FRIDAY, May 22, 2020 (American Heart Association News) -- High blood pressure is one of the top risk factors for heart attack and stroke. It's also common among people who develop severe symptoms of COVID-19. So, with more people at home practicing social distancing and with fewer chances to check blood pressure at public pharmacy machines or doctor visits, it's more important than ever to know how to do it at home. How do I select a home blood pressure monitor? "The readings you get at home are really important, because they reflect the pressure your heart is facing on a day-to-day basis," said Dr. Michael Hochman, a doctor of internal medicine at Keck Medicine of the University of Southern California. A list of validated home monitors, the first in the United States and commissioned...

FRIDAY, May 22, 2020 (HealthDay News) -- Face coverings may reduce the risk of transmitting COVID-19, a new study suggests. Researchers assessed the effectiveness of seven types of face coverings -- including medical-grade and homemade masks -- when people breathed or coughed while standing or lying down. They were also tested using a dummy attached to a cough-simulating machine. All face coverings without an outlet valve reduce the forward distance of a deep exhale by at least 90%, according to the study led by engineers at the University of Edinburgh in Scotland. A respirator mask -- widely used by workers exposed to fine dust -- protects the wearer. But the study warned that valves meant to make breathing easier could allow exhaled air to spread considerable distances in front of...

FRIDAY, May 22, 2020 (HealthDay News) -- Mental health problems and substance abuse are common among cops, and more needs to be done to address those issues, researchers say. Previous studies have suggested that first responders have a higher risk of mental health issues than the general public, but it wasn't clear how police officers were affected. To learn more, researchers reviewed 67 studies that included more than 272,000 police officers in 24 countries. Most of the studies were from North America (46%), Europe (28%), and Australia (10%) and primarily involved male officers doing general duties. Just under 26% screened positive for hazardous drinking, and 5% would be considered alcohol-dependent or drinking at harmful levels. One in 7 met the criteria for post-traumatic stress...

FRIDAY, May 22, 2020 (HealthDay News) -- If there's such a thing as a "new normal" during the coronavirus pandemic, it's a constant state of stress. And it's particularly intense for many parents who are keeping house, working from home, and trying to keep their kids' online learning on track at the same time, according to a new online survey. Nearly half (46%) of respondents who have kids younger than 18 said their average stress level is high these days. Only 28% of adults without minor children said the same, according to the online poll of more than 3,000 adults. It was conducted from April 24 to May 4. The 2020 Stress in America poll is the first of at least three planned to gauge pandemic-related stress. "The mental health ramifications of the coronavirus pandemic are immense...