Pets Helped People Cope During Pandemic: Study

More than 90% said their pet helped them cope emotionally with the lockdown and 96% said their pet helped keep them fit and active. from WebMD Health https://pets.webmd.com/news/20200930/pets-helped-people-cope-during-pandemic-lockdown-study?src=RSS_PUBL...

Read More

Was FDA Lax in Approving Opioids Too Easily?

For at least two decades, the U.S. Food and Drug Administration has been approving new formulations of prescription opioids without requiring drug manufacturers to gather important information on safety and effectiveness, a new study claims. from WebMD Health https://www.webmd.com/mental-health/addiction/news/20200930/was-fda-lax-in-approving-opioids-too-easily?src=RSS_PUBL...

Read More

Was FDA Lax in Approving Opioids Too Easily?

For at least two decades, the U.S. Food and Drug Administration has been approving new formulations of prescription opioids without requiring drug manufacturers to gather important information on safety and effectiveness, a new study claims. from WebMD Health https://www.webmd.com/mental-health/addiction/news/20200930/was-fda-lax-in-approving-opioids-too-easily?src=RSS_PUBL...

Read More

Positive Coronavirus Tests Shut Down Two NFL Teams

The Vikings hosted the Titans this past Sunday in Minneapolis but, as of Tuesday morning, had no positive test results for anyone on their club, NBC News reported. from WebMD Health https://www.webmd.com/lung/news/20200930/positive-coronavirus-tests-shut-down-two-nfl-teams?src=RSS_PUBL...

Read More

NYC Will Fine People Who Don't Wear Masks

People in New York City who aren't wearing a mask will first be offered one. from WebMD Health https://www.webmd.com/lung/news/20200930/nyc-will-fine-people-who-dont-wear-masks?src=RSS_PUBL...

Read More

COVID-19 Vaccine Trial Shows Promise for Elderly

If the antibody responses seen in the study translate into protection against the infection, the results could mean the elderly -- the population that has been hardest hit by COVID -- could receive strong protection from the shot. from WebMD Health https://www.webmd.com/lung/news/20200929/covid-19-vaccine-trial-shows-promise-for-elderly?src=RSS_PUBL...

Read More

Closer Look: Trump, Biden Plans on Health Care

President Donald Trump and former Vice President Joe Biden have greatly different plans for improving Americans' health care and for tackling the coronavirus pandemic. from WebMD Health https://www.webmd.com/health-insurance/news/20200929/closer-look-trump-biden-plans-on-health-care?src=RSS_PUBL...

Read More

End Ban on Cornea Donations from Gay Men: Study

A corneal transplant can cure some forms of blindness and visual impairment. The United States bans men from donating if they have had gay sex in the past five years; Canada has a 12-month restriction. from WebMD Health https://www.webmd.com/eye-health/news/20200929/rules-on-cornea-donations-from-gay-men-prevent-sight-restoring-surgery-study?src=RSS_PUBL...

Read More

Pandemic Has More Americans Turning to Alcohol

Overall, there was a 14% jump in drinking frequency this past spring among U.S. adults over 30 when compared to last year at the same time, researchers found. Among women, drinking frequency went up 17%. from WebMD Health https://www.webmd.com/lung/news/20200929/pandemic-has-more-americans-turning-to-booze?src=RSS_PUBL...

Read More

Do Fasting Diets Work? Study Finds Little Benefit

In a new clinical trial, researchers found that one type of intermittent fasting did help overweight and obese adults drop a couple of pounds over 12 weeks. But they fared no better than a comparison group who ate whenever they wanted. from WebMD Health https://www.webmd.com/diet/obesity/news/20200929/do-fasting-diets-really-work-new-study-finds-little-benefit?src=RSS_PUBL...

Read More

Study Confirms Minorities at Higher Odds of COVID

Between Feb. 8 and July 22, more than 254,000 people were tested and more than 16,000 were positive for COVID-19. Among Black patients, 10% tested positive as did 11% of Hispanics and 4% of white patients. from WebMD Health https://www.webmd.com/lung/news/20200929/study-confirms-minorities-face-higher-odds-of-covid-19-study?src=RSS_PUBL...

Read More

Lockdown Could Worsen Hearing Woes for Seniors

Older adults who use hearing aids may be using them less, because they think there's no one to interact with. This can reduce sound input to the brain and lead to auditory deprivation. from WebMD Health https://www.webmd.com/healthy-aging/news/20200929/lockdown-could-worsen-hearing-woes-for-us-seniors?src=RSS_PUBL...

Read More

Women Get Worse Care for Heart Attack

Women aged 18 to 55 are less likely to receive the tests and aggressive treatment that men routinely receive, and are more likely to die in the hospital, the researchers added. from WebMD Health https://www.webmd.com/heart-disease/news/20200929/women-get-worse-care-for-heart-attack?src=RSS_PUBL...

Read More

Most Newborns of COVID-19-Infected Moms Fare Well

These newborns generally do well in the six to eight weeks after birth, but more are admitted to the neonatal intensive care unit (NICU) if their mothers had COVID-19 in the two weeks before delivery. from WebMD Health https://www.webmd.com/lung/news/20200928/most-newborns-of-covid-19-infected-moms-fare-well?src=RSS_PUBL...

Read More

33% of Parents Won't Get Flu Shots for Their Kids

Parents who didn't take their children for a flu shot last year are least likely to do so this year (less than a third), while parents who took their child for a flu shot last year were most likely to do so again (96%), according to the survey. from WebMD Health https://www.webmd.com/cold-and-flu/news/20200928/1-in-3-us-parents-wont-get-flu-shots-for-their-kids-survey?src=RSS_PUBL...

Read More

Privacy Concerns Hindering Digital Contact Tracing

To try to make that easier, countries and states are turning digital. Smartphone apps allow anyone, whether they have COVID or just worry they’ve been exposed, to detail their movements leading up to infection or exposure. from WebMD Health https://www.webmd.com/lung/news/20200928/privacy-concerns-hindering-digital-contact-tracing?src=RSS_PUBL...

Read More

Doctors Wary of Rushed COVID Vaccine

Only 17% of doctors say they will get a COVID-19 vaccine if it is authorized before all clinical trials have been completed, according to results of a Medscape poll. from WebMD Health https://www.webmd.com/lung/news/20200928/doctors-wary-of-rushed-covid-vaccine?src=RSS_PUBL...

Read More

Brain-Eating Amoeba in Texas City's Tap Water

Lake Jackson issued a "do not use water order" and requested an emergency declaration from the state. from WebMD Health https://www.webmd.com/brain/news/20200928/brain-eating-amoeba-in-texas-citys-tap-water?src=RSS_PUBL...

Read More

Report: Trump Picks Amy Coney Barrett for Court

Amy Coney Barrett, 48, a federal judge on the U.S. Court of Appeals for the 7th Circuit in Chicago since 2017, is President Donald Trump's pick for the Supreme Court, according to the New York Times. from WebMD Health https://www.webmd.com/health-insurance/news/20200925/report-trump-picks-amy-coney-barrett-for-court?src=RSS_PUBL...

Read More

Is Key Safety Data at Risk in Race for COVID Vaccine?

Public health experts worry that ending a COVID vaccine trial early and giving it swift approval under an Emergency Use Authorization could compromise the collection of further safety data. from WebMD Health https://www.webmd.com/lung/news/20200925/key-safety-data-at-risk-in-race-for-covid-vaccine?src=RSS_PUBL...

Read More

FDA Warns of Danger From 'Benadryl Challenge'

The new internet dare, broadcast widely on teen-friendly TikTok, urges kids to overdose on the over-the-counter antihistamine Benadryl to achieve a hallucinatory state. from WebMD Health https://www.webmd.com/parenting/news/20200924/fda-warns-of-danger-from-benadryl-challenge--asks-tiktok-to-remove-videos?src=RSS_PUBL...

Read More

Even If Hips, Legs Slims Down, Belly Fat a Danger

Even if other areas of the body are in good shape, once fat starts to accumulate in the belly region, the risk of dying an early death goes up. from WebMD Health https://www.webmd.com/diet/obesity/news/20200924/even-if-hips-legs-slim-down-belly-fat-remains-a-health-danger?src=RSS_PUBL...

Read More

America's COVID Pandemic Is Now Skewing Younger

From June through August, people in their 20s accounted for more than 20% of all COVID infections in the United States, CDC researchers found. from WebMD Health https://www.webmd.com/lung/news/20200924/americas-covid-pandemic-is-now-skewing-younger?src=RSS_PUBL...

Read More

U.S. Coronavirus Cases Top 7 Million

It was less than a month ago that the United States reached 6 million cases. It took over three months for the country to record its first million cases. from WebMD Health https://www.webmd.com/lung/news/20200925/us-coronavirus-cases-top-7-million?src=RSS_PUBL...

Read More

Low Vitamin D Levels Tied to Odds for Severe COVID

Patients who were vitamin D-sufficient -- a blood level of at least 30 nanograms per milliliter -- had a significantly lower risk for serious complications from COVID-19, including losing consciousness, low blood oxygen levels and death. from WebMD Health https://www.webmd.com/lung/news/20200925/low-vitamin-d-levels-tied-to-higher-odds-for-severe-covid?src=RSS_PUBL...

Read More

Could Wildfires Have Long-Term Health Effects?

When people breathe wildfire smoke, the short-term health effects can range from eye and nasal irritation and coughing to worsening asthma, heart attacks, and strokes. Scientists aren’t sure yet of the long-term effects, but there are some early clues. from WebMD Health https://www.webmd.com/lung/news/20200925/could-wildfires-have-long-term-health-effects?src=RSS_PUBL...

Read More

Ingredients Make 'Smart' Supplements Not-So-Smart

A review of so-called "smart drug" nutritional supplements found a handful that were packed with foreign pharmaceuticals not approved in the United States, often in potentially dangerous combinations and dosages. from WebMD Health https://www.webmd.com/drug-medication/news/20200924/hazardous-ingredients-make-smart-drug-supplements-a-not-so-smart-buy?src=RSS_PUBL...

Read More

Accuracy of COVID-19 Antibody Tests Varies Widely

There was a wide range of accuracy among the tests. Specificity -- the ability to correctly identify those without the disease -- ranged from 82% to 100% from WebMD Health https://www.webmd.com/lung/news/20200924/accuracy-of-covid-19-antibody-tests-varies-widely-study-finds?src=RSS_PUBL...

Read More

Symptoms or No, COVID Patients Have Same Viral Load

Fifty-four percent of patients without symptoms tested positive for SARS-CoV-2, as did 64% of those with mild symptoms. There was no significant difference in the viral load between the two groups, the researchers said. from WebMD Health https://www.webmd.com/lung/news/20200925/silent-covid-19-produces-as-much-virus-as-in-patients-with-symptoms-study?src=RSS_PUBL...

Read More

Is Shock Therapy Returning for Bipolar Disorder?

Investigators found that among bipolar patients who fail to respond to standard treatments, ECT can be a lifesaver, preventing out-of-control mood swings and dramatically lowering suicide risk. from WebMD Health https://www.webmd.com/bipolar-disorder/news/20200925/is-shock-therapy-making-a-comeback-against-bipolar-disorder?src=RSS_PUBL...

Read More

Severe COVID Clues: Autoantibodies, Gene Mutations

New research from the National Institutes of Health and other institutions suggests that some people have antibodies that are misguided, called autoantibodies, that attack the immune system instead of attacking the virus that causes COVID-19 from WebMD Health https://www.webmd.com/lung/news/20200925/severe-covid-clues-autoantibodies-gene-mutations?src=RSS_PUBL...

Read More

Trump OKs Final Plan to Import Drugs From Canada

The announcement clears the way for Florida and other states to implement a program bringing medications across the border to save money. The effort is strongly opposed by drugmakers and the Canadian government. from WebMD Health https://www.webmd.com/drug-medication/news/20200925/trump-approves-final-plan-to-import-drugs-from-canada-for-a-fraction-of-the-price?src=RSS_PUBL...

Read More

Most N95 Masks From China Don't Meet US Standards

ECRI quality assurance researchers tested nearly 200 N95-style masks, reflecting 15 different manufacturer models purchased by some of the largest health systems in the United States. from WebMD Health https://www.webmd.com/lung/news/20200924/most-n95-masks-from-china-dont-meet-us-standards?src=RSS_PUBL...

Read More

After COVID, When Can Young Athletes Resume Play?

Young athletes who've had moderate COVID-19 symptoms should be symptom-free for 14 days and get their doctor's OK before returning to practices or games, according to a leading group of U.S. pediatricians. from WebMD Health https://www.webmd.com/lung/news/20200924/after-covid-19-exposure-when-can-young-athletes-resume-play?src=RSS_PUBL...

Read More

9 in 10 Americans Not Yet Exposed to COVID

The head of the CDC said some states are seeing infection rates of 15% to 20% while others are seeing a less than 1% infection rate, CBS News reported. from WebMD Health https://www.webmd.com/lung/news/20200924/9-in-10-americans-not-yet-immune-to-covid-cdc-director-says?src=RSS_PUBL...

Read More

No Trick: Halloween Must be Different During COVID

Trick-or-treating may seem safer than some group activities that have been discouraged during the coronavirus outbreak. But many medical experts suggest that it offers more risks than some parents may realize. from WebMD Health https://www.webmd.com/lung/news/20200924/no-trick-halloween-must-be-different-during-covid?src=RSS_PUBL...

Read More

Prenatal Pot Use Impacts Kid's Future Mental Health

Children exposed to pot in the womb were more likely to experience internalizing disorders such as depression and anxiety, as well as externalizing disorders such as lashing out at others or ADHD, researchers found. from WebMD Health https://www.webmd.com/baby/news/20200923/mom-to-bes-pot-use-linked-with-higher-odds-for-kids-mental-woes?src=RSS_PUBL...

Read More

Diabetes Drug Metformin May Protect Aging Brains

New research suggests that people taking the drug appear to have significantly slower declines in thinking and memory as they age. from WebMD Health https://www.webmd.com/alzheimers/news/20200923/diabetes-drug-metformin-may-protect-the-aging-brain?src=RSS_PUBL...

Read More

Blood Test May Show Who Is at Risk of Severe COVID

The blood marker is called "red cell distribution width" (RDW) -- basically, the greater the variance in the size of red blood cells, the poorer a patient's prognosis, the study authors explained. from WebMD Health https://www.webmd.com/lung/news/20200923/blood-test-could-spot-those-at-highest-risk-for-severe-covid-19?src=RSS_PUBL...

Read More

Colleges’ Opening Fueled 3,000 COVID Cases a Day, Researchers Say

In a draft study, researchers correlated cellphone data showing students’ back-to-campus movements and county infection rates to quantify how the coronavirus spread as colleges and universities reopened for the fall semester. from WebMD Health https://www.webmd.com/lung/news/20200923/colleges-opening-fueled-3000-covid-cases-a-day-researchers-say?src=RSS_PUBL...

Read More

Resuming Sex After Heart Attack May Help Recovery

Research out of Israel finds that resuming a normal sex life in the months after a heart attack may actually boost survival. from WebMD Health https://www.webmd.com/sex-relationships/news/20200923/had-a-heart-attack-resuming-sex-soon-after-might-be-healthy?src=RSS_PUBL...

Read More

Singing Without a Face Mask Can Spread COVID-19

If you sing indoors without a face mask, you run the risk of spreading COVID-19 through tiny airborne particles known as aerosols. from WebMD Health https://www.webmd.com/lung/news/20200923/singing-without-a-face-mask-can-spread-covid-19?src=RSS_PUBL...

Read More

Could Zinc Help Fight COVID-19?

Researchers from Spain reporting at a European coronavirus conference found that hospitalized COVID-19 patients with low blood levels of zinc tended to fare worse than those with healthier levels. from WebMD Health https://www.webmd.com/lung/news/20200923/could-zinc-help-fight-covid-19?src=RSS_PUBL...

Read More

Resuming Sex After Heart Attack May Help Recovery

Research out of Israel finds that resuming a normal sex life in the months after a heart attack may actually boost survival. from WebMD Health https://www.webmd.com/heart/news/20200923/had-a-heart-attack-resuming-sex-soon-after-might-be-healthy?src=RSS_PUBL...

Read More

COVID Hits Minorities Hardest in Nursing Homes, Too

A study found that nursing homes with higher percentages of racial and ethnic minority residents reported two to four times more new COVID-19 cases and deaths compared to others for the week of May 25. from WebMD Health https://www.webmd.com/lung/news/20200922/minorities-hit-hardest-when-covid-strikes-nursing-homes?src=RSS_PUBL...

Read More

Many Metrics to Measure COVID-19, Which Are Best?

The metrics used to track the coronavirus pandemic typically include daily cases, hospitalizations, and deaths. Analyzing these metrics separately can show how much community spread there is or whether hospital capacity is being reached. from WebMD Health https://www.webmd.com/lung/news/20200922/many-metrics-to-measure-covid-19-which-are-best?src=RSS_PUBL...

Read More

Trial Holds Promise for Weekly Insulin for Type 2

Now, new research offers some hope for those insulin avoiders -- a once-a-week insulin injection may someday replace daily shots. from WebMD Health https://www.webmd.com/diabetes/news/20200922/once-a-week-insulin-for-type-2-diabetes-shows-promise-in-early-trial?src=RSS_PUBL...

Read More

Homemade Masks Do a Great Job Blocking COVID-19

The team tested breathability and droplet-blocking of 11 common household fabrics. The fabrics ranged from new and used garments, quilted cloths, bedsheets and dishcloths. from WebMD Health https://www.webmd.com/lung/news/20200922/homemade-masks-do-a-great-job-blocking-covid-19?src=RSS_PUBL...

Read More

COVID Death Toll Hits 200,000 in the U.S.

Just over 6 months after the World Health Organization declared COVID-19 a pandemic, the United States has reached a grim milestone: the novel coronavirus death toll has climbed to a staggering 200,000. from WebMD Health https://www.webmd.com/lung/news/20200922/covid-death-toll-hits-200000-in-us?src=RSS_PUBL...

Read More

Black Doctors' Group Creates Panel to Vet Vaccine

The National Medical Association, an association of black doctors, is creating its own independent task force to review decisions about potential COVID-19 vaccines. from WebMD Health https://www.webmd.com/lung/news/20200921/black-doctors-group-creates-panel-to-vet-vaccine?src=RSS_PUBL...

Read More