Exposure to mold both in and out of the home may worsen breathlessness and other symptoms of chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD), new research suggests. More than 16 million Americans have COPD, according to the American Lung Association. COPD is an umbrella term for chronic lung diseases such as bronchitis and emphysema, which literally take… read on > read on >
The U.S. coronavirus death toll topped 600,000 on Wednesday, even as the country’s vaccination campaign is finally curbing the spread of COVID-19. “We’ve made enormous progress in the United States. Much of the country is returning to normal, and our economic growth is leading the world, and the number of cases and deaths are dropping… read on >
In normal times, a sunny day can lift your mood while a stormy one can darken it, but new British research shows that weather had little effect on people’s spirits during the pandemic. “We know that lockdown restrictions, and the resulting impact on social life and the economy, are linked to at least two major… read on > read on >
Public health precautions meant to reduce the spread of COVID-19 may have had an unintended but happy side effect. They may also have benefited individuals who have chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD), according to a new study. During the pandemic, admissions for COPD flare-ups dropped dramatically — by 53% — at University of Maryland Medical… read on > read on >
When young adults are seeking a casual dating relationship, drinking is likely to follow, new research suggests. Meanwhile, those who are already in a serious relationship are likely to drink less. The study included more than 700 people in the Seattle area, aged 18 to 25, who filled out surveys every month for two years.… read on > read on >
A polished, perfectly put-together face can be a huge boost to your confidence, but a new study shows that many of the cosmetics that help achieve that look might also be harmful to your health. In the United States and Canada, plenty of beauty products appear to contain high levels of per- and polyfluoroalkyl substances… read on > read on >
Researchers say an extra dose of two-dose COVID-19 vaccines may improve immune system protection for organ transplant patients, a group that’s so far responded poorly to two-dose vaccines. “Our findings suggest clinical trials are warranted to determine if transplant recipients should receive COVID-19 vaccine booster doses as standard clinical practice, similar to what is currently… read on > read on >
More teens in the United States are reporting their sexual identity as gay, lesbian or bisexual, nationwide surveys show. Between 2015 and 2019, the percentage of 15- to 17-year-olds who said they identified as “non-heterosexual” rose from 8.3% to 11.7%, according to nationwide surveys by the U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. “Although our… read on > read on >
Just a fraction of older Americans with arthritic knees try physical therapy, pain-relieving injections or other more conservative measures before undergoing knee replacement surgery, new research shows. And this may be driven by what type of doctor they see to treat their achy knees, as well as where they live, the study findings suggest. Knee… read on > read on >
Children may have an increased risk of obesity if their mothers were exposed to high levels of air pollution during pregnancy, researchers say. In a new study, 123 Hispanic mother-infant pairs were enrolled in an ongoing trial in the Los Angeles region. Before pregnancy, about one-third of the mothers were normal weight, one-third were overweight… read on > read on >
