A Funeral, a Birthday & 3 Deaths: 'Super Spreader' Events Show Why Social Distancing Is Key

They gathered in Chicago to mourn a loved one's passing. But the new coronavirus was lurking among them, leading to a "super spreader" event that sickened 16 and killed three.

It's tragedies like these that have spurred extended stay-at-home orders across the United States along with bans on group gatherings as public health officials ...

Boris Johnson Moved Out of ICU, But Still in Hospital With COVID-19

British Prime Minister Boris Johnsonhas been taken out of intensive care at the London hospital where he has been treated for COVID-19, a Downing Street spokesman said Thursday.

Johnson, 55, remains hospitalized however, as his coronavirus symptoms persist, CNN reported.

The spokesman for the prime minister's office sa...

Smartphone Apps Might Track, Slow Spread of COVID-19

Your smartphone could help stem the spread of coronavirus, British researchers claim.

How? Their proposal for an app would record other app users who had recently been in close proximity. If a user became infected, he or she would update their status on their smartphone app, which would instantly and anonymously contact those app users...

Clinical Trial to Investigate Nitric Oxide Treatment of COVID-19

Doctors at the University of Alabama at Birmingham (UAB) are enrolling patients in an international clinical trial to find out if inhaled nitric oxide benefits those with COVID-19 who have severely damaged lungs.

Right now, there are no approved treatments for the illness caused by the new coronavirus. A severe form of lung failure cal...

Does COVID-19 Drug Touted by Trump Really Work? New Trial Aims to Find Out

A clinical trial to assess the antimalarial drug hydroxychloroquine as a treatment for adults with COVID-19 is now underway, the U.S. National Institutes of Health said Thursday.

The drug, along with a similar medicine, chloroquine, has received much media attention after being repeatedly hyped by President Donald Trump as a "game chan...

'Dead' Probiotic Bacteria Could Help Ease Irritable Bowel

Probiotic supplements containing "killed" bacteria might help some people with irritable bowel syndrome find relief, a new study suggests.

Experts said the findings add to evidence that certain probiotics can help some people with irritable bowel syndrome, or IBS. And it's the first trial to test a probiotic with bacteria that were hea...

Women in Their 50s Can Lower Their Stroke Risk – Here's How

If you're a middle-aged woman, it's not too late to make lifestyle changes that could significantly reduce your risk of stroke, researchers say.

"We found that changing to a healthy lifestyle, even in your 50s, still has the potential to prevent strokes," said lead author Goodarz Danaei, an associate professor of cardiovascular health ...

AHA News: Clogged Arteries Are Not the Only Sign of Cardiovascular Disease

Doctors rely on a variety of risk assessments to evaluate how likely a person is to develop heart disease. While the scores provide an invaluable tool for health care professionals and the general public alike, they are not infallible.

For example, they sometimes fail to accurately predict risk in a condition where there's a lack of b...

COVID-19 Is Making Psychiatric Treatment Tougher

In the best of times, it can be hard to get mental health treatment. But these definitely aren't the best of times, and even for people who have established relationships with mental health professionals, the coronavirus pandemic is making it harder to find the right care.

The good news is that insurance companies are often reimbursin...

FDA Warns of Dangerous, Bogus Claims That Bleach Can Treat COVID-19

A warning letter has been sent to a company marketing bogus and dangerous chlorine dioxide products for the prevention and treatment of COVID-19, the U.S. Food and Drug Administration says.

The fraudulent claims by the Genesis II Church of Health and Healing about its "Miracle Mineral Solution" products are especially concerning in rel...

AHA News: Most of the Nation's Teens Aren't Getting Enough Exercise

With the explosion of smartphones, teens have learned to swiftly scroll and type away using only their thumbs. But the rest of their bodies are woefully inactive – and the effects are far-reaching.

Only about 1 in 4 high school students get the recommended hour a day of physical activity, according to statistics from the America...

Millions More Unemployed as U.S. Coronavirus Lockdowns Devastate Economy

With the U.S. coronavirus death toll edging closer to 15,000 on Thursday, Americans faced more bleak news on unemployment numbers.

U.S. Labor Department statistics released Thursday morning showed that 6.6 million more workers joined the jobless rolls in the past week, the Associated Press reported. That comes on top of 10 milli...

Don't Count on Warmer Weather to Curb COVID-19

Both the U.S. National Academy of Sciences and a report out of China are dampening hopes that -- as happens with colds and the flu -- COVID-19 might begin to fade with hotter weather.

"Given that countries currently in 'summer' climates, such as Australia and Iran, are experiencing rapid virus spread, a decrease in cases with increases...

Why Is COVID-19 Sometimes So Severe in Young Adults?

COVID-19 has infected over 429,000 Americans and claimed the lives of nearly 15,000 patients, with seniors clearly bearing the brunt of severe disease.

But experts warn the virus is proving to be a threat to some younger Americans as well.

According to the U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, that's been true sin...

Kids of Mentally Ill Parents Have Higher Injury Odds

Children of parents with mental illness are at increased risk for injuries, researchers report.

Risk is highest before 1 year of age, but remains elevated to age 17, according to the new study.

"Our results show there is a need for increased support to parents with mental illness, especially during the first year of life," s...

How to Connect With Nursing Home Patients in Quarantine

U.S. nursing homes, assisted living centers and other long-term care facilities have closed their doors to outsiders due to the coronavirus pandemic, making it difficult for residents and their families to stay connected.

The Alzheimer's Foundation of America (AFA) has some advice for making this difficult situation better.

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What People With Type 1 Diabetes Need to Know About COVID-19

If you or your child has type 1 diabetes, you already have a lot of extra health worries, and now you need to add COVID-19 infections to the list.

You may be wondering if you have a higher risk of catching COVID-19, if you'll be able to get your diabetes supplies and how you might handle the illness if you ...

Coronavirus Came to New York City From Europe, Not Asia, Genetic Study Shows

The new coronavirus has been circulating in New York City for longer than previously believed and most cases can be traced back to Europe, a new study reveals.

To come to that conclusion, genetic information about the coronavirus was gathered from nasal swab samples taken from 75 patients at Tisch Hospital, NYU Winthrop Hospital and NY...

Newborns With COVID-19 May Suffer Only Mild Symptoms, Study Says

Newborns with COVID-19 may get by with only mild infection symptoms, a small, new study suggests.

Researchers at Wuhan University in China identified four newborns with the COVID-19 coronavirus. All were born to mothers with COVID-19 and delivered by cesarean section. Three were separated from their mothers at birth.

None of ...

Are Steroids Really the Answer for Arthritic Knees?

Folks with knee arthritis will get more out of physical therapy than a cortisone shot, a new clinical trial argues.

People with osteoarthritis of the knee had less pain and disability after one year of physical therapy than others who received as many as three injections during that same period, according to study results.

"W...