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MONDAY, Aug. 24, 2020 (HealthDay News) -- In the largest such study yet, researchers have found that two classes of common blood pressure medications seem tied to better survival against COVID-19. The U.K. findings should allay any worry that the two types of mediations -- angiotensin-converting enzyme inhibitors (ACE inhibitors) or angiotensin receptor blockers (ARBs) -- might actually harm COVID-19 patients. "We know that patients with cardiovascular diseases are at particular risk of severe COVID-19 infection," noted lead researcher Dr. Vassilios Vassiliou. "But at the start of the pandemic, there was concern that specific medications for high blood pressure could be linked with worse outcomes for COVID-19 patients," he said. Instead, the researchers found that the drugs weren't...

MONDAY, Aug. 24, 2020 (HealthDay News) -- There may be no cure for the common cold, but a spoonful of honey might make it less miserable, a new research review concludes. Parents have long used honey to soothe kids' sore throats and cough -- probably because their parents did. But the review of 14 clinical trials finds some science to back it up. Overall, adults and kids given honey had less-severe, less-frequent coughing spells than those who received "usual care" -- including over-the-counter cough syrups, cold and allergy medicines, and painkillers. And while honey might not be a slam-dunk against cold symptoms, it's reasonable to give it a try, experts said. That's partly because the cold-and-cough medicines sold in drug stores do not work well and can have side effects, said...

MONDAY, Aug. 24, 2020 (HealthDay News) -- The U.S. Food and Drug Administration on Sunday cleared the way for more hospitalized coronavirus patients to be treated with the blood plasma of COVID-19 survivors. President Donald Trump announced the emergency approval as a "breakthrough" treatment during a news briefing Sunday -- even though many scientists said the approval was rushed through. The FDA move will broaden use of a treatment that has already been administered to more than 70,000 patients, The New York Times reported. But unlike a new drug, plasma must come from the blood donations of COVID-19 survivors. So, Trump urged everyone who has recovered from the virus to donate plasma, saying there is a nationwide campaign to collect it. However, there are as yet no randomized...

SUNDAY, Aug. 23, 2020 (HealthDay News) -- It may seem like a paradox, but giving someone a gift to help them save money is a sure way to make them hate it. The reason: It will make the recipient feel inferior to you, researchers say. In contrast, a gift that helps a recipient save time is taken as a compliment. The findings, from a series of experiments, are outlined in a study recently published in the Journal of the Association for Consumer Research. "Most of us have this belief that any gift we give is going to be appreciated -- but the way a gift is presented can influence how people feel about it," said study co-author Grant Donnelly, assistant professor of marketing at Ohio State University, in Columbus. "When you don't have time, you're perceived as busy and in high demand....