As coronavirus vaccination rates start to slow in the United States, President Joe Biden on Tuesday set a new goal to deliver at least one shot to 70% of adult Americans by July 4 while he tries to convince the hesitant to get inoculated. Some states are leaving more than half of their available doses… read on > read on >
The baby “boom” that some expected during last year’s pandemic lockdowns has turned into a baby “bust.” The U.S. birth rate continued to drop in 2020, marking the sixth consecutive year with fewer babies born in America and raising concerns about the economic effects of declining population levels. There were about 3.6 million babies born… read on > read on >
Older women with low levels of vitamin D may have more pain after total knee replacement than those with adequate levels of the nutrient, a new study suggests. Vitamin D is an important part of a healthy diet, and its benefits include protecting against bone disease and maintaining soft tissue health. Estrogen deficiency, inactivity and… read on > read on >
Nearly 10 million cancer screenings have been missed in the United States during the coronavirus pandemic, researchers report. The investigators analyzed data on three types of cancer for which early screenings are most beneficial — breast, colon and prostate — and found that 9.4 million screenings for these cancers did not occur in the United… read on > read on >
Exposure to secondhand smoke may up your odds for heart failure, a new study warns. Researchers analyzed nationwide survey data from more than 11,000 nonsmokers (average age: 48) who were followed from 1988 to 1994. Nearly 1 in 5 had lab test evidence of exposure to secondhand smoke. Nonsmokers with recent exposure were 35% more… read on > read on >
Prediabetes — where blood sugar levels are high, but not high enough for a diagnosis of type 2 diabetes — is not something you should dismiss. It significantly increases the risk of heart attack, stroke and other serious heart problems, new research shows. The findings highlight the need for health care providers and patients to… read on > read on >
While it’s well established that autism and certain eating issues go hand in hand, does gender also play a role? Apparently it does, according to Swedish researchers who set out to better understand whether being male or female influenced eating issues in people who have autism. The study found that autistic traits predicted eating problems,… read on > read on >
Increasing numbers of wildfires are making poor air quality more common throughout the Western United States, according to a new study. The findings suggest that many cities may soon have trouble meeting air quality standards, said lead author Kai Wilmot, a doctoral student in atmospheric sciences at the University of Utah in Salt Lake City.… read on > read on >
As the COVID-19 pandemic unfolded, breast cancer experts realized space in operating rooms and hospitals could become scarce. That meant rethinking standard care, to provide the best way to treat patients under these suddenly restricted conditions. One of the new ideas: Reverse the order of care given to patients with a type of breast cancer… read on > read on >
The U.S. Food and Drug Administration plans to expand emergency use of Pfizer’s coronavirus vaccine by next week so that children as young as 12 can be immunized. After Pfizer’s trial in adolescents showed its vaccine worked as well in teens as it does in adults, the FDA started preparing to add an amendment covering… read on > read on >
