This school year comes with special challenges for kids as the United States grapples with a coronavirus pandemic, but experts say parents can help their children navigate the tough emotional terrain. Whether returning to a school building, continuing online learning or adjusting to a hybrid school environment, it is normal for children and adolescents to… read on >
All Lifestyle:
Mammograms in 40s Can Save Women’s Lives, Study Finds
Adding to an ongoing debate over the timing of mammography, a new British study finds that screening women aged 40 to 49 for breast cancer saves lives, with only small increases in overdiagnosis. “This is a very long-term follow-up of a study which confirms that screening in women under 50 can save lives,” researcher Stephen… read on >
Hospitals Full, Doctors Treated Her Severe COVID-19 at Home
New York City resident Jeanne Jennings was so sick with COVID-19 she couldn’t draw a decent breath. “Even going from my bed to the bathroom was such a difficult task, I felt like I was going to pass out,” Jennings, 46, said. Jennings wanted to go to the hospital, but this was early May, the… read on >
Another COVID Hazard: False Information
Be careful that the COVID-19 information you’re getting is accurate and not opinion masquerading as the real McCoy, says the American College of Emergency Physicians. Watch out for bold claims and instant cures touted on social media or by friends. Get health and medical information from experts like the ACEP and the U.S. Centers for… read on >
Mental Health Woes Spiraled Among College Students Early in Pandemic
Depression, anxiety and inactive lifestyles are all too common among college students, and a new study finds they may have escalated during the initial outbreak of COVID-19. Using a mix of smartphone data and online surveys from more than 200 students, researchers at Dartmouth College determined that the coronavirus pandemic had an immediate impact on… read on >
Blood Test Might Spot Most Dangerous COVID-19 Cases
A simple blood test may predict which COVID-19 patients are likely to get worse and die, a new study suggests. “When we first started treating COVID-19 patients, we watched them get better or get worse, but we didn’t know why,” said researcher Dr. Juan Reyes. He’s an assistant professor of medicine at the George Washington… read on >
Is Your Home Workstation Hurting You?
If you’re working from a home office these days, it’s important to have an environment that won’t injure you, an expert says. It’s good to have a break about every 30 minutes to protect your back, shoulders and arms, said Kermit Davis, an expert in office ergonomics at the University of Cincinnati College of Medicine.… read on >
Will a Cheap Pill Cure Gonorrhea? New Test Can Tell
Researchers say a new test can tell which patients with gonorrhea will benefit from treatment with the antibiotic ciprofloxacin. The low-cost drug has been out of use amid concern that the bacterium that causes gonorrhea was becoming resistant to it. In this study, 106 patients identified as having a gonorrhea strain called wild-type gyrA serine… read on >
Beware of Hand Sanitizers Containing Methanol
The American Association of Poison Control Centers has issued a warning on hand sanitizers that contain methanol (methyl alcohol). The U.S. Food and Drug Administration has already warned that some hand sanitizers are contaminated with methanol. Methanol is very toxic and can make you “blind drunk” because of its ability to damage the optic nerve,… read on >
Men’s Genital Bacteria Help Predict Partners’ Risk for Vaginal Infection: Study
The makeup of bacteria that colonize a man’s penis can help predict the risk of a serious and hard-to-treat vaginal infection in his female partner, new research suggests. Bacterial vaginosis, also known as BV, can lead to problems in pregnancy and make a woman more vulnerable to several sexually transmitted diseases. More than 20% of… read on >