Healthy Dispatch

In a recent study published in JAMA Network Open, researchers in Tennessee investigated whether the coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) pandemic altered daily step counts among individuals participating in All of Us (AOU) research programs. Study: Daily Step Counts Before and After the COVID-19 Pandemic Among All of Us Research Participants. Image Credit: FotoAndalucia / Shutterstock Background The

March 22, 2023 — Layla Blitzer, a 17-year-old high school junior in New York City, was playing field hockey for her school last October and was hit hard by the ball, right above her eye. She sustained a serious concussion. She’s also had neck issues and headaches for the last 4 months. “They’re so severe

Everyday sounds such as breathing, yawning, or chewing can trigger a random stress response in some people. Now, scientists say this condition is known as Misophonia. Collaborative research from King’s College, London, and the University of Oxford suggests 18.4% of the general U.K. population is affected by misophonia. The research, published in the journal PLOS

Stronger regulations lowering levels of fine particulate air pollutants (PM2.5) would benefit the health of all Americans, but Black Americans and low-income Americans would likely reap the most benefits, including a lower risk of premature death, according to a new study led by Harvard T.H. Chan School of Public Health. The EPA is currently considering

Puberty can be a tough time for any kid. But it might be harder on those with central precocious puberty (CPP). That’s when kids show signs of sexual maturity early. In general, CPP is when puberty starts before age 8 in girls and before age 9 in boys. Kids with CPP – which is more

For many older people, the world crumbles when their spouse dies. The widows or widowers may spend years in mourning, trying to come to terms with the loss. However, there have been several instances where a couple die within just a year of each other. This phenomenon that has been dubbed the “widowhood effect.” While the

Researchers at Wake Forest University School of Medicine have been awarded a five-year, $7.5 million grant from the National Institutes of Health (NIH) Helping End Addiction Long-term (HEAL) initiative. The NIH HEAL initiative, which launched in 2018, was created to find scientific solutions to stem the national opioid and pain public health crises. The funding

Some kids seem to grow up faster than others. That’s even truer if your child has central precocious puberty (CPP). That’s sexual maturity that starts before age 8 in girls or age 9 in boys. Puberty can affect how your child looks, feels, and acts. And when it happens too early, kids may get confused

The United States witnessed another slight increase in the incidence of tuberculosis across the country last year, with public health authorities saying cases are returning to pre-pandemic levels.  On Friday, the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) released a new Morbidity and Mortality Weekly Report on TB, showing the latest data on the disease’s incidence. 

New research from Boston Medical Center found that substance use disorders do not increase the likelihood of dying from COVID-19. Published in Substance Abuse: Research and Treatment, the study showed that the increased risk for severe COVID-19 in people with SUD that has been seen may be the result of co-occurring medical conditions. Multiple large

March 24, 2023 – Joshua Denton was diagnosed with ulcerative colitis when he was a junior in college. He not only faced anxiety around a new health diagnosis, but how it could change the rest of his life.  His initial anxiety was from having “something that’s technically considered incurable.” Next came the challenges of living with inflammatory

Male babies are at a risk of suffering from neurodevelopmental disorders when their moms catch the COVID-19 virus during pregnancy.  A new study published in the journal JAMA Network Open on Thursday explored the risk of having neurodevelopmental disorders between female and male offspring of mothers with SARS-CoV-2 infection during pregnancy.  The research team wanted

The National Institute of Allergy and Infectious Diseases awarded an up to $16 million contract to Tulane University to bring to phase one clinical trial a nasal spray vaccine university researchers invented to thwart antibiotic-resistant Klebsiella pneumoniae, a leading cause of pneumonia. Antibiotic-resistant bacteria are on the rise and are a significant cause of infections

Parenting a child with any health condition is no small task. While your first priority may be to support them, it’s also important to know your needs throughout the process, from the moment you get the diagnosis to treatment and beyond. “It’s important because it makes us better parents and caregivers to take care of

Long COVID conditions can linger for weeks and even for months. The common symptoms of the condition are brain fog, fatigue, headaches, dizziness or shortness of breath. While researchers are still grappling to understand potential causes and trying to find treatments, a study has laid down a list of people who are disproportionately affected by

I was back in the crowded East Room of the White House on Thursday, as I was 13 years ago, this time standing under a portrait of first first lady Martha Washington, when President Joe Biden entered for a lunchtime event focused on the Affordable Care Act. The room looked much the same as it