Aches and fatigue quickly progressed to fever with severe chills, but the terrible and unrelenting headache was the real signal that actress Rita Wilson was in for a rough ride following her infection with COVID-19. “It was a massive headache that really lasted for about two weeks,” Wilson recalls. “It was relentless. It wasn’t like…  read on >

Yet another rapid COVID-19 test has proven its mettle in spotting infection with the new coronavirus, this time in a British study. The lab-in-a-cartridge testing device — which can be performed at bedside, doesn’t require a laboratory, and can be performed in cartridges smaller than a mobile phone — was tested on 386 National Health…  read on >

The COVID-19 pandemic has shown a spotlight on disparities in the U.S. health care system. But the issues are longstanding, and — as one large study illustrates — extend into a common elective surgery. Researchers found that when hip replacement surgery is done at a “safety net” hospital designed to serve the poor and uninsured,…  read on >

There are “substantial” rates of coronavirus infection in dogs and cats whose owners have COVID-19, new research shows. The researchers also found that, in several cases, infected pets had COVID-like respiratory symptoms at the time their owners were infected. SARS-CoV-2 has been reported to infect a number of animals, but the risks, susceptibility and symptoms…  read on >

As the coronavirus pandemic wears on, it’s clear that not everyone’s on the same page when it comes to preventing the risk of infection. Lots of people wear masks, try to maintain social distancing and avoid large gatherings. But plenty of others forgo a mask or wear it on their chin, go to busy bars…  read on >

Smokers have a significantly raised risk of dying from a bleeding stroke, a new study warns. For the study, researchers analyzed data from over 16,000 same-sex twin pairs in Finland. The twins were born before 1958 and followed for about 42 years (between 1976 and 2018). During the follow-up, there were 120 deaths from subarachnoid…  read on >

Want to fend off high blood pressure? New research adds to the pile of evidence showing that living healthy can help you avoid hypertension. The study included nearly 3,000 Black and white U.S. adults, aged 45 and older, who didn’t have high blood pressure at the start of the study. The participants’ heart health was…  read on >

HVAC repairman Brad Sissell shrugged off the acid-yellow air surrounding him and kept working, preparing a gas pipe for a new range going into a Salem, Ore., home. Less than a half-hour’s drive away, nearly 200,000 acres were burning in one of the major Oregon wildfires that has sent a full tenth of the state’s…  read on >

Exercise is often recommended to combat stress and anxiety. But it might not be the solution to your pandemic-related worries, new research indicates. For the study, researchers analyzed data gathered from more than 900 pairs of identical and same-sex fraternal twins in Washington state during the early stages of the pandemic. While 42% said their…  read on >

COVID-19 can damage the kidneys and increase patients’ risk of needing kidney dialysis, researchers report. The study authors also warned that doctors should prepare for a significant rise in chronic kidney disease cases due to the pandemic. For the study, the investigators analyzed data from nearly 4,000 COVID-19 patients, aged 18 and older, hospitalized at…  read on >