U.S. Coronavirus Death Toll Could Reach 240,000, Task Force Warns

WEDNESDAY, April 1, 2020 -- The White House coronavirus task force delivered a tough statistic to Americans late Tuesday, warning that the U.S. death toll from COVID-19 could climb to 240,000, even with social distancing policies in place.

During a media briefing Tuesday evening, President Donald Trump warned citizens to brace for a "hell of a bad two weeks," the Associated Press reported.

As Unemployment and COVID-19 Cases Rise, Who Will Pay for Care?

WEDNESDAY, April 1, 2020 -- The coronavirus pandemic is spreading across the United States at the same time that millions have been laid off from their jobs.

That raises the obvious question -- how will those newly unemployed folks pay for medical care if they become infected with the coronavirus?

Coronavirus Crisis Could Help Trigger Relapse Among Those Fighting Addiction

WEDNESDAY, April 1, 2020 -- The social distancing and isolation of the coronavirus pandemic may put people struggling with addiction at risk for relapse, an expert says.

Feeling stressed, isolated and scared may drive them back to substance abuse, said Dr. Lawrence Brown Jr., CEO of the nonprofit START Treatment & Recovery Centers, New York's largest independent drug treatment agency.

Certain Health Conditions Up Risks for Severe COVID-19

WEDNESDAY, April 1, 2020 -- New research suggests that having an underlying health condition might be one of the most significant risk factors for developing a severe case of COVID-19.

Scientists at the U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention took a look at a group of U.S. adult COVID-19 patients and found roughly three-quarters of those who wound up in the hospital had at least one underlying health issue.

Odds of Hospitalization, Death With COVID-19 Rise Steadily With Age: Study

MONDAY, March 30, 2020 -- Once infected with the new coronavirus, a 20-something has about a 1% chance of illness so severe it requires hospitalization, and that risk rises to more than 8% for people in their 50s and to nearly 19% for people over 80, a comprehensive new analysis finds.

On the other hand, the death rate from COVID-19 is significantly lower than that seen in prior estimates, the new report found. Among diagnosed cases, just under 1.4% of patients will die, according to a team led by Neil Ferguson, of the Imperial College London.

Another Coronavirus Health Threat: Too Few Asthma Inhalers

MONDAY, March 30, 2020 -- As hospitals give more and more COVID-19 patients albuterol to help them breathe, people with asthma may have a hard time getting an inhaler.

The American College of Allergy, Asthma and Immunology (ACAAI) said some areas of the United States are experiencing shortages of albuterol inhalers, and the shortage may spread.

U.S. Coronavirus Cases Top 163,000; Death Count Set to Surpass China's Total

TUESDAY, March 31, 2020 -- As U.S. coronavirus cases surged past 163,000 on Tuesday, Americans were told they may soon get a look at the statistical disease models that public officials have been using to urge more than 250 million people to stay at home.

The U.S. coronavirus death toll also edged past 3,000, close to surpassing China's death count of 3,305, the New York Times reported.

Major Study Casts Doubt on Routine Use of Stents, Bypass

TUESDAY, March 31, 2020 -- Folks with clogged arteries do as well with medication and lifestyle changes as they do after undergoing invasive procedures to reopen their blood vessels, a major new clinical trial reports.

Bypass surgery, balloon angioplasty and stenting are no better than drugs, eating right and exercising at reducing the risk of heart attack and death in people with stable ischemic heart disease, a condition where there's been no heart attack but the heart is under strain from clogged arteries, trial results show.

Blood Test Could Spot 50 Different Cancers

TUESDAY, March 31, 2020 -- A simple blood test for dozens of cancers is in the works.

Researchers say their test can detect more than 50 kinds of cancer at early stages and pinpoint their location in the body.

What You Should Know If Your Surgery Has Been Put on Hold

TUESDAY, March 31, 2020 -- Thousands of elective and semi-elective surgeries -- including heart and chest operations -- are on hold due to the coronavirus pandemic.

If your heart or chest surgery has been postponed, Dr. Robbin Cohen and Dr. Elizabeth David of the Society of Thoracic Surgeons offer some advice.