Sleeplessness. Night sweats. Anxiety. Irritability. Aches and pains. Would smoking a little pot help women deal with these common symptoms of menopause? A good number of middle-aged women apparently think so, because they’ve been turning to marijuana to help handle the change of life, a new study reports. “Midlife women within the menopause transition period… read on > read on >
All Lifestyle:
Migraines and More Severe Hot Flashes Could Be Linked
Women with a history of migraine headaches may suffer severe hot flashes during menopause, and this combo may boost their risk for heart disease, researchers say. Migraine doesn’t cause more or worse hot flashes — or vice versa. But both are believed to be related to changes in blood vessels known as neurovascular dysregulation, according… read on > read on >
Witnessing Abuse of a Sibling Can Traumatize a Child
Seeing a parent abuse a sibling can be as traumatizing as watching a parent hurt another parent, a new study finds. And it can lead to depression, anxiety and anger, researchers say. “When we hear about exposure to family violence, we usually think about someone being the victim of direct physical abuse or witnessing spousal… read on > read on >
Parents of Hospitalized Kids Need More Info on Costs: Study
Having a child in the hospital is distressing for families, and not knowing what that stay might cost can add to that stress, researchers say. A new study has found that three-quarters of U.S. families want to have conversations about the costs of care. Yet only 7% of families actually have had this financial counseling… read on > read on >
Antibodies to Early Strains of COVID May Not Fight New Variants: Study
Antibodies from current COVID-19 vaccines don’t bind well to the new variants of the virus, a study finds. Researchers collected data from previously published papers about the sequence of antibodies produced by the vaccines. They focused on antibodies against the spike protein, a part of the virus that binds to receptors on human cells to… read on > read on >
Booster Dose of J&J COVID Vaccine Increases Immunity
Getting another shot of the Johnson & Johnson COVID-19 vaccine substantially increased its protection, the company announced Tuesday. According to the results of a new clinical trial, two doses of the vaccine boosts immunity to 94% from the 74% offered by a single dose, the company said in a statement. “Our single-shot vaccine generates strong… read on > read on >
4 Out of 10 Adults With No Known Heart Disease Have Fatty Hearts: Study
Many middle-aged adults with apparently healthy hearts have a “silent” buildup of fatty deposits in their arteries, a large, new study shows. Researchers found that of more than 25,000 50- to 64-year-olds, about 42% had signs of atherosclerosis — a buildup of “plaques” in the arteries that can lead to a heart attack or stroke.… read on > read on >
Intervening in Infancy Might Help Prevent Some Cases of Autism: Study
Infants may show early signs of autism, but a diagnosis usually isn’t made until age 3. Now, a new study suggests that jumpstarting therapy might stave off that diagnosis altogether. Researchers say their preemptive, parent-led intervention could have a significant impact on children’s social development and longer-term disabilities. “What we found is that the babies… read on > read on >
Which Kids Are at Highest Risk From COVID?
Older children and kids with chronic diseases are those most likely to wind up in the hospital with COVID-19, researchers have found. Conditions such as obesity, diabetes and neurologic problems, among others, put kids at risk for severe COVID-19, according to a new U.S. study. “There’s a myth circulating out there that children don’t get… read on > read on >
COVID Has Killed More Americans Than the Spanish Flu Did in 1918
As the highly contagious Delta variant has swept across the United States, the country has reached a tragic milestone. COVID-19 has now killed more Americans than the 1918 Spanish flu pandemic did, when roughly 675,000 people died. It didn’t have to be that way. “Big pockets of American society — and worse, their leaders —… read on > read on >