Many New Zealanders will be feeling anxious, disappointed and even angry about the return of COVID-19 in the community. Many of us prefer to suppress these emotions because they are unpleasant or we may feel under-equipped to manage them. But if left unrecognized and unchecked, they will drive our behavior. We may act without thinking […]
Can a high-tech headband really help you beat the heat – or are these other products a cooler option to tackle this week’s heatwave? As much as we might welcome the hotter weather forecast for this weekend, sweltering, sticky days — and nights — can be a challenge. Alice Jaffe asked experts to assess some […]
If you are reading this in the United States, you’re probably dwelling on the great mask debate—not about whether to mask on (definitely do it), but instead about how to make a mask that works. But first things first: simple cloth masks will help get the job done of minimizing the spread of viral particles […]
According to the National Institute on Aging, people aged 65 or over are more likely to suffer from cardiovascular disease and limited mobility in their joints and limbs. To keep older populations healthy and mobile, MU School of Health Professions associate professor Stephen Sayers has been exploring the effectiveness of low weight, high-speed weightlifting on […]
The COVID-19 crisis has had a grave impact on jobs, wellbeing, mental health and the economy worldwide. But it has also prompted public expressions of hope—people have come together to sing on balconies and clap in the streets. Communities have been joining forces, with a surge in people donating to local food banks and looking […]
A new study led by UMass Medical School researchers has found that parents of premature infants on home oxygen therapy can safely and effectively report babies’ oxygen levels in between clinic visits. Reporting oxygen levels from home every few days was associated with shorter use of home oxygen therapy and fewer adverse outcomes, compared with […]
A vaccine additive known as an adjuvant can enhance responses to a vaccine containing the exotic avian flu virus H5N1, so that both rookie and veteran elements of the immune response are strengthened, according to results from an Emory Vaccine Center study. The findings have implications for the effort to develop vaccines against multiple strains […]
Screening for symptoms of COVID-19 and self-quarantine are good at preventing sick people from spreading the coronavirus. But more and more evidence is suggesting that people without symptoms are spreading the virus too. Monica Gandhi, an infectious diseases physician and researcher at the University of California, San Francisco, explains what is known about asymptomatic spread […]
A recent study found that brown and organic rice sold in the UK tends to contain significantly more arsenic than white inorganic varieties that are often considered less healthy. Arsenic is found in many foods but can be especially concentrated in rice, particularly in the husk, which is removed to produce white rice but retained […]
Little evidence supports the new recommendations for clinical screening for drug use. Do the potential benefits outweigh the potential harms? In the June 9 issue of JAMA, the U.S. Preventive Services Task Force (USPSTF) recommends that clinicians screen for unhealthy drug use (that is, any use of drugs that are illegal or medications not used […]
