COVID-19 outbreaks are often followed by headlines saying that intensive care units (ICUs) have hit capacity. But what does it really mean for an ICU to be full? In normal times, ICUs typically run at roughly 70% to 80% capacity,…
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Doctors motivated by both health, malpractice concerns when ordering additional tests
A UCLA-led study has found that dermatopathologists, who specialize in diagnosing skin diseases at the microscopic level, are motivated both by patient safety concerns and by malpractice fears—often simultaneously—when ordering multiple tests and obtaining second opinions, with a higher proportion…
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When you have your period, this is what happens to your body
Whether you dread your period’s arrival each month or celebrate it and what your menstrual cycle means for your health, it’s a tricky little thing to deal with and keep track of. But no matter how you feel about your…
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When is someone old?
Populations around the world are living longer lives than was the norm just a few decades ago, presenting governments with significant challenges in terms of caring for their growing elderly populations. According to a new study published in PLOS ONE,…
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Desperate to hit the gym when they reopen? Do these exercises first
Desperate to hit the gym when they reopen? Do these five exercises first, writes MARIAM AL-ROUBI The lockdown has given Britain something it did not need – an even more sedentary lifestyle. But it’s not just the closure of gyms and swimming pools that has…
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Hydroxychloroquine shortages: when the enthusiasm for a potential cure affects patients
Amid initial public and scientific optimism for hydroxychloroquine (HCQ) as a potential treatment for COVID-19, health care professionals raised concerns about shortages of this inexpensive drug, which is widely used in the treatment of several rheumatic diseases such as arthritis….
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Coronavirus vaccines are coming, but when will they arrive?
Coronavirus vaccines are coming, offering hope for a world rocked by pandemic, but USC experts say how soon they’ll become available—and in what form—is not yet clear. Big pharma and government labs around the world are spending billions of dollars…
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COVID rates, excess deaths and the economy: how countries work out when to exit lockdown
As the UK prepares to exit lockdown, it has passed its peak for deaths due to COVID-19. In India, on the other hand, lockdown is scheduled to ease on June 8, despite the fact that the number of cases in…
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When insurers cover infertility treatments, fewer women die
When states require that insurers provide coverage of infertility treatments, 20% fewer mothers die during pregnancy, childbirth or shortly after birth, according to a University of Michigan study. Nearly 11% of women ages 15-44 and 21% of currently married, childless…
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Here’s When You Can Be Around People Again After COVID-19 Recovery
As states begin to re-open (whether it’s advised by medical professionals or not) and the count of cases and deaths from coronavirus pandemic continue to rise, we’re getting a bit better at understanding how we move through the world as…
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