Americans will not be able to order free at-home COVID tests after Friday, U.S. health officials announced Tuesday. Households across the country have been able to order four free rapid antigen tests through COVID.gov. since November. All orders placed on or before Friday will be fulfilled, according to the Administration for Strategic Preparedness and Response (ASPR), a… read on > read on >
The U.S. Food and Drug Administration on Tuesday approved the country’s first continuous glucose monitor for type 2 diabetes. The new Dexcom Stelo Glucose Biosensor System, which will be available by summer, is intended for people 18 and older who have type 2 diabetes but do not take insulin, according to the agency. Also known… read on > read on >
When it comes to giving at-risk Americans access to the mental health services they need, prevention is far better than detention, new research confirms. However, a majority of the 950 U.S. counties surveyed in the report do not offer access to the types of mental health and substance use disorder services that can save communities… read on > read on >
Folks who’ve suffered a concussion and then develop headaches show iron accumulation in their brains, new research discovers. Excess brain iron stores are a hallmark of damage, noted a team led by Simona Nikolova, of the Mayo Clinic in Phoenix. The team is slated to present the results in April at the annual meeting of… read on > read on >
A vaginal ring that emits the antiviral dapivirine has passed safety trials and could shield vulnerable women against HIV infection during pregnancy, a new trial shows. “We now have data on the ring’s safety during all stages of pregnancy,” said study leader Dr. Felix Mhlanga, a senior lecturer at the University of Zimbabwe Clinical Trials… read on > read on >
There’s more evidence bolstering the health effects of both breastfeeding and the COVID booster shot: Vaccinated, breastfeeding moms appear to pass COVID-fighting antibodies to their infants. That’s important, since babies under the age of 6 months aren’t eligible for the COVID vaccine. “We think that breast milk may play an important role in protecting the… read on > read on >
Air pollution harms the health of everyone exposed to it, but a new study says communities of color are disproportionately harmed by dirty air. Smog causes nearly 8 times higher childhood asthma rates and 1.3 times higher risk of premature death among minority communities compared to white communities, researchers found. These elevated risks are a… read on > read on >
Menopause is thought to trigger mood changes among women, with changes in female hormone levels contributing to anxiety, depression and stress. However, a new study says some women are at more risk than others for menopause-linked mental health issues, and many escape them altogether. There’s no evidence that menopause causes a universal rise in risk… read on > read on >
Are you typically getting only a few hours sleep each night? Besides leaving you groggy all day, your insomnia could also be raising your odds for type 2 diabetes, new research shows. Compared to people who slept the recommended seven/eight hours per night, folks who habitually slept five hours per night had a 16% higher… read on > read on >
Statins have become the miracle medicine of modern heart care, lowering cholesterol levels and and guarding against heart attacks in millions of Americans. In fact, a running joke among doctors holds that statins are so helpful they should be put in the water supply. However, they aren’t right for all patients, and some rare side… read on > read on >
