Do COVID-19 Patients Really Have to Die Alone?

Hospitals have put in place strict no-visitation rules meant to prevent the spread of COVID-19, but these precautions have led to another heart-wrenching dilemma.

People are dying alone, gasping their last breath without any family or friends there to provide comfort.

Now, some experts are arguing this shouldn't be the case, ...

Evidence Mounts That TB Vaccine Might Help Protect Against COVID-19

A tuberculosis vaccine may help reduce the risk of death from COVID-19, researchers suggest.

Developing countries have lower-than-expected COVID-19 death rates, and a TB vaccine given in countries with high rates of tuberculosis might play a significant role in reducing COVID-19 death rates, according to authors of a new study.

Does Medical Marijuana Help or Harm Kids With Cancer?

Parents are increasingly interested in whether medical marijuana can help their children with problems like cancer-related pain and nausea -- but there's concern about interactions with their medications and a general lack of research.

That's one of the main takeaways from a new report in Pediatrics detailing one hospital's appr...

What People With Sickle Cell Disease Need to Know About COVID-19

People with sickle cell disease are at increased risk for severe complications from COVID-19, an expert says.

"Many patients experience a pain crisis, also known as a vaso-occlusive crisis, early in COVID-19 infection before respiratory symptoms develop," said Dr. Jennie Hart, clinical director of pediatric hematology/oncology at Herma...

High-Fiber, Low-Fat Diet May Help People With Ulcerative Colitis

A low-fat, high-fiber diet may improve the quality of life of patients with ulcerative colitis, a new study finds.

"Patients with inflammatory bowel disease always ask us what they should eat to make their symptoms better," said researcher Dr. Maria Abreu. She's a professor of medicine and microbiology and immunology at the University...

Blacks Underrepresented in Cancer Drug Trials: Study

U.S. government-funded clinical trials for new cancer treatments have more Black participants than those run by drug companies, but Blacks are still underrepresented in cancer studies, researchers say.

The SWOG Cancer Research Network team analyzed data from 358 clinical trials -- 85 drug industry trials and 273 SWOG trials. They inclu...

Remdesivir May Reduce Deaths, Hasten Recovery for COVID-19 Patients

There's more good news on the effectiveness of the antiviral drug remdesivir against COVID-19, according to new clinical trial results from the drug's maker.

Gilead Sciences said Friday that in a trial involving more than 1,100 patients, remdesivir was associated with improved recovery and a 62% reduced risk of death compared with ...

Changes in IVF May Have Spurred Drop in Cerebral Palsy, Study Says

Rates of cerebral palsy among babies in Nordic countries born through in vitro fertilization (IVF) have fallen by more than half over the past two decades, due to fewer twin births from IVF, according to a new study.

A study in Denmark 15 years ago found a significantly increased risk of cerebral palsy in infants born through IVF. The ...

Terrifying Delirium Can Strike Hospitalized COVID-19 Patients

Intense breathing problems may be the most widely reported feature of COVID-19, but new research warns that coronavirus can also take aim at the brain.

Infection can trigger serious nerve damage, stroke, inflammation and even wild bouts of delirium.

In fact, a bizarre array of delusions plagued nearly a quarter of the 43 Brit...

Most Survivors of Severe COVID-19 Report Symptoms Many Weeks After 'Recovery'

Even a month after hospital discharge and "recovery," a majority of patients who had survived severe COVID-19 were still dealing with fatigue, shortness of breath and other symptoms, Italian research shows.

The study tracked outcomes for 143 hospitalized patients treated in April in Rome, at the height of the Italian COVID-19 pandemic....

Antiviral Drugs Tied to Heart Issue in COVID-19 Patients

Older, critically ill COVID-19 patients who are given a combination of two common antiretroviral drugs can experience a drastic slowing of their heart rate, French researchers report.

In their study of 41 patients treated with lopinavir and ritonavir twice daily for 10 days, 22% developed a slow heart rate condition called bradycar...

AHA News: More People Are Dying During the Pandemic – and Not Just From COVID-19

More people in the United States are dying during the COVID-19 pandemic, but not just because of the coronavirus. One reason, experts say, is people with other ailments may not be seeking help.

That conclusion is emerging from new research showing deaths are increasing from causes such as heart disease, stroke and diabetes – while ...

Raw Milk Can Harbor Antibiotic-Resistant Bacteria

If you're a fan of raw milk, keep it chilled. Leaving raw milk at room temperature can release antimicrobial-resistant genes, a new study suggests.

Also, bacteria that have antimicrobial-resistant genes can transfer them to other bacteria, spreading resistance, the researchers said.

"We don't want to scare people, we want t...