Doctors might have figured out why AstraZeneca’s COVID-19 vaccine may cause life-threatening blood clots in very rare cases. The discovery, made in a pair of reports published online Friday in the New England Journal of Medicine, could be key to the global rollout of the AstraZeneca vaccine, helping develop effective treatments for the side effect… read on > read on >
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Stressed, Exhausted: Frontline Workers Faced Big Mental Strain in Pandemic
Doctors, nurses and other frontline health workers in U.S. emergency departments have struggled with significant mental health challenges during the COVID-19 pandemic, a new poll reveals. “As the nation moves into what many believe is a fourth wave of COVID, this study is important to our understanding of the impact of the pandemic on the… read on > read on >
Supply of J&J COVID Vaccine to Drop 86 Percent Next Week
In a setback to a national vaccination campaign that was finally gaining ground, the federal government said Thursday that Johnson & Johnson will allocate 86 percent fewer doses of its coronavirus vaccine across the United States next week. The company delivered the first batch of its single-dose vaccine at the beginning of March, sending 2.8… read on > read on >
Nearly Half of U.S. Veterans Cited ‘Personal Growth’ During Pandemic: Survey
Could there actually be a mental health upside to the ongoing pandemic? In a word, yes. At least that’s the finding of a new survey, in which roughly four in 10 U.S. military veterans said that the experience has in some ways proven psychologically rewarding. Nearly 3,100 veterans participated in the survey, which was conducted… read on > read on >
Obesity May Help Trigger Heavier Periods: Study
Obese women can be more likely to have heavy monthly periods, and now new research hints at why. In addition to stirring up inflammation, excess weight may slow down the uterine repair process, U.K. researchers reported. Menstruation occurs when the lining of the uterus (endometrium) sheds each month, but the healing process stops the bleeding… read on > read on >
Bright Side: Sunnier Areas Have Lower COVID-19 Death Rates
COVID-19 might have a tough new foe: The sun. New research shows that sunnier regions of the United States have lower COVID-19 death rates than cloudier areas, suggesting that the sun’s UV rays might somehow provide some protection against the disease. The effect is not due to better uptake of the healthy “sunshine vitamin,” vitamin… read on > read on >
You’ve Got Fungi in Your Lungs, and That’s OK
There’s more than one kind of fungus living among lung tissue, but people can breathe easy knowing these species are for the most part harmless, scientists say. It’s normal for people to have fungi in their lungs, and using drugs like inhaled steroids won’t hurt them, a research team found. According to a team led… read on > read on >
Assisted Living Centers Can Do More for Dementia Patients, Experts Say
U.S. assisted living facilities often have activities to keep seniors socially engaged — but a new study says they need to ensure that residents with dementia are not left out. Researchers observed residents and staff at four assisted living communities over the course of a year. They found that a few factors stood out as… read on > read on >
The Future of Cancer for Americans
At first glance, it appears that little will change between now and 2040 when it comes to the types of cancers that people develop and that kill them, a new forecast shows. Breast, melanoma, lung and colon cancers are expected to be the most common types of cancers in the United States, and patients die… read on > read on >
NIH Starts Trial Looking at Rare Allergic Reactions to COVID Vaccines
A new clinical trial will investigate whether people who are highly allergic or have what’s known as a mast cell disorder are at higher risk for a sudden allergic reaction to the Moderna or Pfizer COVID-19 vaccines. “The public understandably has been concerned about reports of rare, severe allergic reactions to the Moderna and Pfizer-BioNTech… read on > read on >