Leaky heart valves can put pregnant women at serious risk, according to a large study that runs counter to established practice. The condition used to be considered relatively harmless during pregnancy. But this analysis by Johns Hopkins University researchers of more than 20,000 individual medical records reveals that heart valve disease puts women at risk… read on > read on >
Very few privately insured young children get recommended dental fluoride treatments at health wellness visits, even though insurance typically covers them, a new study finds. “Medical providers are not required to do this; it’s like a mammogram,” said lead author Kimberley Geissler, an associate professor of health policy and management at the University of Massachusetts… read on > read on >
Eczema doesn’t just irritate kids’ skin. The often disfiguring condition may also be tied to depression, anxiety and sleep difficulties, new research warns. A study of more than 11,000 British children and teens found that those with severe eczema were twice as likely to become clinically depressed as eczema-free kids. “Eczema is an itchy red… read on > read on >
There have now been more than 40 million cases of COVID-19 recorded among Americans, according to a database maintained by The New York Times. That’s nearly one-fifth of the global total of cases. With the Delta variant of the SARS-CoV-2 virus cutting a swathe through the United States, and about 47% of the eligible population… read on > read on >
Exercising during pregnancy can benefit babies’ lungs, Scandinavian researchers report. “This study offers a fascinating hint that increased physical activity of mothers is associated with better lung function in their babies and, therefore, possibly their health in later life,” said Jonathan Grigg, head of the European Respiratory Society Tobacco Control Committee, who was not involved… read on > read on >
Adults with autism, intellectual disabilities or mental health disorders are at increased risk for COVID-19 and severe illness, researchers report. Being aware of the heightened risk is important in prioritizing COVID-19 prevention measures, such as vaccination, testing, masking and distancing for these groups, the researchers said. “These high-risk populations should be recognized by clinicians, and… read on > read on >
Young people appear to have normal lung function after recovering from COVID-19, new studies find. In one, Swedish researchers found that even asthma patients had no significant impairment in lung function. In the other, German researchers found unimpaired lung function after kids and teens had a COVID-19 infection — unless their infection was severe. “The… read on > read on >
First comes love. Then comes marriage. Then comes baby in the baby carriage. While that childhood rhyme used to be true, college-educated women in the United States are now more likely than ever to have a first baby outside marriage. They’re also more likely than other women to have a wedding ring by the time… read on > read on >
With the Delta variant surging and many Americans mask- and vaccine-free, new cases of COVID-19 spiked to levels over the long Labor Day weekend that were 300% higher than those seen over the same weekend in 2020, according to a new tally from Johns Hopkins University. That means packed hospitals and rising numbers of infected… read on > read on >
Marijuana has been linked to a doubling in the risk of a heart attack in younger adults, no matter how they use it, a new study reports. Eighteen- to 44-year-olds who used pot were twice as likely to have a heart attack compared with non-users, whether they smoked, vaped or ate their weed, researchers found.… read on > read on >
