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THURSDAY, June 18, 2020 (HealthDay News) -- Stroke patients in rural areas of the United States are less likely to get cutting-edge treatments and more likely to die than those in cities. That's the takeaway from a new analysis of nationwide data on more than 790,000 adults who were hospitalized with stroke between 2012 and 2017. Most were 64 or older. Compared to patients in cities, those treated at rural hospitals were: about half as likely to receive clot-busting medication for strokes caused by blood clots; about one-third less likely to undergo a procedure to remove a stroke-causing clot; and more likely to die before leaving the hospital (6.8% versus 5.8%). The study was published June 18 in the journal Stroke. "There are so many challenges facing rural America right now --...

THURSDAY, June 18, 2020 (HealthDay News) -- "I live in Washington state," said the caller, "but my husband is on a plane to New York City, and I just got a call from my doctor telling me that he's positive for COVID! What should I do?" "I take care of my grandmother," said another, "and she goes to this temple whose Rabbi was recently diagnosed with COVID. And she was recently sitting right next to him! What should I do?" Those were two of the more than 90,000 calls, many anxious and tearful, that have flooded one New York City health care system's COVID-19 hotline since the crisis first emerged in mid-March. The NYC Health + Hospitals (NYC H+H) COVID-19 hotline has been a lifeline for New Yorkers faced by tough decisions with little expert advice on hand. It's been a tough and...

THURSDAY, June 18, 2020 (HealthDay News) -- If you're thinking about traveling this summer, you need to consider the risks posed by the coronavirus pandemic, an expert says. Factors to think about include your age, your health and other people in your household. "The first question you should answer is whether you or a member of your household have a condition that increases the risk for developing COVID-19," said Dr. Michael Chang, an assistant professor of pediatrics at University of Texas Health Science Center at Houston and pediatric disease specialist at UT Physicians. People at increased risk for severe COVID-19 illness include those 65 and older and those with underlying health conditions. These folks might be safer if they avoid traveling. If you're at higher risk and must...

THURSDAY, June 18, 2020 (HealthDay News) -- As many as 45% of people infected with COVID-19 have no symptoms, and they may play a major role in the spread of the virus, a new study says. The findings show the need for large-scale testing and contact tracing to combat the pandemic, according to the Scripps Research investigators. "The silent spread of the virus makes it all the more challenging to control," said study author Dr. Eric Topol, founder and director of the Scripps Research Translational Institute in La Jolla, Calif., and professor of molecular medicine at Scripps Research. "Our review really highlights the importance of testing. It's clear that with such a high asymptomatic rate, we need to cast a very wide net, otherwise the virus will continue to evade us," he added in...