Mindblown: a blog about philosophy.
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Hypertension
What is hypertension? Blood pressure is the force exerted by circulating blood against the walls of the body’s arteries, the major blood vessels in the body. Hypertension is when blood pressure is too high. Blood pressure is written as two numbers. The first (systolic) number represents the pressure in blood vessels when the heart contracts…
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Study finds link between coronavirus mortality risk and obesity
The World Obesity Foundation released a new study Thursday that found a link between a country’s COVID-19 mortality and obesity prevalence in its population. The researchers found “high mortality rates only in countries where overweight prevalence exceeds around 50% of the adult population.” “Globally, at the end of 2020, COVID-19 mortality rates were more than ten times higher in countries…
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EU regulator authorizes AstraZeneca COVID-19 vaccine for all adults
Regulators authorized AstraZeneca’s coronavirus vaccine for use in adults throughout the European Union on Friday, amid criticism the bloc is not moving fast enough to vaccinate its population. The European Medicines Agency’s expert committee unanimously recommended the vaccine to be used in people 18 and over, although concerns had been raised this week that not enough data…
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EU regulator reviewing Russia’s COVID-19 vaccine
Europe’s regulatory agency on Thursday announced it started a rolling review of Russia’s Sputnik V coronavirus vaccine ahead of a submitted application. The review was spurred by data from laboratory and clinical studies, which found the vaccine induced an immune response against the virus, which could help protect against disease, per a statement from the European Medicines Agency (EMA). “EMA will…
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Pfizer COVID-19 vaccine 85% effective after single dose,
A vaccine developed by Pfizer-BioNTech cut symptomatic COVID-19 disease by 85% after the first dose, according to Israeli researchers. Findings were outlined in correspondence published in The Lancet on Friday, drawing on results from 7,214 health care workers at the Sheba Medical Center. Researchers found the 85% reduction in disease 15 to 28 days after the first dose, and reported a…
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Johnson & Johnson submits COVID-19 vaccine to WHO for emergency use listing
Johnson & Johnson announced on Friday that it had submitted its coronavirus vaccine to the World Health Organization for emergency use listing. The vaccine, which is administered in a one-dose jab, is also pending emergency use authorization from the FDA. “Our filing with the World Health Organization marks another important step in our effort to combat COVID-19 and…
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Zinc, Vitamin C have no impact on coronavirus symptoms
Zinc and Vitamin C fell short in a clinical trial after researchers found they made no significant difference in easing the duration of coronavirus symptoms. Findings from the Cleveland Clinic were published in JAMA Network on Friday, drawing on results from April 27 to Oct. 14, when 214 coronavirus patients in Ohio and Florida outpatient care sites were given either…
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FDA grants Moderna permission to increase doses in each vial from 10 to 14
The Food and Drug Administration (FDA) granted Moderna permission to increase the number of COVID-19 vaccine doses per vial from 10 to 14, the New York Times reports. Moderna did not confirm the approval Friday but told Fox News it is currently in discussions with the FDA about a “potential increase in fill volumes, thus enabling extraction of additional doses from…
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South Africa suspends AstraZeneca COVID-19 vaccines after study finds limited impact on variant
South Africa has temporarily suspended use of a coronavirus vaccine developed by AstraZeneca and Oxford University after preliminary findings showed the jab had little impact on curbing mild-to-moderate illness due to a variant strain. The announcement from South Africa’s Health Minister Dr. Zweli Mkhize on Sunday followed shortly after the country received 1 million doses of the AstraZeneca vaccine, which was…
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New variants raise worry about COVID-19 virus reinfections
Evidence is mounting that having COVID-19 may not protect against getting infected again with some of the new variants. People also can get second infections with earlier versions of the coronavirus if they mounted a weak defense the first time, new research suggests. How long immunity lasts from natural infection is one of the big…
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