Coronavirus Cases Ticking Upwards in Nearly a Dozen U.S. States

WEDNESDAY, May 27, 2020 (HealthDay News) -- A jump in coronavirus cases is being seen in nearly a dozen U.S. states, at least half of which reopened early, as the country's coronavirus case count neared 1.7 million on Wednesday.

Though the overall national trend has been staying steady or dropping, Alabama, Florida, Georgia, South Ca...

White House Announces Plan for Medicare Recipients to Get Insulin at $35 Per Month

Beginning next year, people on some Medicare Part D or Medicare Advantage Plans who need insulin will be able to access the lifesaving medication for just $35 a month, according to a new plan announced by the White House.

In some cases, the cost may be even lower, President Donald Trump said at a Rose Garden news conference on Tuesday...

Alzheimer's Gene Linked to Severe COVID-19 Risk

People who have a flawed gene linked to Alzheimer's disease may face a higher risk of COVID-19, an international team of researchers reports.

Part of the increased risk among people with dementia may owe to high rates of new coronavirus infections in nursing homes. But this study suggests genetics may also be a factor.

The AP...

Clotting Tied to COVID-19 May Harm the Placenta

Women who had COVID-19 while pregnant showed evidence of placental injury, suggesting a new complication of the illness, researchers say.

The good news from the small study of 16 women is that "most of these babies were delivered full-term after otherwise normal pregnancies," said study senior author Dr. Jeffrey Goldstein. He's assista...

Mindfulness May Ease the Emotional Burden of MS

Mindfulness training may help counter the thinking and emotional difficulties caused by multiple sclerosis.

In a small test study, people with multiple sclerosis (MS) who had four weeks of mindfulness training emerged with better emotional control and faster thinking.

Multiple sclerosis is a disease in which the immune syste...

Lockdown Got You Down? Experts Offer Tips to De-Stress

Though the physical health risks posed by COVID-19 are at the top of everyone's mind, experts warn the pandemic is also exacting a massive toll on mental health.

So finds new research emerging on the mental health effects in China, where infection peaks and lockdowns have preceded the American experience by several months.

Fo...

Bike-Sharing Gets Commuters Out of Cars: Study

When bike-sharing services open in cities, more people start to commute by bicycle and take public transit, new research shows.

Prior to the COVID-19 pandemic, bike commuting had increased by 20% in cities where bike-share systems were introduced, according to study author Dafeng Xu, assistant professor of public policy and governa...

Too Often, Bullying Has Lethal Consequences for LGBT Teens

Lesbian, gay, bisexual, transgender or queer (LGBTQ) youth who die by suicide are five times more likely to have been bullied than their straight counterparts.

The finding stems from a review of nearly 10,000 U.S. death records for 2003 to 2017. All of the youth were between 10 and 19 years of age when they took their own lives.

What Are Your Chances of Having a Second IVF Baby?

If you've had one baby through fertility treatment, your chances for a second success are good, a new study suggests.

Researchers analyzed data from more than 35,000 women in Australia and New Zealand who had a live baby after in vitro fertilization (IVF).

The women were treated between 2009 and 2013 and followed to 2015. Li...

After Heart Attack, Home Care Can Prevent a Return to Hospital

Receiving home health care reduces heart attack survivors' risk of hospital readmission after discharge, a new study finds.

In the United States, only a small percentage of heart attack survivors receive home care such as nursing and physical therapy, according to study authors.

The findings were presented recently at a virt...

6 Expert Tips for Defusing Kids' Quarantine Meltdowns

When kids and teens chafe under COVID-19 quarantine, how can parents stop the meltdowns and misbehavior?

Start with understanding: Young people miss their friends and their freedom. Younger kids might respond by throwing tantrums. Teens might isolate themselves, ignore social distancing rules or sneak out to see friends.

To curb ...

Could a Hormone Help Spur High Blood Pressure?

Many people with high blood pressure may have an unrecognized hormonal condition driving their numbers up, a new study suggests.

The condition, called primary aldosteronism, arises when the adrenal glands overproduce the hormone aldosterone. That causes the body to retain sodium and lose potassium, spurring a spike in blood pressure.

AHA News: Strokes in the Spine Are Rare – But Dangerous

Weighing in at about the same as when he graduated high school, Brian Muscarella, 62, eats a healthy diet and enjoys plenty of physical activity. Indeed, he has completed the New York City Marathon four times.

But at 53, Muscarella's life changed dramatically when he had a spinal stroke, which accounts for just over 1% of all strokes...

Banishing Pandemic Worries for a Good Night's Sleep

If anxiety and fear about COVID-19 are keeping you awake, rest assured: Adopting a few easy-to-follow habits will help you get a good night's sleep.

"Now more than ever, we need to get good sleep," said Dr. Amy Guralnick, a pulmonologist at Loyola Medicine in Chicago. "Sleep can help our immune system function at its best. Getting a go...

Getting Back to Work Safely After Lockdown

With businesses beginning to reopen, the National Safety Council (NSC) has tips for doing it right.

"We hope these universal actions, the detailed playbooks and the recommendations within them will help employers safely navigate reopening operations while prioritizing employees' rights to safe work environments," said Lorraine Martin,...

Nursing Homes Are Ground Zero for COVID-19

No matter where you live, nursing homes and assisted living facilities are now lethal centers for COVID-19 in the United States.

Im fact, nursing home residents and workers now comprise between 30% and 40% of all COVID-19 related deaths in the United States, according to estimates.

The care centers serve as a "well of...

For Many Kids, Picky Eating Isn't Just a Phase, Study Finds

For parents hoping their "picky" eater will grow out of it, a new study may be unwelcome news.

Researchers found that choosy 4-year-olds were still turning their noses up at many foods at age 9 -- suggesting their finicky eating is more of a trait than a phase.

The study, which followed over 300 children, found three patterns...

Dirty City Air Might Raise MS Risk

Air pollution might increase the risk for multiple sclerosis (MS), Italian researchers report.

They found that in places with low levels of tiny particles of air pollution called particulate matter, the risk for MS was lower than in areas where those levels were high. In urban areas, the risk was 29% higher than in rural areas.

WHO Halts Testing of Drug That President Trump Has Embraced

TUESDAY, May 26, 2020 (HealthDay News) -- Safety concerns over a malaria drug that President Donald Trump has touted as a coronavirus treatment prompted the World Health Organization on Monday to remove the medication from a global trial of potential COVID-19 therapies.

Dr. Tedros Adhanom Ghebreyesus, the international health agency's...

'Kangaroo Care' Has Big Health Benefits For Preemies

Skin-to-skin contact between parents and babies -- often called "kangaroo care" -- provides major benefits to preemies' hearts and brains, Australian researchers say.

They assessed 40 babies born about 10 weeks early with an average weight of 2.9 pounds. Normal birth weight is 6.6 pounds.

One hour a day of kangaroo care signi...