Month: July 2020

Photo: Saul Loeb (Getty Images) New research is the latest to suggest that the condition of our mouth and teeth is intimately connected to our brain health. The study found an association between people having severe gum disease or missing teeth in their early 60’s and an increased risk of them developing cognitive problems and dementia up to two decades later, compared to people with no gum disease. The new study, published Wednesday in Neurology, looked at the medical history of over 8,000 middle-aged people who were taking part in another long-term research project meant to track their health over the rest of their lifetime. As part of the project, these volunteers underwent a full dental exam in their 60s (average age 63). At the time of this exam, none of them were considered t...

British scientists have determined that there are six different “types” of COVID-19 distinguished by specific clusters of symptoms — which could help in the treatment of the deadly contagion. The study, conducted by King’s College London, analyzed data from about 1,600 UK and US coronavirus patients who regularly logged their symptoms into a tracking app in March and April. The findings revealed that six distinct groupings of symptoms emerge by the fifth day of the virus’ progression, which the researchers say could help doctors better treat individual patients by allowing them to predict what level of hospital care they need. “Our study illustrates the importance of monitoring symptoms over time to make our predictions about individual risk and outcomes more sophisticated a...

COVID-19 symptoms that can linger for weeks and months after a diagnosis may be wide-ranging — and include everything from joint pain and fevers, to hair loss and double vision. In fact, those patients, self-nicknamed the long-haulers, reported experiencing 98 different symptoms in a survey released Wednesday. Full coverage of the coronavirus outbreak "They're not quite sick enough to be hospitalized, but they are suffering from very severe symptoms, sometimes for a very long time at home," Natalie Lambert, an associate professor of medicine at the Indiana University School of Medicine, said. Lambert partnered with a COVID-19 support group called Survivor Corps to survey patients on the group's Facebook page about their symptoms. She estimated more than 1,500 members of the group gave t...

Image copyright Getty Images The length of time people with coronavirus symptoms will have to self-isolate for is expected to be increased to 10 days in England. Currently, those who have a new continuous cough, high temperature or loss of taste or smell, have to seclude themselves for seven days. But Health Secretary Matt Hancock is expected to announce on Thursday that the period is being extended. It comes after the prime minister warned of a second wave of infection. It is unclear if the devolved nations will follow the UK government's lead, but the current guidance was adopted UK-wide. What's the evidence Europe is having a 'second wave'? UK signs deal for 60 million viru...

A San Diego County official has confirmed there is an outbreak of COVID-19 tied to a popular San Diego gym that was operating in violation of the county's public health order last week. At least three people affiliated with The Gym in Pacific Beach have tested positive for the novel coronavirus, a San Diego County spokesperson said. The county would not confirm exactly how many people connected with The Gym have tested positive, but confirmed that a community outbreak occurs when three or more people from different households are linked to the same setting or location test positive for COVID-19. County public health officials ordered The Gym to shut down immediately last Thursday for violating the public health order, which halted indoor operations of gyms, restaur...