Virus Less Likely To Harm Asthma Sufferers; Sedentary? Rethink That

The Hill: People With Asthma Less Likely To Contract COVID-19: Study 
People with asthma may be at reduced risk of contracting the coronavirus, according to research published last week in the Journal of Allergy and Clinical Immunology. Israeli researchers tested 37,469 subjects, 6 percent of whom were positive for the virus. Of the subjects positive for the virus, 6.75 percent had asthma, compared to 9.62 percent of those who were negative for COVID-19, according to the study results. (Budryk, 12/1)

CNN: A Sedentary Covid-19 Lockdown Can Impact Health In Just 2 Weeks 
As the world digs in for the second wave of Covid-19, flu season and winter, people also face a serious risk from reduced physical activity — especially older adults. Developing a plan to be physically active now will help you to stay strong and healthy through the long winter ahead. (McKendry, 12/2)

In mental health news —

AP: Tennessee Expands COVID-19 Mental Health Hotline To Teachers
Tennessee officials have expanded a mental health hotline during COVID-19 times to extend support to teachers. The state Department of Education says the hotline provides free and confidential support from trained volunteer mental health professionals to people experiencing increased anxiety and stress due to the pandemic. (12/2)

The Washington Post: How To Talk To Loved Ones About Their Mental Health 
The year 2020 has exacted a psychological toll on Americans. Levels of anxiety and depression have skyrocketed alongside increases in drug overdoses and alcohol consumption. Meanwhile, a recent report from the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention contained an alarming statistic: When young adults were asked if they had seriously considered suicide in the past 30 days, about 25 percent said they had. “The collective way a lot of people in the United States might be feeling right now is probably indicative of mental fatigue,” said Stephen O’Connor, a clinical psychologist and chief of the Suicide Prevention Research Program at the National Institute of Mental Health. (Chiu, 12/1)

NPR: Psychologist Says Tailored Messaging Is Key For Effective Public Health Policy
For public health leaders, understanding different communication styles and preferences — and how people respond to them — is key to reducing the spread of the coronavirus. Humans often don't behave logically. Their decisions don't always follow the evidence. Those are among the ideas that Gaurav Suri considers in his work studying decision-making and motivation. He's an experimental psychologist and a computational neuroscientist at San Francisco State University. (Cornish, 12/1)

Also —

USA Today: Starbucks Gives Healthcare Workers Free Coffee As COVID-19 Cases Rise
Starbucks is bringing back its free coffee giveaway for first responders and health care workers as the number of coronavirus cases continues to rise. The Seattle-based coffee giant announced Tuesday that through Dec. 31 "any customer who identifies as a front-line responder to the COVID-19 outbreak" will receive a free tall brewed coffee, hot or iced. (Tyko, 12/1)

USA Today: 'Changed Our Lives': Tennessee Baby Born From 27-Year-Old Frozen Embryo Breaks Record
Tina and Ben Gibson spent years praying for a baby — but infertility stood in the way. Now, the couple has two babies thanks to ground-breaking medical science. The Gibsons' most recent child was born on Oct. 26, thanks to an embryo adoption that's put little Molly Everette Gibson into the world record books. Molly breaks the record of her older sister, Emma Wren Gibson, who was born in 2017 after a similar process of transferring a thawed then 24-year-old donated embryo for Tina to carry. (Grantham-Philips, 12/1)

CNN: Choose Anti-Inflammatory Foods To Lower Heart Disease And Stroke Risk, Study Says 
A variety of food containing large amounts of antioxidants and vitamins -- such as leafy greens, carrots, tomatoes, whole grains, fruits, nuts, fatty fish and olive oil -- can support a healthy inflammatory response and reduce cardiovascular risk. Eating red meat and highly processed foods, however, contributes to chronic inflammation in the body, increasing the risk of heart disease and stroke, according to a study recently published in the Journal of the American College of Cardiology. (LaMotte, 12/2)

The New York Times: Elliot Page, Oscar-Nominated ‘Juno’ Star, Announces He Is Transgender
Elliot Page, the Oscar-nominated star of “Juno,” announced on Tuesday that he is transgender. “Hi friends, I want to share with you that I am trans, my pronouns are he/they and my name is Elliot,” Page, who as Ellen Page starred in several critically acclaimed films, wrote in a statement that he posted on Twitter and Instagram. “I feel lucky to be writing this. To be here. To have arrived at this place in my life.” (Salam, 12/1)