Wearing two snug, well-fitted face masks can significantly reduce your risk of coronavirus infection, researchers say. But a good fit is key: The new study found that two ill-fitting cloth masks don’t provide as much protection as one snug-fitting surgical mask. “We’ve found that wearing two loosely fitted masks will not give you the filtration… read on > read on >
All Mommy:
High School Football Doesn’t Affect Brain in Middle Age, Study Says
Here’s some good news for aging athletes: If you played high school football, you’re no more likely than others to have problems with concentration, memory or depression in middle age, according to a new study. “Men who played high school football did not report worse brain health compared with those who played other contact sports,… read on > read on >
CPSC Warns Against Using Peloton Treadmill After Child’s Death
Users with small children and pets should stop using Peloton Tread+ exercise machines immediately, according to the U.S. Consumer Product Safety Commission (CPSC). The warning comes after one child died and dozens of others have been sucked underneath the home treadmill. One family pet also was injured, CPSC said. Less than a month ago, Peloton… read on > read on >
Epidural in Delivery Not Linked to Autism: Study
In news that should reassure many pregnant women, having an epidural during childbirth won’t increase the child’s risk of autism, researchers report. The new findings refute a widely criticized 2020 study that said epidurals were associated with a 37% higher risk of autism. Experts said that study didn’t account for numerous socioeconomic, genetic and medical… read on > read on >
Is It Allergies or COVID? Expert Shows How to Tell the Difference
Seasonal allergies are striking this year at the worst possible time, with the United States in the midst of a fourth wave of the global COVID-19 pandemic. You’ve got an itchy nose and watery eyes. Or maybe you’ve got a fever and a sore throat. Or you’ve developed a cough and you have trouble breathing.… read on > read on >
Unexplained Drop in Resting Heart Rate in Youth ‘Not a Good Thing’
Children who have a sudden lowering of their resting heart rate as they move into young adulthood may be at increased risk for heart disease later in life, researchers report. For their new study, they assessed data from 759 Black and white participants in the Augusta Heart Study, which was designed to evaluate the development… read on > read on >
Hormone Treatments May Raise Blood Pressure in Transgender People
Monitoring blood pressure is important for transgender people, according to new research, which found changes in systolic blood pressure after the start of gender-affirming hormone therapy. Transgender men and transgender women have a higher burden of heart attack, stroke and related conditions, the study noted. Gender-affirming hormone therapy isn’t new. Doctors have prescribed the hormones… read on > read on >
Strike Out Kids’ Overuse Injuries This Baseball Season
Young baseball players are at risk for overuse injuries, but there are ways to play it safe and prevent such problems, the American Academy of Orthopaedic Surgeons (AAOS) says. “Overhead athletes, such as baseball players, place significant repetitive stress on the shoulder and elbow joints,” orthopedic sports surgeon Dr. Nima Mehran said in an academy… read on > read on >
Energy Drink Habit Led to Heart Failure in a Young Man
Energy drinks provide millions with a quick, caffeinated boost, but one young man’s story could be a warning about overconsumption, experts say. In the case of the 21-year-old, daily heavy intake of these drinks may have led to life-threatening heart and kidney failure, British doctors reported April 15 in BMJ Case Reports. The young man… read on > read on >
Americans Still Avoiding ERs in Pandemic, But Uptick Seen in Mental Health Crises
While ER visits have stayed below normal levels as the coronavirus pandemic continues, the number of people showing up in the emergency department with mental woes is increasing, new federal government data shows. Between March 29 and April 25, 2020, visits to emergency departments dropped 42%, researchers from the U.S. Centers for Disease Control and… read on > read on >