The pandemic’s spring lockdowns last year triggered an unwelcome side effect: New research shows more Americans turned to tobacco and nicotine as they struggled with boredom, anxiety and the disruption of regular routines. Between April and May 2020, the study authors conducted telephone interviews with U.S. adults who use cigarettes or e-cigarettes. During the survey… read on > read on >
Many women with pelvic organ prolapse may get lasting relief from a treatment that’s been around for a few thousand years, a new study suggests. With pelvic organ prolapse (POP), weakened muscles and supporting tissue in the pelvis allow one or more organs — including the uterus, bladder or rectum — to protrude into the… read on > read on >
Limiting global warming to targets proposed in the Paris Agreement could keep tropical regions from reaching temperatures that are beyond human tolerability, a new study projects. Researchers estimate that if countries are able to cap warming at 1.5 degrees Celsius above pre-industrial levels, the tropics will be spared temperatures that surpass the “survival limit.” But… read on > read on >
(Healthday News) — Much needed guidance on how vaccinated Americans should navigate social distancing restrictions is expected from the U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention this week. “Those guidelines are coming out from the CDC really imminently,” Dr. Anthony Fauci said Sunday on the CBS program “Face the Nation.” More than 30 million people… read on > read on >
If you are approaching menopause and you have some extra belly fat, new research suggests you might want to shed some inches now. Women who carry weight around their midsection during menopause may be more likely to develop heart disease even if their overall weight remains the same, researchers report. For every 20% increase in… read on > read on >
Just one dose of the Pfizer or Oxford-AstraZeneca vaccines significantly reduces the risk of hospitalization for COVID patients in their 80s with preexisting health conditions, a preliminary study shows. The findings are from AvonCAP, an ongoing surveillance project funded by Pfizer Inc. It gathers detailed information from two National Health Service (NHS) hospitals in Bristol,… read on > read on >
Lockdowns have you stressed? The American Dental Association (ADA) reports that more people are grinding their teeth as they try to cope with the pressures of the pandemic. An ADA Health Policy Institute survey of dentists found that 70% of respondents said they’ve seen an increase in the number of patients with teeth grinding and… read on > read on >
So, you had COVID-19 a few months back and you still can’t smell that first steaming cup of coffee in the morning. Is there anything you can do to hasten the return of that vital sense? Experts say there is, including “physical therapy” for your nose. “In most cases, smell loss is temporary, but it… read on > read on >
Fine particles in wildfire smoke pose a far greater threat to the lungs than similar particles in vehicle exhaust and other types of air pollution, researchers report. These fine particles — called PM2.5 — have a diameter about 1/20th the size of a human hair and can get into the respiratory tract, enter the bloodstream… read on > read on >
Giving homeless COVID-19 patients a free hotel room for their quarantine and recovery pays huge health dividends for the entire community, according to a new study out of San Francisco. Only 4% of homeless folks transferred from Zuckerberg San Francisco General Hospital to a participating hotel wound up back in the hospital with worsened COVID-19… read on > read on >
