The actual number of U.S. children hospitalized due to COVID-19 may be lower than current figures suggest, a new study indicates. That’s because counts of hospitalized children who test positive for COVID-19 may include those who were admitted for other reasons and have no COVID symptoms, Stanford University School of Medicine researchers explained. Throughout the… read on > read on >
All Lifestyle:
When Diabetes Strikes in Pregnancy, Do Women Eat Healthier?
Women who develop diabetes in pregnancy don’t tend to make healthy diet or exercise changes to help fight it, a new study finds. That could have dire consequences: Gestational (pregnancy-related) diabetes raises the risks of high blood pressure in mothers, larger babies, cesarean delivery, low blood sugar in newborns, and development of chronic diabetes later… read on > read on >
What Type of Stent Did I Get, Where? Most Heart Patients Don’t Know
When someone comes in for a new heart stent, it’s critical that the medical team doing the procedure knows several key facts about previous stents the patient has had. But fewer than half of patients receiving a stent were still carrying the stent card that has those details with them, a new study finds. Most… read on > read on >
Get First Colonoscopy at 45, not 50: U.S. Expert Panel
A lot of people think of age 50 as the magic number for getting a first colonoscopy, but earlier is better, a prestigious U.S. expert panel now says. Based on evidence that younger people are being diagnosed with colon cancer and would benefit from screening, the U.S. Preventive Services Task Force (USPSTF) is moving the… read on > read on >
Online Therapy Works for Kids Battling Social Anxiety
Plenty of teens are burdened with a chronic and often paralyzing fear of being harshly judged by others. Unfortunately, many can’t get in-person treatment that could help. But now a team of Swedish researchers says that an entirely online version of a widely used behavioral therapy technique can deliver significant relief to those affected. The… read on > read on >
It’s Still Tough to Find Prices on Most U.S. Hospital Websites
U.S. hospitals have been required to make their prices public since 2019, but 18 months into the rule more than half weren’t doing it, a new study finds. In 2018, the Trump administration issued a rule requiring hospitals to publish their “chargemasters” on their websites. A chargemaster is a rundown of a hospital’s services, along… read on > read on >
U.S. to Share 20 Million More Doses of COVID Vaccines With Other Countries
President Joe Biden announced Monday that the United States will share another 20 million doses of coronavirus vaccines with countries that are in dire need of shots. The move comes on the heels of his promise to share 60 million doses of the AstraZeneca vaccine with the world by July 4. This latest batch of… read on > read on >
In One U.S. School District, Nearly 10% of Students Identify as ‘Gender-Diverse’
Teens may be much more diverse in their gender identities than widely thought, a new study suggests. In a survey of nearly 3,200 high school students in one U.S. school district, researchers found that almost 10% were “gender-diverse.” That meant they identified as a gender other than the sex on their birth certificate. Often, those… read on > read on >
Smoggy Air Might Raise Black Women’s Odds for Fibroids
(HealthDay News) – Exposure to ozone air pollution may make Black women more likely to develop fibroids. Compared to women exposed to the lowest levels of the pollutant, Black women exposed to the highest levels had a 35% increased risk for developing the non-cancerous growths in and around their uterus. The link was even stronger… read on > read on >
Sleep Apnea Raises Odds for Severe COVID-19
People suffering from severe obstructive sleep apnea are at a greater risk of catching COVID-19, a new study finds. But researchers at Kaiser Permanente Southern California also found that the longer patients used a continuous positive airway pressure (CPAP) mask while sleeping, the more their COVID-19 risk dropped. For the study, a team led by… read on > read on >