COVID-19
Covid-19 Prevention
Mask Mandate Extended for Public Transportation: The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) extended the federal mask mandate for public transportationTrusted Source for another 15 days to May 3,
COVID-19: Vaccines/Boosters
4th COVID-19 Shot: Should You Get One? Is It to OK to Mixand Match?
COVID-19: Treatment
Another Study Finds Ivermectin Not Effective at Treating COVID-19: A new study, published in the New England Journal of Medicine Wednesday, evaluated the effectiveness of ivermectin compared to a placebo or other treatment in over 3,500 people diagnosed with COVID and found no notable benefit to ivermectin treatment. Another reportTrusted Source out of Malaysia found that a five-day course of ivermectin did not reduce the risk of developing severe disease amongst people with mild to moderate COVID who had comorbidities. The Food and Drug Administration, along with the World Health Organization and Infectious Diseases Society of America, all advise against the use of ivermectin for COVID.
Covid-19 Test to Treat Locator: A new nationwide Test to Treat website has been established by the federal government to help people quickly access free lifesaving treatment for COVID-19. Through this program, people are able to get tested and – if they are positive and treatments are appropriate for them – receive a prescription from a health care provider, and have their prescription filled all at one location. These “One-Stop Test to Treat” sites are available at hundreds of locations nationwide, including pharmacy-based clinics. A Test to Treat locator is available to help find participating sites. A call center is also available at 1-800-232-0233 (TTY 1-888-720-7489) to get help in English, Spanish, and more than 150 other languages – 8:00 am to midnight ET, 7 days a week. The Disability Information and Access Line (DIAL) is also available to specifically help people with disabilities access services. To get help, call 1-888-677-1199, Monday-Friday from 9:00 am to 8:00 pm ET or email DIAL@usaginganddisability.org.
Fluvoxamine Found to Be Effective as a COVID-19 Treatment: The Benefits and Limitations: Fluvoxamine, a selective serotonin reuptake inhibitor (SSRI) commonly used to treat obsessive-compulsive disorder, could find another use as a safe treatment for COVID-19. A meta-analysis of three previous trials on the drug’s effectiveness for COVID-19 treatment found “a high probability of being associated with reduced hospitalization in outpatients with COVID-19,” a new studyTrusted Source The researchers report that fluvoxamine treatment appeared to reduce the risk of severe COVID-19 by about 25 percent if given to people at high risk for COVID-19 early in the course of their infection.
COVID-19: Long-Covid
Diabetes Risk May Increase 40% After Having COVID-19: The studyTrusted Source, which was published in The Lancet Diabetes & Endocrinology Monday, found that people who recovered from COVID-19 had a 40 percent greater risk of being diagnosed with diabetes. The report does not claim that COVID-19 causes diabetes — although that may ultimately be the case — but rather that there appears to be an associated link between the two health conditions. Why that happens is still unclear.
COVID-19 Linked to Increased Risk of Blood Clots Even Months Later: New research publishedTrusted Source in the British Journal of Medicine (BMJ) finds risk of a potentially severe consequence of COVID-19 can remain elevated for months.
COVID-19: Other
Fauci: BA.2 variant may not lead to deadly surge: The new Omicron subvariant, BA.2, is spreading across the United States and will soon take over as the major COVID variant, White House chief medical adviser Dr. Anthony Fauci said. "Ultimately it will be the predominant variant in this country," Fauci told HealthDay.. " However, Fauci and other infectious disease experts do not believe BA.2 will wreak the sort of havoc caused by earlier variants.
What Is Your Risk of Getting the Omicron BA.2 Subvariant? Recent researchTrusted Source finds the current dominant strain, called BA.2 or the “stealth” Omicron subvariant, could evade natural and vaccine-induced immunity. Cases are rising in multiple countries, including those that had previously evaded some of the worst COVID-19 waves during the pandemic. Experts say this subvariant may be more able to spread widely, but people should not be overly concerned if they are vaccinated against COVID-19. A recent study, not yet peer reviewed, finds BA.2 more easily evades vaccine protections than BA.1. However, these researchers also found that vaccinated people with a breakthrough infection don’t transmit the virus as easily as unvaccinated people. This might be because vaccinated people have a lower viral load than unvaccinated people, so vaccination still slows disease spread.
Pandemic-Related Stress Can Cause Decision Fatigue: What to Know: COVID-19-related stress has led many Americans to feel decision fatigue, a phenomenon in which the ability to make decisions deteriorates. People experiencing decision fatigue may have difficulty making even the most basic decisions, such as what to eat or what to wear. Fatigue, frustration, anger, depression, and anxiety, when faced with decisions are all signs of decision fatigue.Healthline
New Sub-Variants of Omicron Detected: The World Health Organization announced they’re tracking two new sub-variants of the highly infectious Omicron strain. These sub-variants, called BA.4 and BA.5, are concerning to experts due to mutations that might help them evade the immune system even in people who have been vaccinated or previously infected. According to Reuters, the agency said it’s tracking the new sub-variants for any “additional mutations that need to be further studied to understand their impact on immune escape potential.”
Already got COVID? Vaccines, boosters up to 68% effective against hospitalization from reinfection, CDC study shows: Immunity from a bout of COVID-19 may provide some protection against the virus, but a new study suggests it may not be enough to keep you out of the hospital. Morbidity and Mortality Weekly Report
PAIN
Vegan diet eases arthritis pain, finds new study: A low-fat vegan diet, without calorie restrictions, improves joint pain in patients with rheumatoid arthritis, according to a new study and published in the American Journal of Lifestyle Medicine. Study participants also experienced weight loss and improved cholesterol levels.
Steroid injections may provide longer lasting benefits
for hip pain than current best care: Steroid injections appear to lead to
significantly greater pain relief and movement for up to four months than
current best care in adults with hip osteoarthritis, finds a trial published by
The BMJ
Liposomal bupivacaine found to be no more effective than current treatments for post-operative knee pain: Researchers at the Universities of Oxford and Leeds developed the SPAARK (Study of Peri-Articular Anaesthetic for Replacement of the Knee) Trial, to test whether liposomal bupivacaine, a post-operative pain treatment widely used in the USA would be more effective at managing the pain compared to current treatments. The findings have been published in JAMA. We found that liposomal bupivacaine injected at the surgical side during knee replacement did not improve post-operative recovery, compared to those receiving bupivacaine hydrochloride alone. We saw no difference in Quality of Recovery score at 72 hours, nor pain assessed using pain visual analogue scale area under the curve at 6 to 72 hours. The results of this study do not support the use of peri-articular liposomal bupivacaine for knee replacement ."
Study explores perceptions of and preferences for
complementary and integrative medicine options for chronic headache: A new
study from researchers with the U.S. Department of Veterans Affairs and the
Regenstrief Institute found that
veterans with chronic headache were very interested in combining alternatives,
such as acupuncture, massage, yoga or tai chi, with mainstream medicine and
that they were encouraged by the fact that alternatives exist to simply taking
additional pharmaceuticals for pain.” BMC Complementary Medicine and Therapies
“Promising evidence” that osteopathy may relieve
musculoskeletal pain: There’s “promising evidence” that osteopathy, the
physical manipulation of the body’s tissues and bones, may relieve the pain
associated with musculoskeletal conditions, finds a review of the available
clinical evidence, published in the open access journal BMJ Open. But
there’s little or only inconclusive evidence to back its use in children, and
for the treatment of migraine or irritable bowel syndrome (IBS), the findings
show.
COMPLEMENTARY & ALTERNATIVE MEDICINE
Psychedelic Drug MDMA Shows Promise as Treatment for PTSD: New research findings unveiled Tuesday suggest that MDMA, known among recreational users as ecstasy or molly, can be an effective treatment for post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD) when used with talk therapy. Researchers say the drug can even be effective in difficult-to-treat patients, such as those with drug or alcohol use disorders. American Chemical Society (ACS).
Using Cannabis During Pregnancy May Increase Risk of High Blood Sugar in Children: Children who were exposed to cannabis in utero may be at risk for obesity and high blood sugar later in life, according to new research. The study, published in the Journal of Clinical Endocrinology & Metabolism, measured cannabis levels in over 100 pregnant women and evaluated the health of their children around five years of age.
Sitting Tai Chi exercises improved recovery outcomes forolder stroke survivors: Stroke survivors who practiced a seated form of Tai
Chi had equal or greater improvement in hand and arm strength, shoulder range
of motion, balance control, symptoms of depression and activities of daily
living after three months, compared to those who participated in a standard
stroke rehabilitation exercise program, according to new research published
in Stroke.
Fine particulate matter exposure from secondhand cannabis bong smoking: The findings of this study suggest that social cannabis bong smoking in the home generates unsafe levels of measurable fine particulate matter. JAMA
How cannabis affects cognition and psychology: In three recent studies, published in The Journal of Psychopharmacology, Neuropsychopharmacology and the International Journal of Neuropsychopharmacology, we show that it can influence a number of cognitive and psychological processes. It can cause disruption to daily activities including work, school. This effect seemed to be linked to the age at which people started taking the drug—the younger they were, the more impaired their executive functioning was. There is also evidence that cannabis can lead to mental health problems.
FDA ACTION
• Approves Second Covid Booster for People Over 50 and for specific immunocompromised people at least four months after their first booster.
• Approves 1st breath test for Covid-19 Infection. The InspectIR COVID-19 Breathalyzer is about the size of a piece of carry-on luggage and is designed for doctor's offices, hospitals and mobile testing sites. The test, which can provide results in less than three minutes, must be carried out under the supervision of a licensed health care provider.
PREVENTION: Exercise
Plyometric training: Jumping and skipping exercises canhelp improve strength and fitness: Muscle strengthening exercises twice a
week is part of the recommendation of getting 150 minutes of moderate to
vigorous exercise. There are actually many ways we can strengthen our muscles
that don't involve going to the gym. For example, carrying food shopping bags
in from the car or even walking uphill may both help us build strength. One way
athletes often improve strength and performance is through a method called
plyometric training. This includes any exercise that uses jumping, hopping or
skipping. The aim of plyometric training is to train the muscles, tendons and
nervous system get better at using their elastic energy. Research shows older
adults who perform plyometric exercises (such as vertical jumps) are better
able to jump and climb stairs compared to those who only perform resistance
training or walking. It's also been shown to improve posture, bone health and
reduce body fat in older adults. Medical Express
How These Exercises Can Help Older Adults Stay Mobile: New researchTrusted Source finds that just one tailored, group exercise session per week helps prevent declining mobility and associated medical issues for those ages 65 and older.
A 30-Minute Workout May Help Relieve Some Symptoms ofDepression: Exercising for just 30 minutes may significantly reduce
symptoms of depression and increase the benefit received from therapy sessions
at least temporarily, according to two recent studies from Iowa State
University (ISU). Experts say the increased blood flow and oxygenation from
exercise can affect neurotransmitters and chemicals that can impact depression.
Healthline
Exercise shown to release protein reducing bowel cancer risk: Experts have identified for the first time exactly how exercise can lower your risk of getting bowel cancer and slow the growth of tumours. Scientists at Newcastle University have shown that physical activity causes the cancer-fighting protein, interleukin-6 (IL-6), to be released into the bloodstream which helps repair the DNA of damaged cells. The findings, published in the International Journal of Cancer, sheds new light on the importance of moderate activity in the fight against the life-threatening illness and could help develop treatments in the future.
Five minutes of daily breath training improves exercise tolerance in middle-aged and older adults: Preliminary findings suggest 5 min/day of high-resistance inspiratory muscle strength training (IMST) is a promising, highly adherable mode of physical training that increases exercise tolerance and modulates metabolic pathways in [middle-aged and older] adults. American Physiological Society annual meeting
Exercise may protect brain volume by keeping insulin and BMI levels low: Studies have shown that exercise helps protect brain cells. A new study looking at the mechanisms involved in this relationship suggests that the role exercise plays in maintaining insulin and body mass index levels may help protect brain volume and thus help stave off dementia. The research is published in the April 13, 2022, online issue of Neurology®, the medical journal of the American Academy of Neurology.
Regular cycling helps patients with ‘accelerated aging’
disease: Cycling for 35 minutes three times a week for 12 weeks led to a 32
per cent increase in overall fitness in people with myotonic dystrophy (MD), a
genetic disease that causes muscle degeneration. Journal of Clinical
Investigation
PREVENTION: Diet/Nutrition
Artificial sweeteners may not be safe sugar alternatives: Artificial sweeteners reduce added sugar content and corresponding calories while maintaining sweetness. A study publishing March 24th in PLoS Medicine suggests that some artificial sweeteners are associated with increased cancer risk. The researchers found that enrollees consuming larger quantities of artificial sweeteners, particularly aspartame and acesulfame-K, had higher risk of overall cancer compared to non-consumers. Higher risks were observed for breast cancer and obesity-related cancers.
Eating Avocado Twice a Week Can Help You Stay Heart Healthy: Eating two servings of avocados each week may boost your heart health and lower your risk of cardiovascular disease, according to new research. Avocados are nutrient-dense fruits that contain dietary fiber, minerals, and healthy fats previously shown to improve cardiovascular risk factors like high cholesterol. The studyTrusted Source, published in the Journal of the American Heart Association, is believed to be the first to identify a link between higher avocado consumption and fewer cardiovascular events like myocardial infarction and stroke.
6 Prunes a Day May Reduce Inflammation, Osteoporosis Risks: At the American Physiological Society’s (APS) annual meeting at Experimental Biology 2022, research was presented indicating that eating prunes could help postmenopausal people ward off certain inflammatory factors associated with the development of osteoporosis.
How Low-Salt Diets Can Help Those Living with Heart Failure: People living with heart failure are often advised to go on a low-salt diet. A new study in The LancetTrusted Source
indicates that this may help improve people’s quality of life. However, it did not seem to improve rates of death, hospitalization, or ER visits. Patients are advised to keep their sodium consumption below 1,500 mg daily.
New study reveals that healthy plant-based diets are associated with a lower risk of developing diabetes: New research finds that the consumption of healthy plant-based foods, including fruits, vegetables, nuts, coffee, and legumes, is associated with a lower risk of developing type 2 diabetes (T2D) in generally healthy people and support their role in diabetes prevention. Diabetologia.
Good hydration may reduce long-term risks for heart
failure: Staying well-hydrated may be associated with a reduced risk for
developing heart failure. New findings suggest that consuming sufficient
amounts of fluids throughout life not only supports essential body functioning
but may also reduce the risk of severe heart problems in the future. European
Heart Journal
PREVENTION: Vitamins/Supplements
Low blood folate may be linked to heightened dementia and death risks in older people: Low levels of folate (vitamin B9) in the blood may be linked to a heightened risk of dementia and death from any cause in older people. They drew on the medical records of 27,188 people served by one national healthcare provider in Israel. All the participants were aged between 60 and 75, and had had no pre-existing dementia for at least 10 years before blood folate checks began in 2013. Their records were monitored for a diagnosis of dementia or death up to the end of 2017. Some 3418 (just under 13%) participants were folate deficient, defined as levels below 4.4 ng/ml. Folate deficiency was associated with a substantially heightened risk of both dementia and death from any cause. Evidence Based Mental Health.
Plant-based omega-3s may boost heart health, reduce riskof heart disease: Researchers found that consuming ALA (alpha-linolenic acid) that is found in plant-based foods like walnuts and flaxseeds was associated with a 10% lower risk of cardiovascular disease and a 20 percent reduced risk of fatal coronary heart disease. Advances in Nutrition
PREVENTION: Other
Disinfectant use during pregnancy linked to childhood asthma and eczema: The authors used data on 78 915 mother-child pairs who participated in the Japan Environment and Children's Study to examine whether mothers' exposure to disinfectants in the workplace was associated with increased risk of diagnosis of allergic diseases in their children when aged 3 years. The odds of children having asthma or eczema were significantly higher if their mothers used disinfectant one to six times a week compared with the odds in children of mothers who never used disinfectants. Occupational & Environmental Medicine https://medicalxpress.com/news/2022-03-disinfectant-pregnancy-linked-childhood-asthma.html
Lack of sleep increases unhealthy abdominal fat: New research from Mayo Clinic shows that lack of sufficient sleep combined with free access to food increases calorie consumption and consequently fat accumulation, especially unhealthy fat inside the belly. Journal of the American College of Cardiology
Spirituality can improve quality of life for heart failure patients: Numerous studies have shown that spirituality can help
improve quality of life for people with chronic diseases like cancer. According
to a literature review in JACC Heart Failure, spirituality can also have
a positive impact on quality of life for heart failure patients. It further
concludes spirituality should be considered a potential target for palliative
care interventions to improve patient-centered and clinical outcomes in these
individuals.
How ‘Good Cholesterol’ May Help Lower Your Alzheimer’s Risk: HDL cholesterol is often thought of as the “good cholesterol” that helps prevent cardiovascular disease. However, new research indicates it may also play a role in brain health. More HDL in the brain was linked to better cognitive performance and higher levels of a peptide called amyloid-beta 42. Scientists say that drugs that target HDL activity may help prevent Alzheimer’s disease. Several medications are under investigation at this time. 180 healthy adults aged 60 and over, with an average age just under 77, were recruited for this studyTrusted Source.
These Healthy Actions May Protect Against Alzheimer’s Disease: A study publishedTrusted Source in the British Medical Journal (BMJ) found there are actions we can take that not only add years to our lives but add years lived without having Alzheimer’s disease. Following a healthy lifestyle that includes exercise, a healthy diet, and keeping mentally active adds years to our lives and significantly delay the development of Alzheimer’s disease.
High Cardiovascular Risk Associated With Symptoms of Depression: A new studyTrusted Source reports that cardiovascular risk factors are associated with an increased risk of depression in older adults. Although it’s been previously shown depression could be a risk factor for developing cardiovascular disease, studies analyzing the potential impact of cardiovascular health on developing depression are scarce. The two conditions are thought to have similar risk factors, such as inflammation and oxidative stress. A healthy diet and regular exercise can help improve both your heart health and your mental health.
Your Personality May Affect Your Brain Health as You Age: According to new research published in the Journal of Personality and Social Psychology, people with certain personality traits may be more likely to experience cognitive decline as they grow older. In particular, those who scored higher on a trait called neuroticism were more likely to have reduced cognitive function as they grew older. However, those who scored higher on traits like conscientiousness and extraversion seemed to fare better.
Smoking reduces wealth's tendency to increase life
expectancy: A new study finds that the percentage of Americans surviving
from age 65 to 85 was 19 percentage points higher for someone with at least
$300,000 in wealth than for those with no assets. But there was a 37 percentage
point difference between those who never smoked and current smokers. JAMA Open
Network
TREATMENT
Addition of icosapent ethyl cuts CV risk in patients with prior PCI: The risk for cardiovascular events is reduced in statin-treated patients with elevated triglycerides and a history of percutaneous coronary intervention (PCI) who receive icosapent ethyl, according to a study published online March 2 in the Journal of the American Heart Association.
Can't afford the dentist? Try a dental therapist: New research suggests these newly minted health care professionals could help more people get the oral health care they need in low-income areas. They are fast becoming members of a typical dental care team, along with hygienists and dental assistants, in many underserved or low-income areas across the United States. Dental therapists can't hang a shingle and practice on their own. Instead, they must be supervised by a dentist. They can fill cavities, place temporary crowns and even pull baby teeth, the researchers explained. "The cost of having a dental therapist is half as much as that of having a dentist, and they can do 80% of the procedures.” JAMA Health Forum.
Amino acid supplementation beneficial after fracture fixation: For adults undergoing fracture fixation, conditionally essential amino acid (CEAA) supplementation is associated with a reduction in postoperative complications, according to a study in Journal of Bone and Joint Surgery
Antibiotic Use Midlife May Lead to Cognitive Decline in Women: Women who use a significant amount of antibiotics in midlife are more likely to have a cognitive decline in later life, according to new researchTrusted Source published in the journal PLOS One. Compared with non-antibiotic users, women who reported taking antibiotics for at least 2 months in midlife (mean age of 54.7) had lower mean cognitive scores 7 years later. “These data provide a better understanding of potential complications of antibiotics throughout life, as well as generate hypotheses about the role of the gut microbiome in cognition.”
Sodium thiosulfate does not reduce heart damage after a heart attack: Sodium thiosulfate showed no benefits for reducing injury to damaged areas of heart muscle following a heart attack, in a study presented at the American College of Cardiology's 71st Annual Scientific Session. GIPS-IV: Sodium Thiosulfate Does Not Reduce Heart Damage After MI
Erectile Dysfunction Drugs Such as Viagra, Cialis May Increase Risk of Retinal Detachment and Other Eye Damage: A new study says men using erectile dysfunction medication can develop serious eye problems, including retinal detachment. The studyTrusted Source was published in JAMA Ophthalmology. The participants consisted of 213,000 men who took erectile dysfunction (ED) medication, including sildenafil, tadalafil, vardenafil, and avanafil.
Lung cancer drug could improve survival rates for bladder cancer patients undergoing chemotherapy: Researchers found that adding nintedanib—a targeted cancer growth inhibitor currently used to treat non-small cell lung cancer—to chemotherapy, could significantly improve overall survival rate for bladder cancer patients at one, two and five years. Lancet Oncology
Drug reduces frequency of breathing pauses in sleep apnea: A randomized double-blind clinical trial, and 59 patients with moderate or severe sleep apnea completed it. Patients were randomly assigned to two groups receiving either 400 or 200 mg of the carbonic acid (CA) inhibitor, and a third group that received placebo. The study lasted for four weeks. The results show that, overall, the treatment reduced the number of breathing pauses and promoted oxygenation during the night. A few patients experienced side effects, such as headache and breathlessness, which were more common in those receiving the highest dose. American Journal of Respiratory and Critical Care Medicine
OTHER
Swearing can increase self-confidence, physical strength and risky behavior: The study, which has been published in the Quarterly Journal of Experimental Psychology, found that participants could perform a chair push-up—lifting oneself from a chair seat using the arms—for longer after repeating a swear word. Participants also displayed more risk-taking behavior in an online task involving pumping up a balloon as much as possible without it bursting. Risk-taking behavior increased by 8% when using swear words whilst pumping up the balloon, compared to using neutral dialog. The humorous quality of swearing was also found to be an important psychological route for boosting physical strength, akin to "letting go."
People can recover and thrive after mental illness and
substance-use disorders: There is good news for people suffering from
depression, anxiety, substance abuse, and other mental health disorders. New
research explains how people who have suffered from mental illness can go on to
develop a long-lasting sense of well-being and achieve a 'high-functioning'
life. Clinical Psychological Science
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