Latest Health News

TUESDAY, May 5, 2020 (American Heart Association News) -- As evidence continues to grow that people who smoke are at greater risk of dying from COVID-19, health professionals are turning to a familiar message with new urgency: There may be no better time to quit than today. While researchers gather more data as the virus spreads, both the World Health Organization and the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention have identified smoking as a risk factor for severe coronavirus-related disease and death. Studies from Wuhan, China, where the coronavirus emerged in December, showed smokers were 1.4 times more likely to display severe COVID-19 symptoms and 2.4 times more likely to be sent to an intensive care unit, require mechanical ventilation or die, compared to non-smokers. "This is...

TUESDAY, May 5, 2020 (HealthDay News) -- Injuries in the United States take a huge toll on the workplace, new research shows. For the study, researchers analyzed millions of workplace health insurance claims among adults aged 18 to 64 between 2014 and 2015, with a specific focus on non-fatal injuries treated in emergency departments. The injuries examined in the study included burns, poisonings, gunshot wounds, falls, bites and stings, traffic crashes, and those caused by machinery and overexertion. The researchers found that such injuries result in an estimated loss of $1,590 and an average of 11 days off work per injured employee every year. There was a range from 1.5 days and $210 for bites and stings to 44 days and $6,196 for motorcycle injuries. Days taken off work ranged from...

TUESDAY, May 5, 2020 (HealthDay News) -- With increasing evidence showing a link between COVID-19 and stroke, it's more important than ever to call 911 if someone shows signs they are having one, experts say. "Despite a growing connection between COVID-19 and an increased risk of stroke, hospitals across the country continue to experience a decrease in stroke cases," said Dr. Richard Klucznik, a stroke surgeon and president of the Society of NeuroInterventional Surgery. "It's safe to assume the incidence of stroke isn't lessening -- likely just the opposite -- which suggests that patients are ignoring symptoms and delaying treatment for fear of exposure to the virus," Klucznik said in a society news release. Stroke is a leading cause of death and long-term disability in the United...

TUESDAY, May 5, 2020 (HealthDay News) -- Nadia, a tiger at New York City's Bronx Zoo, tested positive for the coronavirus. A few pet cats in the United States (and maybe one dog) have, too. And since the novel coronavirus causing the current pandemic is thought to have originated at a live animal market in China, some people have wondered if they need to worry about their own pets. The good news is that any risk to humans from Fluffy or Fido is very low, according to the U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. The bad news? Humans with COVID-19 infections could pose a slight risk to certain animals, such as cats or ferrets., but not dogs "There have really only been a handful of known domestic animal infections in the entire world," said Dr. John Howe, president of the...