After nearly a year of painful isolation, the U.S. government said Wednesday that vaccinated nursing home residents can hug their loved ones again and enjoy more indoor visits. The new guidance, issued by the U.S. Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services (CMS), comes after coronavirus cases and deaths among nursing home residents have plummeted in… read on > read on >
High blood pressure during pregnancy may lead to early death from heart disease, a new study suggests. There are several types of high blood pressure (also known as hypertension) during pregnancy. Chronic hypertension means high blood pressure was already present before a pregnancy, but in gestational hypertension readings rise during pregnancy. A third form, called… read on > read on >
If you have surgery scheduled and you just found out you are infected with COVID-19, new research suggests you should push your operation back by at least seven weeks. Why? Because not doing so could raise your risk of postoperative death, British scientists warn. “We found that patients operated [on] 0 to 6 weeks after… read on > read on >
Breastfeeding mothers whose babies have food allergies often get conflicting advice from doctors on whether they should change their eating habits, according to a new study. “We found that guidance from health care practitioners for breastfeeding mothers in this situation was inconsistent,” said study lead author Dr. Hannah Wangberg, an allergist-immunologist in San Diego. “Of… read on > read on >
Diphtheria could once again become a major global health problem due to vaccine and antibiotic resistance, researchers warn. Diphtheria is a highly contagious — and potentially deadly — infection that can affect the nose and throat, as well as the skin. It is caused primarily by strains of bacteria called Corynebacterium diphtheriae, which make a… read on > read on >
It’s that time of year when flowers and trees bloom freely and pollen makes the lives of many miserable. But new research reveals a hidden risk: It could also make you more vulnerable to COVID-19 infection. COVID-19 infection rates waxed and waned with pollen counts in 2020, according to tracking data gathered across 31 countries… read on > read on >
Being pregnant triggers a lot of feelings. For many, there is joy, expectation and sometimes a little nervousness about what’s to come. Yet not all pregnant women start this journey on the same footing, and for some, such as those who are facing eviction while pregnant, there’s a tremendous amount of stress. That prenatal stress… read on > read on >
School-based dental care cut cavities in half among thousands of elementary students, a new study says. “The widespread implementation of oral health programs in schools could increase the reach of traditional dental practices and improve children’s oral health — all while reducing health disparities and the cost of care,” said senior author Dr. Richard Niederman.… read on > read on >
A four-year college degree is becoming the key to living a longer life in the United States, a new study argues. In fact, education appears to be a more potent factor in determining lifespan now than race, researchers say. In the study, white and Black people who earned a bachelor’s degree experienced an overall increase… read on > read on >
Many women with pelvic organ prolapse may get lasting relief from a treatment that’s been around for a few thousand years, a new study suggests. With pelvic organ prolapse (POP), weakened muscles and supporting tissue in the pelvis allow one or more organs — including the uterus, bladder or rectum — to protrude into the… read on > read on >
