WEDNESDAY, March 17, 2021 (American Heart Association News) — The greener the neighborhood, the lower the stroke risk, a new study suggests. Researchers matched images gathered from space to health data from residents to come up with their findings. The work adds to evidence that shows where someone lives affects their health, said study co-author…  read on >  read on >

States are rapidly expanding eligibility for coronavirus vaccines as they race to meet President Joe Biden’s deadline to have shots for all American adults by May 1. At the beginning of the vaccine rollout, COVID-19 vaccines were available only to the most vulnerable Americans and some essential workers. Now, three states — Maine, Virginia and…  read on >  read on >

Winter weather can bring hidden dangers, the most deadly of which can include carbon monoxide poisoning and fires. As blizzards, tornadoes and severe storms batter the nation and many lose power and heat, the danger of carbon monoxide poisoning and fires from portable generators and other devices increase exponentially, the U.S. Consumer Products Safety Commission…  read on >  read on >

Talking with their doctors may help convince reluctant Americans to get COVID-19 vaccines, evidence from a previous pandemic suggests. Researchers analyzed responses from more than 19,000 people in the United States who were surveyed during the H1N1 swine flu pandemic in 2009. The poll assessed respondents’ attitudes toward doctors, their openness to discussing vaccines with…  read on >  read on >

Vaping high-strength nicotine can help adults with schizophrenia stop smoking traditional cigarettes, according to a new study. Between 60% and 90% of people with schizophrenia smoke, compared to 15% to 24% of the general population, the researchers noted in the report published March 16 in the journal Nicotine & Tobacco Research. Smoking is the main…  read on >  read on >

To the lingering damage of COVID-19 infection, add this side effect: New research shows that more than half of those sickened by COVID-19 report depression. Among more than 3,900 people who had COVID-19 surveyed between May 2020 and January 2021, 52% suffered symptoms of major depression, researchers found. “People who have been ill with COVID-19…  read on >  read on >

Katie Rodgers was just 15 years old when she started smoking, and in her early 20s when it became a more significant habit. Rodgers found quitting tough, but she managed to kick the habit at age 33 during a global pandemic because she knew that smoking would increase her anxiety and put her at higher…  read on >  read on >