So, you’re trying desperately to quit smoking, using e-cigarettes while still using traditional cigarettes. Sound like a good idea? Maybe not, according to a new study that shows that combining vaping with smoking raises the risk for respiratory wheeze and cough. “To help people quit smoking, FDA-approved medications, such as the nicotine patch or the…  read on >  read on >

Having preeclampsia during pregnancy significantly increases a woman’s future risk of stroke, researchers say. Preeclampsia happens when a woman with previously normal blood pressure suddenly develops high blood pressure, protein in her urine or other problems after 20 weeks into pregnancy. The condition occurs in about one in 25 pregnancies in the United States, according…  read on >  read on >

An experimental COVID-19 vaccine could potentially provide universal protection against future COVID variants as well as other coronaviruses — maybe even the ones responsible for the common cold. And it’s dirt cheap — less than $1 a dose, researchers say. The vaccine targets a part of the COVID virus’ spike protein that appears to be…  read on >  read on >

Music hath charms to soothe you off to slumber, new research suggests. The study found that calming tunes at bedtime seem to help older people struggling with insomnia. “We found music therapy was effective for older adults with sleep disturbance,” said study co-author Yen-Chin Chen, an associate professor of nursing at National Cheng Kung University…  read on >  read on >

A strong immune response to the virus that causes COVID-19 by the placenta may help explain why infected pregnant women face a higher risk of complications, such as preterm birth and preeclampsia, researchers say. The Yale University team analyzed blood and placental tissue from 39 women at different stages of pregnancy. They detected evidence of…  read on >  read on >

Neck pain? Poor posture can cause it, but may not be the only reason why, new research suggests. Lifestyle is a key culprit — particularly long periods of time spent hunched over handheld devices or working on computers. So a team at Texas A&M University set out to learn just how big a part personal…  read on >  read on >

The U.S. Food and Drug Administration on Friday lifted the temporary pause it had placed on the Johnson & Johnson COVID-19 vaccine and said it will add a note to the shot’s labeling warning of the potential for rare blood clots. The move came just hours after recommendations from a special panel of experts at…  read on >  read on >

Not even your beloved feline is safe from COVID-19. Using in-depth genetic analyses, a new investigation in the United Kingdom suggests that people can pass COVID-19 on to their cats. “We identified two cats that tested positive,” said study lead author Margaret Hosie. “Both of them were from suspected COVID-19 households.” One case involved a…  read on >  read on >