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Sleep Apnea Doubles Odds for Sudden Death

TUESDAY, Aug. 3, 2021 (HealthDay News) -- With apologies to William Shakespeare, this is the stuff bad dreams are made of: Sleep apnea may double your risk for sudden death.

The condition — in which a person's airway is repeatedly blocked during sleep, causing pauses in breathing — may also increase the risk for high...

AHA News: Bob Odenkirk's 'Small' Heart Attack? Doctors Say They're a Big Deal

When actor Bob Odenkirk collapsed on the set of "Better Call Saul" last week in New Mexico, fans held their breath – and obsessively checked for updates on social media – until word came that he was expected to be OK.

"I had a small heart attack," he tweeted on Friday, thanking the doctors who "knew how to fix the blockage without surg...

AHA News: Protecting Children's Mental Health as They Head Back to School

At-home schooling was no vacation for Francis Huang and her 11-year-old daughter, Cheyenne Kuo.

The COVID-19 pandemic thrust remote learning upon their family in spring 2020. With it came the stresses now familiar to millions of families. "I think the whole year, we just tried to survive," said Huang, who lives in suburban Dallas.

In...

Is the Demise of the Doctor's White Coat Near?

TUESDAY, Aug. 3, 2021 (HealthDay News) – Your doctor walks into the exam room wearing a white coat. Or perhaps your physician has on a fleece or softshell jacket.

Does it make a difference?

Yes, according to a survey that sought public perceptions on doctor attire and professionalism in the United States.

T...

A Month Late, U.S. Finally Reaches 70% Vaccination Milestone

President Joe Biden's goal of getting at least one COVID-19 shot into the arms of 70% of American adults was finally reached on Monday.

The milestone came a month late, and arrived amid a fierce case surge fueled by the Delta variant that is filling up hospital beds around the country.

In a major reversal, Louisiana ordered nearly ev...

Use Facebook a Lot? You're More Likely to Be Unvaccinated

Americans who get their COVID-19 news and information solely from Facebook have much lower vaccination rates than the general population.

That's the takeaway from a new survey of nearly 20,700 people across the United States. The researchers asked them in June which of six sources they use for COVID-19 news and info. The six included: Face...

Text 'Nudges' May Help Boost Vaccination Rates

Text "nudges" about easy access to COVID-19 vaccines can increase vaccination rates, even among people hesitant to get a shot, a new study suggests.

"We found that text messages stressing the accessibility of the vaccine — and that included ownership language, such as that the vaccine has just been made available to you and to claim yo...

Another Pandemic Harm: Seniors May Have Higher Risk of Falling

Older Americans already face a higher risk of falls, but the decline in physical activity during the pandemic may have made matters worse, a new survey suggests.

More than a third of the 2,074 U.S. adults aged 50 to 80 who took part in the online survey in January reported a decline in physical activity in the first 10 months of the pandem...

No Sign COVID Raises Odds for Preterm Delivery, Stillbirths

In a sign that the pandemic may have spared pregnant women and their newborns, a new Canadian study suggests there was no increase in preterm births or stillbirths during the first year of the pandemic.

Some studies found preterm birth rates in countries such as the Netherlands, Ireland and the United States fell during the pandemic, whil...

Indiana University's COVID Mandate Upheld by Federal Appeals Court

Indiana University can mandate COVID-19 vaccinations for students and employees, a Chicago-based federal appeals court ruled Monday.

The decision upheld an Indiana district court judge's ruling that the school was acting reasonably "in pursuing public health and safety for its campus communities," the Associated Press reported.

Sen. Lindsey Graham Tests Positive for COVID-19 After Vaccination

Sen. Lindsey Graham credits being vaccinated for having only mild symptoms after recently testing positive for COVID-19.

The South Carolina Republican announced his results on Monday and said he would quarantine for 10 days, The New York Times reported.

"I am very glad I was vaccinated because without vaccination I am certai...

COVID Booster Shots to Be Offered to 32 Million Brits

Booster COVID-19 shots will be offered to 32 million people in Britain starting early next month because of fears that the power of vaccines may be starting to wane.

They'll be offered to adults aged 50 and older and those with weakened immune systems, with the aim of protecting the most vulnerable from variants of concern before winter ar...

How Did the Pandemic Affect Cancer Clinical Trials?

MONDAY, Aug. 2, 2021 (HealthDay News) -- The pandemic widely disrupted medical care across the United States, but a new study reports that clinical trials testing cancer treatments were able to carry on.

Researchers found that U.S. cancer trials quickly responded to the pandemic in the early months, allowing the studies ...

Parents' Pot Smoking Means More Colds, Flu for Kids

MONDAY, Aug. 2, 2021 (HealthDay News) -- Kids who are around people who use marijuana may be at risk for more colds and respiratory infections due to secondhand smoke, according to a new study.

In a survey of 1,500 parents and caregivers, those who regularly smoked or vaped marijuana reported more respiratory viruses amo...

After Nearly 9 Million Pfizer Shots for U.S. Teens, Serious Side Effects Rare: CDC

MONDAY, Aug. 2, 2021 (HealthDay News) -- U.S. health officials have some reassuring news about the safety of the COVID-19 vaccine in young people: Among millions of U.S. teens who've received Pfizer's shots, serious side effects have been rare.

As of July 16, close to 9 million teens, aged 12 to 17, had received the Pfiz...

Leading U.S. Ob-Gyn Groups Urge COVID Vaccines for All Pregnant Women

All pregnant women should be vaccinated "without delay" against COVID-19, two leading groups of U.S. obstetric specialists recommend.

That advice — from the American College of Obstetricians and Gynecologists (ACOG) and the Society for Maternal-Fetal Medicine (SMFM) — is based on tens of thousands of cases over the past several months ...

AHA News: Dangers of Life-Threatening Second Heart Attack May Be Highest Soon After the First

A first heart attack is a serious, life-changing event, although most people now survive them. But a new study underscores the importance of doing everything possible to avoid another one.

"It's like taking another hit," said Dr. Umesh Khot, a cardiologist at the Cleveland Clinic in Ohio. "One heart attack is a lot, and having another one ...