Many Americans are choosing — or have been told — to self-quarantine to slow the spread of COVID-19. Doctors at the University of Texas Health Science Center at Houston break down what that is supposed to look like. Isolation separates sick people from those who are not sick, while quarantine restricts the movement of people… read on >
People often turn to music to boost their mood or relieve stress. And new research suggests there may be science supporting that practice. The study found that listening to 30 minutes of music a day eased chest pain and anxiety in people who had recently had a heart attack. “Based on our findings, we believe… read on >
Cholesterol-lowering statins are commonly used to help prevent heart disease. Now a new study hints that they could shield women’s hearts from the harms of certain breast cancer drugs. The study focused on women in Canada who’d been treated with either chemotherapy drugs called anthracyclines or the medication Herceptin. Though the treatments can be lifesaving,… read on >
Using past weather data to predict climate change-linked increases in extreme weather events may underestimate how often they’ll occur, with potentially serious consequences, a Stanford University study says. It found that predictions based solely on historical records underestimated by about half the actual number of extremely hot days in Europe and East Asia, as well… read on >
Considering a knee replacement? Plastic surgery? With a pandemic of new coronavirus cases looming, it’s probably time to postpone elective surgery if you can, a surgeons’ group says. In a statement, the American College of Surgeons (ACS) noted that as cases of severe COVID-19 requiring hospitalization rise, U.S. health care infrastructure and resources could be… read on >
Schools are closing. Sports and other activities have been cancelled. Everything is changing. In the midst of this chaos, how do parents keep kids from stressing too much? “For families, this is truly now hitting home,” said psychologist Robin Gurwitch, from Duke University and the Center for Child and Family Health, in Durham, N.C. “Families… read on >
The day paramedics rushed Jeramiah Parsons to the hospital, his lips were so sore and swollen he had trouble talking. A skin-picking habit related to his methamphetamine addiction had permitted a dangerous antibiotic-resistant infection to take up residence in his face. He had no health insurance and no doctor he could call. “It’s difficult to… read on >
The novel coronavirus appears to be seasonal in nature, with major outbreaks occurring mainly in regions that match a specific set of climate conditions, a new study argues. All areas experiencing significant outbreaks of COVID-19 fall within a northern corridor that has an average temperature of 41 to 52 degrees Fahrenheit and an average humidity… read on >
Even if you’re stuck at home waiting for the coronavirus all clear, you can still keep a healthy lifestyle. “Prevention is key in limiting the spread of coronavirus, and with more people working remotely or limiting their exposure to crowds, it’s important to maintain healthy habits at home,” said Dr. Eduardo Sanchez, chief medical officer… read on >
A plant-based diet can benefit your heart, but only if you eat certain healthy types of food, researchers say. They tracked the eating behavior and the development of heart disease among more than 2,000 adults in Greece over 10 years, starting in 2002. Compared to those who ate more animal-based foods, men who ate more… read on >
