The movie ‘Joker’ perpetuates harmful stereotypes and misinformation about mental illness, study finds
The study found that after viewing the film, people tend to express higher levels of prejudice toward individuals with mental illness.
Susan Perry
Susan Perry writes Second Opinion for MinnPost, covering consumer health. She has written several health-related books, and her articles have appeared in a wide variety of publications.
People who rely on conservative media for COVID-19 news are less informed, more likely to believe conspiracy theories, study finds
People who relied on conservative media and social media in early March for information about COVID-19 were more likely to hold inaccurate beliefs about the potential seriousness of the illness and about how to prevent it from spreading.
Chills, headache, loss of taste among symptoms added to CDC’s list for COVID-19
Previously, the CDC had cited fever, cough and shortness of breath as possible signs of the illness. The updated list includes six additional symptoms.
Giving children short, self-paced exercise breaks improves their attention, memory and well-being, study suggests
“The evidence shows that pupils are more alert, feel better, and pay better attention after self-paced physical activity when compared to just sitting,” said researcher Colin Moran.
Accidental poisonings from disinfectants and cleaning products have risen sharply during COVID crisis, CDC reports
The largest share of the incidents involved children aged 5 or younger. Inhalation-related poisonings made up the biggest segment of the increase in calls.
Childhood vaccines are safe and effective, review of studies reconfirms
Investigators looked at 138 studies involving more than 23 million children. Among their findings: MMR vaccines did not cause encephalitis, inflammatory bowel disease, cognitive delay or any other suspected harm.
Half of Americans live in areas with harmful levels of polluted air, report says
Overall, Minnesota received good marks for air quality. The state’s “star” in the report, however, was Duluth.
Children’s social skills aren’t harmed by screen time, study suggests
Parents may find this study’s results reassuring, particularly now, during the current stay-at-home days of the coronavirus pandemic, when children’s screen time and social media use has skyrocketed.
Basing self-worth on financial success leads to greater feelings of isolation and loneliness, study finds
“Feeling that pressure to achieve financial goals means we’re putting ourselves to work at the cost of spending time with loved ones …,” said the study’s lead author, Deborah Ward.
Mediterranean diet linked to higher cognitive functioning during aging
The individual components of the diet that appeared to have the greatest protective effect on the brain were fish and vegetables.
Should you keep wearing contact lenses during the COVID-19 pandemic? Experts have slightly differing opinions
The American Academy of Ophthalmology suggests wearing glasses now, while the CDC says there is no evidence to suggest contact lens wearers are more at risk for acquiring COVID-19.
Inconsistent bedtimes linked to higher resting heart rate
An elevated resting heart rate is a known risk factor for cardiovascular disease.
How to stay safe while shopping and unpacking groceries during the coronavirus pandemic
Of course, a key recommendation from health officials is to go grocery shopping as infrequently as possible, particularly if you’re older than 65 or have a chronic medical condition.
The younger kids are when they start smoking, the more likely they’ll still be smoking in middle age, says U of M study
The analysis also found that the intensity with which young people smoked — how often they lit up a cigarette — also predicted whether they became daily smokers in adulthood.
Healthy lifestyle behaviors at midlife linked to lower risk of stroke in women
“We found that changing to a healthy lifestyle, even in your 50s, still has the potential to prevent strokes,” says Goodarz Danael, the study’s lead author.
When behind the wheel, men are more dangerous to others than women, study finds
The difference was striking. The British study found that per kilometer driven, the risk by men to others when they were behind the wheel of a car or van was double that of women.
Gardening linked to improved body image and enhanced well-being
Antidote to cabin fever: A new form of “victory gardens” — the small vegetable and fruit gardens planted by millions of Americans during World War I and II — appear to be making a comeback this spring.
Popular diets lead to similar weight losses, but effects mostly disappear after a year, study finds
“Differences between diets are … generally trivial to small, implying that people can choose the diet they prefer from among many of the available diets without concern about the magnitude of benefits,” the study’s authors conclude.
Right now is an especially good time to quit smoking
The Minnesota Department of Health launched a group of free programs this week to help state residents quit nicotine.
CDC report: People with diabetes, heart disease and other chronic conditions at greatest risk of developing severe COVID-19
Patients with an underlying health issue were more likely than the others in the study to require hospitalization and intensive care for COVID-19.
