Health

Though the mouth and nose get the most attention, the SARS-CoV-2 virus can also be transmitted to someone through the eyes, making it important to wash one's hands before touching one's eyes. However, touch isn't the only route of delivery, with droplets also having the potential to travel through the air to uninfected people. A new study that focused on COVID-19 patients in China found a link between wearing eyeglasses every day and much lower levels of infection compared to patients who didn't wear glasses.

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A type of massive venomous tarantula found in Venezuela may be an unlikely source of pain relief for the millions of people who suffer from Irritable Bowel Syndrome (IBS), according to a new study out of Australia. Called the Venezuelan Pinkfoot Goliath, this tarantula can have a leg span measuring up to nearly a foot in diameter, putting it among the largest tarantulas in the world.

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Bottles of hand sanitizer were voluntarily recalled this month because of a major label mistake. At some point in the design / pre-press process, the latest batch of Leafree Instant Hand Sanitizer Aloe Vera was labeled as "EDIBLE ALCOHOL." This substance should not have been labeled as edible, as it is not safe to ingest.

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On Thursday, September 17, the Food and Drug Administration brought attention to another voluntary recall of thyroid medication -- and as with the previous recall, the drugs may be too weak to properly treat those who take them. This follows a similar recall of thyroid medications issued in recent weeks, though that one was issued for the opposite reason: the drugs were too potent, putting patients at risk of becoming hyperthyroid and developing the risks associated with that.

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Researchers with Hiroshima University in Japan have demonstrated that a UV light wavelength safe for use around humans is also capable of killing the virus that causes COVID-19. The newly published study is the first to show that Ultraviolet C light with a 222nm wavelength (Far-UVC) is effective against SARS-CoV-2 specifically, not just similarly-structured coronaviruses that pop up seasonally and cause less extreme illnesses.

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Early on in the pandemic, there was some controversy over the use of homemade and reusable face masks, with the public expressing concerns over whether these common materials could suitably slow the spread of airborne droplets. A number of studies have validated the use of these masks, though they've focused on smaller droplets, not the larger ones expelled forcibly when sneezing.

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The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention is warning Americans that they should be tested for COVID-19 if they are exposed to someone who is infected regardless of whether they're showing symptoms. This is a reversal of the previous recommendation that testing is unnecessary for someone who doesn't show symptoms of the disease even if they've had close contact with an infected person.

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A type of fruit that is commonly consumed and used to make gluten-free flour in tropical parts of the world is, in fact, a superfood, according to a new study from the University of British Columbia. Called Breadfruit, this crop originates from the Pacific islands and is a staple food in South Pacific countries, according to the researchers, who note that the fruit is suitable for high levels of eco-friendly and sustainable production.

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If you suffer from Post-Traumatic Stress Disorder (PTSD), you face more than double the risk of developing dementia later in life -- at least according to a new study from University College London. This study represents the first time a meta-analysis has been conducted on worldwide data related to PTSD and the related dementia risk, shedding light on yet another potential long-term health consequence associated with mental illness.

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Many people view COVID-19, the respiratory disease caused by the SARS-CoV-2 virus, in a very binary way: either they're sick or not, either they recover or they don't. These ideas don't paint a complete picture, however, and health experts are once again pointing out the complexity of this disease. A new study found that more than half of tested COVID-19 patients continued to suffer from neurological issues months after 'recovering.'

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When it comes to hypothyroidism, a condition in which the thyroid produces too little thyroid hormones, the standard treatment is to take a synthetic form of the T4 thyroid hormone. Called levothyroxine and sold under brand names like Synthroid, this drug replaced older, riskier treatments that involved consuming minuscule quantities of desiccated thyroid sourced from pigs. For many with hypothyroidism, this decision to use synthetic drugs over desiccated thyroid remains a big controversy.

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There's a new subscription service from Apple called Apple Fitness+ that's centered on the Apple Watch. This service utilizes the sensors and the display powers of the Apple Watch, iPhone, iPad, and Apple TV to deliver an all-encompassing health and fitness service. It'll be available soon in the USA, UK, New Zealand, Ireland, Canada, and Australia.

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