As U.S. Coronavirus Death Toll Nears 11,000, Signs Show Pandemic May Be Peaking

TUESDAY, April 7, 2020 (HealthDay News) With U.S. deaths from coronavirus approaching 11,000 on Tuesday, signs emerged suggesting the pandemic might be peaking, experts say.

New York state saw lower totals of new coronavirus patients in hospitals for the fourth day in a row, and a new modeling forecast released Monday painted a slight...

What Material Is Best for Your DIY Face Mask? The Answer May Surprise You

What's the best material for a do-it-yourself face mask?

Yang Wang, an assistant professor of environmental engineering at Missouri University of Science and Technology, has some suggestions based on initial testing. He investigated how a few common household materials -- such as pillowcases, scarves and furnace filters -- filtered out...

You're Wearing a Face Mask -- Are You Wearing It Correctly?

A cloth mask can help reduce the spread of COVID-19, but there's a right way and a wrong way to wear one.

Used incorrectly, such masks could put you and others at risk, according to doctors at University of Texas Health Science Center at Houston. And remember: Masks are only a supplement -- not a replacement -- for such precautions as...

Beware of 'Media Overload' During Coronavirus Crisis, Experts Say

If you feel like the news about coronavirus is growing worse by the hour, then it might be time to take stock: How much do you really need to know?

As the pandemic unfolds, and people routinely wake up to uncertainty, it is necessary to stay informed, psychologists say.

At the same time, they caution, remember that media ove...

Why Will It Take So Long for a COVID-19 Vaccine?

Public health officials have been warning that a COVID-19 vaccine will not be available to the public for 12 to 18 months, dampening hopes that there will be a quick end to the global pandemic nightmare.

But Chinese researchers cracked the virus' genetic code within weeks of its emergence late last year, and two vaccine candidates are ...

U.K. Prime Minister Boris Johnson in ICU With COVID-19

British Prime Minister Boris Johnson has been moved to intensive care at St. Thomas' Hospital in London as his condition deteriorated after infection with the novel coronavirus.

According to The New York Times, Johnson, 55, had tweeted from hospital on Monday that he was "in good spirits." Foreign Secretary Dominic Raab, who wa...

Pilates May Be Good Medicine for High Blood Pressure

Pilates exercises can do more than help strengthen your abs -- the moves may also lower high blood pressure and reduce artery stiffness, new research suggests.

Pilates is a workout program that focuses on core strength, flexibility, body posture and controlled breathing.

The new study included 28 obese women, aged 19 to 27, w...

Americans Got the Memo on Social Distancing, Poll Shows

Americans have gotten the message on the importance of social distancing in stemming the coronavirus pandemic, a new poll shows.

Conducted by the Associated Press-NORC Center for Public Affairs Research, the survey found that 94% of Americans say they are staying away from large groups, up from 68% six weeks ago. Eighty-...

Some Steroid Meds May Raise Coronavirus Risk

People taking a certain class of steroids for inflammatory conditions such as asthma, allergies and arthritis may be at increased risk from the new coronavirus, experts say.

Glucocorticoid medications suppress the immune system, so people taking them may not be able to fight off the coronavirus, according to an editorial published onli...

With Coronavirus a Threat, Stop Wearing Contact Lenses

Even if you're already wearing a face mask to cover your mouth and nose, taking steps to protect your eyes might also help guard against coronavirus infection, eye health experts say.

Here are some tips from the American Academy of Ophthalmology (AAO):

• Don't wear contact lenses -- switch to glasses. People who wear cont...

AHA News: Cancer Survivor Feared Recurrence, But This Time It Was His Heart

Doug Cobb popped a couple antacid pills to calm the heartburn he'd been experiencing on and off for weeks. The 60-year-old considered he might have a stomach problem, but waved it off, assuming the burning sensation came from something he'd eaten.

Cobb had another reason for not wanting to see a doctor. A two-time cancer survivor, he ...

White House Tells Americans Worst Week Is to Come, as Death Toll Nears 10,000

White House officials told Americans on Sunday to brace themselves for what could be the toughest week of the coronavirus pandemic so far, as the country's death toll neared 10,000.

During a media briefing on Sunday, President Donald Trump and his advisers predicted parts of the country were about to reach their respective peaks of CO...

For Addicts in Recovery, Technology Preserves Bonds Despite COVID-19 Crisis

Recovering alcoholic Catherine Collins normally attends five to seven face-to-face program meetings a week.

Collins still attends meetings, but now they're online -- and there's something important that's missing.

"In the real world, you're in a room full of people who have the exact same feelings. If I said 'I'm really strug...

Trials Begin for Potential COVID-19 Drug Remdesivir

A drug originally developed to treat Ebola is getting a second chance in the spotlight, as research teams in the United States, Asia and Europe race to test it against the new coronavirus.

The drug, called remdesivir, has already been given to a limited number of patients hospitalized with COVID-19, on a "compassionate use" basis. That...

School Closures Will Force Many U.S. Health Care Workers to Stay Home

At least 1 in 7 U.S. health care workers have to miss work to care for their children if the coronavirus pandemic keeps schools closed -- and their absence could result in more patient deaths, researchers say.

Teams from Yale University and Colorado State University used U.S. Census data to project the child care needs of health care w...

Pregnant Women Need to Guard Against Coronavirus

Pregnant women with COVID-19 may be susceptible to pregnancy complications, an obstetrician-gynecologist says.

Pregnant women have physiologic changes in their chests that may make them more susceptible to viral respiratory infections, according to Justin Brandt. He's assistant professor of obstetrics and gynecology in the division of ...

Mission Possible: Tips for Safe Grocery Shopping During the Pandemic

The coronavirus pandemic has turned grocery shopping into a mission filled with anxiety, but a food science expert's advice can make it a safe one.

The first thing to consider is whether you should go to the store at all, said Donald Schaffner. He's a professor in the department of food science in the School of Environmental and Biolog...

How One Patient's Battle With COVID-19 Changed U.S. Testing Protocols

The first community-acquired case of COVID-19 in the United States posed many questions for doctors, but the answers they found led to key changes in federal guidelines for coronavirus testing, according to a case study.

The patient was an otherwise healthy woman in her 40s who was admitted to University of California (UC) Davis Health...

College Students Feeling the Strain of Social Distancing

The lives of college students have been turned upside down due to the coronavirus pandemic, so an expert offers some advice to help them cope with the situation.

Along with having to switch from in-person classes to online sessions, students have lost many other parts of their daily routine, so it's important to maintain a "foundation ...

CDC Urges All Americans to Wear Face Masks as Death Count Rises

The White House announced new guidance on Friday that urges all Americans to wear face coverings in public to curb the spread of COVID-19.

As President Donald Trump told the American public about the U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention recommendation during a coronavirus task force briefing, he noted he will not be followi...