California’s strict limits on diesel air pollution appear to have paid off. Since the limits were added in 1990, diesel exhaust-related deaths have been halved, with the largest reductions in deaths seen in lower-income communities, a new study finds. By 2014, California saw a 78% decrease in diesel emissions, while diesel emissions in the United… read on > read on >
Using cellphones to track patients’ painkiller use, a new study found more than 60% of opioid painkillers prescribed to surgical patients after their procedures went unused. That has implications for the ongoing epidemic of opioid misuse in the United States, where unused medications can be diverted to others. Giving surgical patients only the amount of… read on > read on >
The brain may play a role in so-called broken heart syndrome, a new study suggests. Formally known as Takotsubo syndrome (TTS), it’s a temporary — but potentially deadly — heart condition brought on by stressful situations and emotions. In this study, published March 25 in the European Heart Journal, researchers wanted to find out if… read on > read on >
Medicine may have advanced by leaps and bounds over the last century, but Generation X and millennials are in worse health than their parents and grandparents were at their age. That’s the conclusion of a new study that looked at markers of physical and mental health across the generations. And overall, there has been a… read on > read on >
In some good news to emerge from the coronavirus pandemic, new research shows that pregnant women and new breastfeeding moms have a strong immune response to COVID-19 vaccines and can transfer that immunity to their infants. The study included 131 women of reproductive age (84 pregnant, 31 lactating and 16 not pregnant) who received one… read on > read on >
Following a sharp rebuke from an independent oversight board over potentially misleading information on the effectiveness of its coronavirus vaccine, AstraZeneca released new data late Wednesday that showed the vaccine is slightly less effective than the company claimed on Monday. The pharmaceutical giant stressed that its vaccine is still very powerful at preventing infection with… read on > read on >
THURSDAY, March 25, 2021It’s very rare, but it is possible to catch COVID-19 even if you’ve been vaccinated, a new study finds. Looking at vaccinated health care workers at two University of California campuses, researchers found a tiny number tested positive for the virus. This finding highlights the need to keep wearing a mask and… read on > read on >
Even small increases of nitrogen dioxide (NO2) air pollution may cause an uptick in heart- and lung-related deaths, underscoring the need to tighten limits on this type of air pollution, Chinese researchers say. NO2 is produced by burning fuel for vehicles, power and industrial production. World Health Organization (WHO) air quality guidelines recommend NO2 levels… read on > read on >
Fewer children end up in ERs for asthma attacks if nearby coal-fired power plants are shut down, a new study finds. “When these power plants close, we see a reduction of somewhere between 12% and 18% in emergency department visits for asthma,” said senior researcher Emily Pakhtigian, an assistant professor of public policy at Pennsylvania… read on > read on >
For people who are obese, even a small amount of weight gain may come with higher medical costs, a new study finds. It’s well known that obesity contributes to health conditions like arthritis, diabetes, heart disease and certain cancers — and health care costs reflect that. But the new study dug a little deeper into… read on > read on >
