Should Your Child Get a COVID Test?

• January 15, 2021
• Full Page

If you're trying to decide whether to have your child tested for COVID-19, talk with your pediatrician, the American Academy of Pediatrics (AAP) suggests.

Children and teens with COVID-19 symptoms should be tested immediately. This is especially important if they're goin...

Cancer Screening Fell Sharply Early in Pandemic, But Has Rebounded

• Robert Preidt HealthDay Reporter
• January 14, 2021
• Full Page

As clinics closed for non-essential care and patients' COVID-19 fears kept them from check-ups, the United States saw a steep drop in cancer screenings and diagnoses during the first peak of the pandemic, a new report finds.

Researchers analyzed data on how many patient...

Genes Help Explain Role of Race in Prostate Cancer Risk

• Cara Murez HealthDay Reporter
• January 7, 2021
• Full Page

If you're a Black man, your risk of getting prostate cancer is 75% higher than it is for a white man, and it's more than twice as deadly.

Now, research is helping to bring genetic risks for people of various racial and ethnic groups into focus. In doing so, dozens more r...

Some Americans Can't Access Telemedicine, Study Shows

• Dennis Thompson HealthDay Reporter
• January 6, 2021
• Full Page

Telemedicine rapidly expanded during the COVID-19 pandemic as people turned to their phones and computers rather than leave their homes for health care.

But some groups of people were left behind in the telemedicine boom, a new study reports.

Middle-aged and older ...

Tips for Making 2021 a Healthier Year

• January 2, 2021
• Full Page

A New Year's resolution to take better care of yourself is one you should keep, especially in the era of COVID-19.

Wearing a mask, maintaining a safe distance from others and washing your hands frequently are going remain important in 2021. But don't forget to prioritize...

Blood Pressure Often Differs Widely Between Two Arms: Study

• Amy Norton HealthDay Reporter
• December 28, 2020
• Full Page

Blood pressure readings between the two arms can be different, and that disparity can sometimes be a warning sign of heart trouble down the road.

That's the finding of an analysis of 24 past studies: When people have at least a 5-point difference in blood pressure betwee...

Esophageal Cancer on the Rise Among the Young: Study

• Robert Preidt
• December 22, 2020
• Full Page

Esophageal cancer is increasing among young Americans, and they're more likely to be diagnosed with advanced disease, according to a new study.

Esophageal cancer accounts for about 1% of U.S. cancer diagnoses, and just over 18,000 cases are expected to be diagnosed natio...

Pandemic Closures, Fears Keep Patients From Lung Cancer Screening

• Amy Norton HealthDay Reporter
• December 21, 2020
• Full Page

When the COVID-19 pandemic hit the United States, many routine cancer screenings were put on hold. Now a new study suggests that lung cancer screenings have yet to rebound.

The findings come from one hospital system, but experts said they add to worries about the pandemi...

FDA OKs First Over-the-Counter Home Test for COVID-19

• Robert Preidt
• December 15, 2020
• Full Page

The first non-prescription COVID-19 test that enables people to collect samples and get results at home has received emergency use authorization from the U.S. Food and Drug Administration.

"This is a great step forward," said Dr. Amesh Adalja, senior scholar at the Johns...

Body Temperature Higher in Patients With Rheumatoid Arthritis

• Robert Preidt
• December 15, 2020
• Full Page

Rheumatoid arthritis patients who are in remission have significantly higher body temperatures than people without the joint disease, new research shows.

The study included 32 rheumatoid arthritis patients who were in remission and a healthy "control" group of 51 people ...

COVID in Kids: The Most Telling Symptoms

• Robert Preidt
• November 30, 2020
• Full Page

Among thousands of kids tested for COVID-19, an upset stomach, loss of taste/smell, fever and headache were symptoms most predictive of positive test results, a Canadian study found.

But one-third of children and teens with the coronavirus showed no symptoms, the resear...

MS Has Mixed Impact on Patients' Cancer Risk: Study

• November 25, 2020
• Full Page

How does having multiple sclerosis (MS) affect a person's odds for cancer? The answer may depend on the type of cancer, new research shows.

The study found that MS patients do have much greater odds of developing bladder cancer compared to people without the illness. But...

More Childbearing Women Having Suicidal Thoughts: Study

• Amy Norton HealthDay Reporter
• November 20, 2020
• Full Page

The number of women who contemplate suicide or self-harm during or after pregnancy may be on the rise, a large, new study suggests.

Among nearly 600,000 U.S. childbearing women, researchers found that close to 2,700 were diagnosed with suicidality in the year before or a...

Asymptomatic COVID Woman Shed Virus for 70 Days

• Robert Preidt
• November 9, 2020
• Full Page

Most people with the new coronavirus appear to actively shed infectious virus for about eight days. But a woman in Kirkland, Wash., may have set a record, shedding the virus for at least 70 days.

The 71-year-old was infected for at least 105 days overall, but had no symp...

Are Healthy Kids Getting Too Many Heart Tests?

• Cara Murez
• November 4, 2020
• Full Page

Not every kid needs an electrocardiogram (ECG) before playing sports or as part of routine exams, child health experts say.

The American Academy of Pediatrics (AAP) is advising parents and pediatricians to avoid unnecessary tests, and has released a list of common medic...

Loss of Smell More Common in COVID-19 Than Thought

• Steven Reinberg
• October 27, 2020
• Full Page

Loss of smell is common in COVID-19, but fewer people say they have this symptom than objective tests reveal, a new study finds.

In fact, about 77% of COVID-19 patients who were directly measured had smell loss, but only 44% said they did, researchers found....

What You Need to Know About Your Colon Cancer Risk

• Robert Preidt
• October 19, 2020
• Full Page

Early diagnosis of colon cancer is crucial to improve a patient's chance of survival, an expert says.

Colon cancer is on the rise, especially among younger people, so it's important to know the symptoms and how to prevent it, according to Dr. Sameet Shah. He's a gast...

Many Male Breast Cancers Diagnosed Late, and Delays Can Be Lethal

• E.J. Mundell
• October 15, 2020
• Full Page

Breast cancer in men is rare. But because it's not often suspected in men, diagnosis often comes only after a tumor has begun to spread throughout the body, new research shows.

"Approximately one-half of males with breast cancer received a diagnosis after it had alre...

Bedside COVID-19 Test Faster Than Standard PCR Test

• Steven Reinberg
• October 13, 2020
• Full Page

Bedside tests for COVID-19 may speed results and improve infection control, making them better than standard laboratory tests, a new study suggests.

Results of the bedside test take about 2 hours, compared with 21 hours for PCR lab tests, the researchers said. These...

DNA Analysis Might Reveal Melanoma Risk

• Steven Reinberg
• October 8, 2020
• Full Page

DNA mutations in skin cells may signal a risk for melanoma long before it's visible to the eye, a new study suggests.

Exposure to sun damages skin and DNA, and this damage can be measured. Using a new method for analyzing DNA harm, researchers say they can estimate ...

Accuracy of COVID-19 Antibody Tests Varies Widely, Study Finds

• Robert Preidt
• September 24, 2020
• Full Page

Wide variation exists in the accuracy of commercial testing kits that check for antibodies against the new coronavirus, researchers say.

Antibody tests can determine whether someone has had the virus in the past. For diagnosis at a later stage of illness or in cases ...

Blood Test Could Spot Those at Highest Risk for Severe COVID-19

• E.J. Mundell
• September 23, 2020
• Full Page

If you're unfortunate enough to be admitted to the hospital with COVID-19, a common blood marker may predict how severe your illness might become, new research shows.

The blood marker is called "red cell distribution width" (RDW) -- basically, the greater the varianc...

Many High-Risk Patients Don't Know They Need Follow-Up Colonoscopy

• Robert Preidt
• September 18, 2020
• Full Page

Many Americans at high risk for colon cancer don't know how often they need to have a screening colonoscopy, researchers say.

The report follows the recent death of actor Chadwick Boseman, who died Aug. 28 at age 43 after a private, four-year battle with colon cancer...

Another Rapid COVID-19 Test Shows Promise

• Robert Preidt
• September 18, 2020
• Full Page

Yet another rapid COVID-19 test has proven its mettle in spotting infection with the new coronavirus, this time in a British study.

The lab-in-a-cartridge testing device -- which can be performed at bedside, doesn't require a laboratory, and can be performed in cartr...

Mother and Son Draw Hope, Healing From Shared Cancer Treatment

• Serena Gordon
• September 17, 2020
• Full Page

Families bond over lots of shared experiences -- but one Leslie Seigel and her adult son, Josh, never expected to share was battling cancer.

Soon after Leslie finished chemotherapy for an aggressive form of breast cancer, however, Josh found himself waging his own ba...

Just How Reliable Are COVID-19 Tests? Experts Weigh In

• Dennis Thompson
• September 11, 2020
• Full Page

You're feeling pretty darned sick -- headache, fever, fatigue, a cough -- but your COVID-19 test came back negative.

What do you do now?

Well, chances are good that you don't have COVID-19 if that's what the test says, according to experts.

For COVID-19 Survivors, Virus Test 1 Month Out May Be Needed

• Steven Reinberg
• September 3, 2020
• Full Page

You tested positive for COVID-19 and dutifully quarantined yourself for two weeks to avoid infecting others. Now, you're feeling better and you think you pose no risk to friends or family, right?

Not necessarily, claims a new study that shows it takes roughly a month...

Quick and Cheap, New COVID-19 Test Could Enhance U.S. Screening Efforts

• Dennis Thompson
• August 31, 2020
• Full Page

The new rapid COVID-19 test approved last week is probably not the most reliable option for determining whether someone is infected.

But it's cheap and it's fast, and if used correctly, it could be the basis of a screening strategy to keep Americans safe as they retu...

Many Thyroid Cancer Ultrasound Scans Unnecessary

• Steven Reinberg
• August 25, 2020
• Full Page

As many as one-third of doctors may be sending patients for a thyroid ultrasound for reasons not supported by guidelines, a new study finds.

The use of ultrasound to detect thyroid cancer has led to a large increase in thyroid cancer cases, but many of these cancers...

Women Smokers Less Likely to Get Cancer Screenings

• Steven Reinberg
• August 18, 2020
• Full Page

Women smokers already have one bad habit. A new study finds another: They're less likely than others to go for cancer screenings.

Moreover, they're more likely to have spreading cancer when diagnosed, according to findings.

For the report, researchers coll...

Mammograms in 40s Can Save Women's Lives, Study Finds

• E.J. Mundell
• August 13, 2020
• Full Page

Adding to an ongoing debate over the timing of mammography, a new British study finds that screening women aged 40 to 49 for breast cancer saves lives, with only small increases in overdiagnosis.

"This is a very long-term follow-up of a study which confirms that scre...

Blood Test Might Spot Most Dangerous COVID-19 Cases

• Steven Reinberg
• August 10, 2020
• Full Page

A simple blood test may predict which COVID-19 patients are likely to get worse and die, a new study suggests.

"When we first started treating COVID-19 patients, we watched them get better or get worse, but we didn't know why," said researcher Dr. Juan Reyes. He's a...

Many Older Americans Getting Cancer Screens They Don't Need: Study

• Alan Mozes
• August 6, 2020
• Full Page

Contrary to recommendations set by the U.S. Preventive Services Task Force, many Americans are getting screened for cancer even when old age or poor health would likely render such screenings risky and pointless, new research finds.

The task force notes that screenin...

Cancer Diagnoses Plunge as Americans Avoid Screening During Pandemic

• Alan Mozes
• August 4, 2020
• Full Page

As COVID-19 continues to impact nearly all aspects of American health care, researchers warn that the United States has seen a troubling drop in cancer diagnoses since the pandemic began.

The drop is not being attributed to a downturn in cancer incidence, but rather ...

American Cancer Society Recommends HPV Test for Cervical Cancer Screening

• Steven Reinberg
• July 30, 2020
• Full Page

An updated guideline from the American Cancer Society calls for more simplified cervical cancer screening, administered less often.

The new guideline calls for an initial cervix screening at age 25, followed by the human papillomavirus (HPV) test every five years, co...

Repeat Bone Density Tests Might Not Be Needed, Study Finds

• Steven Reinberg
• July 28, 2020
• Full Page

Bone density tests are often touted as a way to predict the risk of fracture in postmenopausal women, but a new study casts doubt on the value of repeating this commonly used test.

The research was led by Dr. Carolyn Crandall, of the division of general internal medi...

Blood Test Might Spot Cancer Years Earlier

• Amy Norton
• July 23, 2020
• Full Page

Scientists are working on a blood test that may catch five common cancers years sooner than current methods.

The blood test, which is still experimental, hunts for certain genetic "signatures" associated with tumors. Researchers found that it can detect five types of...

Check Early and Often for Glaucoma

• Robert Preidt
• July 17, 2020
• Full Page

Regular eye checks are crucial for people with early-stage glaucoma, a new study shows.

Glaucoma is a condition in which the optic nerve that connects the eye to the brain becomes damaged. It develops slowly and affects peripheral vision first. Untreated glaucoma lea...

Get on the Bus: Lifesaving Lung Screens Hit the Road

• Dennis Thompson
• July 16, 2020
• Full Page

Irene Johnson noticed a big, blue bus bearing the words "Breathe Easy" outside the Benton, Tenn., library during the 2019 Labor Day weekend.

Inside, a librarian told Johnson that the bus was a mobile CT unit that travels around screening smokers for lung cancer.

Blood Test May Reveal Concussion Severity With Accuracy of Spinal Tap

• Robert Preidt
• July 9, 2020
• Full Page

A simple blood test may predict the severity of a concussion as accurately as an invasive spinal tap, researchers report.

They focused on a biomarker called neurofilament light chain. This nerve protein can be detected in the blood and cerebrospinal fluid when nerve ...

New Guidelines Could Double Number Eligible for Lung Cancer Screening

• Amy Norton
• July 7, 2020
• Full Page

CT scans have been proven to help spot lung cancer early and save lives. Now, updated expert recommendations could double the number of Americans who are eligible for the yearly screening.

The recommendations -- from the U.S. Preventive Services Task Force (USPSTF) -...

Obamacare Helps Poorer Americans Spot Cancer Earlier: Study

• Amy Norton
• July 6, 2020
• Full Page

Medicaid expansion under Obamacare may have decreased the number of poorer Americans diagnosed with advanced cancer, a new study suggests.

The study focused on Ohio, which was among the first states to expand its Medicaid program under the Affordable Care Act (ACA) ...

No Good Evidence on Accuracy of Coronavirus Antibody Tests: Study

• Robert Preidt
• July 2, 2020
• Full Page

Do you wonder if you've been exposed to the new coronavirus in the recent past?

Good luck finding out for sure: A new review finds there's little good evidence of the accuracy of blood antibody tests for COVID-19, especially those performed outside a lab.

...

FBI: Beware of Scammers Selling Fake COVID-19 Antibody Tests

• Robert Preidt
• June 30, 2020
• Full Page

Fake or unapproved COVID-19 antibody tests are being sold by scammers, the Federal Bureau of Investigation warns.

The FBI said fraudsters are also trying to get people's personal information (such as names, birthdates and Social Security numbers) as well as personal ...

NBA Players to Assess New Coronavirus Test

• Robert Preidt
• June 25, 2020
• Full Page

A saliva-based test for the new coronavirus will be assessed in a study that includes NBA players and staff, Yale University researchers said.

"Our players are excited to be a part of this study," said Joe Rogowski, chief medical officer of the National Basketball Pl...

Don't Let COVID-19 Scuttle Your Child's Health Exams

• Robert Preidt
• June 18, 2020
• Full Page

Wondering whether stay-at-home advisories mean you should skip your child's check-up? According to one pediatrician, parents should keep their kids' regular health appointments during the coronavirus pandemic.

"I'm having these conversations every day with my patient...

New Blood Test May Improve Liver Cancer Screening

• Robert Preidt
• June 16, 2020
• Full Page

An experimental blood test may improve screening for the most common form of liver cancer, researchers at the U.S. National Cancer Institute say.

The test checks people for previous exposure to certain viruses that may interact with the immune system and increase the...

Blood Donors Will Get Results of Coronavirus Antibody Test, Red Cross Says

• Robert Preidt
• June 15, 2020
• Full Page

The American Red Cross will test all blood, platelet and plasma donations for COVID-19 antibodies so donors can learn whether they've been exposed to the new coronavirus.

"We recognize that individuals and public health organizations desire more information about COV...

More Evidence Do-It-Yourself COVID Tests Work Fine, Without the Discomfort

• E.J. Mundell
• June 12, 2020
• Full Page

Most Americans have winced watching one of those nurse-administered COVID-19 nasal swab tests, where the swab reaches painfully farther up the nose than anyone would want.

Well, the days of "nasopharyngeal" swab tests, administered only by health care workers, may be...

Do-It-Yourself COVID Tests Work Fine, Without the Discomfort: Study

• E.J. Mundell
• June 4, 2020
• Full Page

Most Americans have winced watching one of those nurse-administered COVID-19 nasal swab tests, where the swab reaches painfully farther up the nose than anyone would want.

Well, the days of "nasopharyngeal" swab tests, administered only by health care workers, may be...