Pregnancy might offer women some protection from developing long COVID, a new study says. Women infected with COVID-19 during pregnancy were 14% to 30% less likely to develop lasting symptoms from their illness, researchers reported recently in the journal Nature Communications. “Though we observed that pregnant women have a significant risk of long COVID, it…  read on >  read on >

A non-intoxicating extract of cannabis appears to help children and teenagers with autism, a new study says. Cannabidiol (CBD) enhanced social responsiveness, reduced disruptive behavior and alleviated anxiety among kids with autism, researchers reported today at the European Congress of Psychiatry in Madrid. “The global population prevalence of autism spectrum disorder diagnosis amongst children and…  read on >  read on >

The heart-related death rate among pregnant women and new mothers more than doubled between 1999 and 2022, researchers have found. Just under 9.1 mothers for every million people died from heart-related diseases in 2022, up from 3.6 per million in 1999, according to results presented Sunday at the American College of Cardiology’s annual meeting in…  read on >  read on >

Artificial intelligence (AI) can help improve how premature babies are fed, giving them a better chance at normal growth and development, a new study says. Currently, preemies in a neonatal intensive care unit are fed by IV, receiving a drip-drop handmade blend of nutrients that doctors call total parenteral nutrition, or TPN. This is the…  read on >  read on >

Childbirth is an overwhelming accomplishment, but new mothers would do best not to rest on their laurels following delivery, a new guideline says. New moms should clock at least two hours a week of moderate to vigorous physical activity in the first months following birth, experts recommend. Two to four hours of exercise per week…  read on >  read on >

Mammograms can be used to screen for more than just breast cancer, researchers say. The X-ray breast scans also can be used to assess calcium deposits in arteries, which is an indicator of heart health, researchers are scheduled to report Monday at a meeting of the American College of Cardiology in Chicago. Using artificial intelligence…  read on >  read on >

Newborns with a heart defect may have two strikes against their future health, rather than one. Babies with heart birth defects appear to have a higher risk of developing childhood cancer, compared to those without a heart abnormality, researchers report in the journal Circulation. Childhood cancers are 66% higher in newborns with a congenital heart…  read on >  read on >