Prescriptions for U.S. children fell by about one-quarter during the COVID-19 pandemic, with prescriptions for antibiotics alone plunging by more than 50%, a new study finds. The findings are a “national picture of prescription drug dispensing to children before and during the pandemic. It will be important to monitor whether the reductions we demonstrate are… read on > read on >
All U.S. students, teachers and staff should wear masks when in school, regardless of their vaccination status, the American Academy of Pediatrics (AAP) said Monday. That guidance runs counter to recommendations released by the U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention earlier this month: Those guidelines said teachers and students who are vaccinated can enter… read on > read on >
For decades, doctors have warned folks suffering from heart rhythm problems to avoid coffee, out of concern that a caffeine jolt might prompt a herky-jerky heartbeat. But a large new study has found that most people can enjoy their morning joe or afternoon diet cola free from worry — caffeine doesn’t seem to increase most… read on > read on >
COVID-19 vaccination rates in Canada have now beaten those in the United States. As of Saturday, more than 49% of eligible people in Canada were fully vaccinated, and 70% had received at least one dose of vaccine, according to figures from the Our World in Data project, The New York Times reported. The rates in… read on > read on >
A Chinese researcher has died after catching a rare infectious disease called the Monkey B virus, Chinese Center for Disease Control and Prevention officials say. In March, the 53-year-old veterinarian dissected two dead monkeys as part of his work in a Beijing research institute specializing in nonhuman primate breeding. He developed nausea, vomiting and fever… read on > read on >
When you’re hospitalized, you’ll want qualified medical professionals treating you, but does it matter if your doctor is a man or a woman? It might. A new study in Canada found that patients cared for by female physicians had lower in-hospital death rates than those who had male doctors. “Our study overall shows that female… read on > read on >
MONDAY, July 19, 2021 (American Heart Association News) — A pregnant woman’s diet and other lifestyle factors may change how her baby’s genes work in a way that can affect the child’s cardiovascular health by age 8 or 9, new research has found. Nearly half of U.S. adults have some form of cardiovascular disease, including… read on > read on >
U.S. Surgeon General Dr. Vivek Murthy said Sunday that he supports reinstating local mask mandates when they are needed to curb the spread of COVID-19 among unvaccinated people. “It’s very reasonable for counties to take more mitigation measures like the mask rules you see coming out in L.A., and I anticipate that will happen in… read on > read on >
A federal appeals court has ruled that Florida-based cruise ships will be able to keep COVID-19 pandemic restrictions in place for now. On Saturday, the 11th U.S. Circuit Court of Appeals temporarily blocked a June ruling in favor of a Florida lawsuit that had challenged the regulations, the Associated Press reported. The latest ruling means… read on > read on >
The coronavirus pandemic has left plenty of Americans saddled with medical bills they can’t pay, a new survey reveals. More than 50% of those who were infected with COVID-19 or who lost income due to the pandemic are now struggling with medical debt, according to researchers from The Commonwealth Fund, a nonprofit organization that advocates… read on > read on >
