Emerging studies are offering new insight into treatments for several common health challenges.
Researchers presenting at the European Respiratory Society Congress report that exercise may play a meaningful role in easing post-COVID syndrome. Patients experiencing lingering symptoms such as fatigue, cough, shortness of breath, brain fog, and loss of smell or taste showed improved blood flow and enhanced immune cell function after participating in structured physical activity.
Another study, published in eBioMedicine, suggests that nitrous oxide—commonly known as laughing gas—may help individuals with clinical or treatment-resistant depression. Participants who had not responded well to traditional antidepressants experienced significant reductions in depressive symptoms within 24 hours of a nitrous oxide treatment.
Meanwhile, new findings in the Journal of Clinical Sleep Medicine shed light on the combined impact of sleep apnea and insomnia. Researchers found that older women who experience both conditions are more likely to face memory difficulties, an effect not observed in men. The study’s authors say the discovery could help inform more targeted treatment strategies.