18 April 2020
SATURDAY, April 18, 2020 (HealthDay News) -- Beware of your fridge, pantry and couch during the coronavirus pandemic.
Being cooped up at home with easy access to food can lead to overeating. Couple that with routine housekeeping, working from home, homeschooling your kids and tending to loved ones, and it's a sure-fire recipe for weight gain, experts at the University of Georgia in Athens warn.
"These tasks have been added to our many other responsibilities," said Emma Laing, director of dietetics in the College of Family and Consumer Sciences. "So if something has to give as we strive to find our new normal, routines surrounding eating and physical activity might go out the window."
To stay on track, get up off the couch. Try to set times during the day for physical activity you...
16 April 2020
THURSDAY, April 16, 2020 (HealthDay News) -- Weeks after e-cigarette giant Juul voluntarily stopped selling many flavored vaping products popular with U.S. teens, sales rebounded as customers switched to varieties still on the shelves.
In fact, sales eventually surpassed previous records, according to new American Cancer Society (ACS) research.
"When companies are able to make these decisions for themselves, they are theoretically looking out for consumers, but are really making decisions that are good for the company's bottom line, whereas a regulator is able to make a sweeping decision that can serve the interests of public health," said lead researcher Alex Liber, an ACS senior scientist.
In 2018, as vaping surged particularly among American teens, the U.S. Food and Drug...
16 April 2020
THURSDAY, April 16, 2020 (HealthDay News) -- Researchers say they've developed a low-cost swab test that can diagnose COVID-19 infections in about 45 minutes.
The CRISPR-based test -- which uses gene-targeting technology and requires no specialized equipment -- could help relieve testing backlogs in the United States as COVID-19 continues to spread, the scientists said.
The U.S. Food and Drug Administration has not approved the test, but clinical assessments are being conducted in an effort to fast-track approval. The test is described in a paper published April 16 in the journal Nature Biotechnology.
"The introduction and availability of CRISPR technology will accelerate deployment of the next generation of tests to diagnose COVID-19 infection," co-lead developer Dr. Charles Chiu...
15 April 2020
WEDNESDAY, April 15, 2020 (HealthDay News) -- You're in lockdown, yet you still have to go grocery shopping, but how do you stay safe and avoid catching the coronavirus?
The American Medical Association has some timely tips.
When you go to the store:
Stay at least six-feet away from other shoppers.
Don't shake hands, hug or have any physical contact.
Wipe down grocery carts or basket handles with disinfectant wipes if you have them.
Don't touch your face.
Wear a cloth face mask.
While waiting and after leaving the store, use hand sanitizer if you have it.
If you're sick, don't go shopping. But if you must, wear a mask, wash your hands often and keep a safe distance between you and others.
When you get your groceries home:
Although it's unlikely you'll be exposed to...