After 13 years, thanks and farewell
This is my last posting for Second Opinion; I’ve decided to retire from the column.
Second Opinion
In Second Opinion, Susan Perry helps readers make their way through the thicket of health trends, studies and research.
Pandemic-related delays in medical care for Minnesota’s non-COVID patients has caused harm to some, physicians say
The survey also revealed that telehealth services grew by 833 percent since the start of the pandemic. More than 80% of the physicians surveyed said their patients are satisfied with receiving care this way.
Thunderstorms linked to rise in emergency room visits for respiratory problems
The cases may be linked to rises in temperature and tiny particulates that occur before storms, the study’s authors say. Both factors exacerbate respiratory illnesses like asthma and COPD.
Why you should always wear a mask in a public restroom
Researchers at Yangzhou University have reported that flushing a toilet or urinal sends a cloud of tiny aerosol particles into the air.
People feel more positive toward strangers who share their political views than toward friends who don’t, study suggests
“In many cases, political group membership mattered even more for expected friendship outcomes than length/closeness of the friendship,” the researchers said.
Children who are exposed to fine air pollutants have higher risk of developing asthma, study suggests
Fine particulate matter comes from a variety of sources, including motor vehicles, power plants, airplanes, residential wood burning, forest fires and dust storms.
One in 66 Americans will die from a drug overdose during their lifetime, study predicts
The study also shows that one out of every 108 Americans will die of a gunshot wound during their lifetime if current death rates hold.
Loss of smell and taste in patients with COVID-19 is ‘much more profound’ than in patients with the common cold, study finds
The study appears to be the first to directly compare smell and taste symptoms in people with COVID-19 with those in people with upper respiratory illnesses.
Minnesota among states showing disparities in COVID-19 hospitalizations
Blacks make up 6.8% of Minnesota’s population, but represented 24.9% of the hospitalized COVID-19 patients in the U of M study. It analyzed the 12 states that reported ethnic and racial data on hospitalized COVID patients.
Going from obese to overweight before midlife cuts risk of early death in half, study suggests
The authors of the study also estimate that one in eight early deaths in the U.S. may be linked to people becoming overweight or obese during early and mid-adulthood.
Yoga offers short-term benefits for people with chronic, debilitating anxiety, study suggests
While yoga can help ease symptoms of anxiety in adults, it’s not as effective or as long-lasting as cognitive behavioral therapy (CBT), according to the study published in JAMA Psychiatry.
Spring stay-at-home orders linked to a significant slowing down of COVID-19’s spread
Researchers calculated the pandemic’s doubling time — how long it took for confirmed COVID-19 cases to double — before and during the stay-at-home periods.
People tend to dismiss their efforts to exercise more, unless the exercise is vigorous, study finds
After adding moderate-level physical activity to their daily lives, people tend to think they haven’t made a positive behavior change at all, the study found.
Many Americans find whole grain labels confusing and misleading, study finds
Almost half of the study’s participants overstated the amount of whole grain in different products after reading the food labels.
Americans report greater coronavirus-related distress than people in other high-income nations
Both mental health problems and economic hardship are higher in the U.S., the Commonwealth Fund reports.
Baby boomers show greater cognitive decline than earlier generations, study finds
Depression and other psychiatric problems explain more of the cognitive decline among baby boomers than all other diseases combined, the researchers say.
Cannabis use may pose ‘substantial risks’ to cardiovascular health, report says
The American Heart Association says research to date has found no cardiovascular benefits from the use of marijuana. It also cites harms from smoking or vaping it.
Vitamin D supplements are ineffective in reducing risk of depression, large study finds
“There was no significant benefit from the supplement for this purpose. It did not prevent depression or improve mood,” says Dr. Oliva Okereke, the study’s lead author.
Music lessons may not help children do better in academic subjects after all, study suggests
“Our study shows that the common idea that ‘music makes children smarter’ is incorrect,” says Giovanni Sala, the lead author of the meta-analysis.
Parents frequently fail to use sunscreen effectively to protect their children, survey finds
Evidence suggests a strong connection between exposure to UV radiation during childhood and adolescence and skin cancer later in life.
