry a sleepy child out the door on a school morning, but experts say taking the time to establish good sleep routines for your kids is worth the effort. Amid the pandemic, there can be a great deal of uncertainty around school, but a set sleep regimen can… read on > read on >
That gas stove in your kitchen fires up quickly and cooks evenly. What’s not to love? A lot, as it turns out. The emissions from gas stoves are considered major contributors to climate change and damaging to human health. Now, new research suggests they’re troublesome even when they’re turned off. The problem is sizable: Over… read on > read on >
Physical therapy for knee arthritis tends to cost patients more out-of-pocket and involves a lot more hassle than a quick steroid shot to soothe an aching joint. But in the long run, physical therapy is at least as cost-effective as steroid injections and is more likely to provide longer-term relief, a new study concludes. “Even… read on > read on >
COVID-19 vaccines activate long-lasting immune system T-cells that target coronavirus variants of concern, including Delta and Omicron, new research shows. The research team at the La Jolla Institute for Immunology in California studied adults who were fully vaccinated with the Pfizer, Moderna, Johnson & Johnson or Novavax vaccines, but had not received boosters. “The vast… read on > read on >
A robot performed challenging keyhole surgery on pigs without any human help in what could be a major step toward fully automated surgery on people. “Our findings show that we can automate one of the most intricate and delicate tasks in surgery: the reconnection of two ends of an intestine,” said senior study author Axel… read on > read on >
Older people who live near or downwind of fracking sites have an increased risk of premature death, likely due to airborne contaminants from the sites, according to a new study. “There is an urgent need to understand the causal link between living near or downwind of [unconventional oil and gas development] and adverse health effects,”… read on > read on >
Most gene variants that have been labeled “pathogenic” may make only a small difference in a person’s risk of actually developing disease, a new study suggests. Scouring genetic data on more than 72,000 individuals, researchers found that most of the gene variants believed to contribute to disease actually have a minor impact: On average, those… read on > read on >
In response to claims that a man was denied a heart transplant because he refused to get vaccinated against COVID-19, Brigham and Women’s Hospital in Boston said Wednesday that its transplant policies mirror those used across the United States. In a crowdfunding appeal for 31-year-old D.J. Ferguson, a father of two, his family said the… read on > read on >
