FRIDAY, March 11, 2022 — Sick people seeking lifesaving care in the United States could fall victim to a hidden part of Russia’s war on Ukraine — vicious cyberattacks aimed at sowing disruption, confusion and chaos as ground forces advance. Cybersecurity experts warn that attacks launched against Ukrainian institutions have the potential to spill over… read on > read on >
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Flu Vaccine No Match for Circulating Variants This Season
This season’s flu shot offered virtually no protection against infection, a new government report shows. While this latest vaccine only cut the risk of getting a mild case of flu by 16%, the agency has noted that flu vaccines typically reduce the risk of illness by 40% to 60%. Still, the shot should offer some… read on > read on >
Drug Could Be Non-Antibiotic Alternative to Treat UTIs
Women plagued by frequent urinary tract infections often take daily antibiotics to ward them off. But an old antibiotic alternative might work just as well, a new clinical trial finds. Researchers found that the medication, called methenamine, was comparable to standard, low-dose antibiotics in preventing women’s recurrent urinary tract infections (UTIs). Either treatment curbed the… read on > read on >
High Anxiety: Poll Finds Americans Stressed by Inflation, War
Inflation, Russia’s invasion of Ukraine and continuing concerns about money and COVID-19 have Americans more stressed than ever, a new poll conducted last week reveals. The biggest concerns: rising costs of food, energy and other everyday items due to inflation (87%); supply chain issues (81%); global uncertainty (81%); Russia’s invasion of Ukraine (80%), and potential… read on > read on >
Sleep Experts Call for End to Twice-a-Year Time Changes
Spring and fall time changes for daylight saving time should be scrapped because they pose health and safety risks, the American Academy of Sleep Medicine (AASM) says. Moving clocks ahead and losing an hour of sleep presents hazards that include: an increase in car crashes and fatal crashes; a rise in missed medical appointments; a… read on > read on >
More Evidence That Exercise Protects the Aging Brain
Just a bit of exercise can help keep your brain in shape as you age, according to the latest study that shows how physical activity can benefit older minds. “This finding isn’t saying, ‘If you’re older, you need to go out there and start running marathons,’” said lead author Marissa Gogniat, a recent doctoral graduate… read on > read on >
Vietnamese Pangolins Carry COVID-Like Coronavirus
In a finding that suggests the new coronavirus did indeed jump species to cause the pandemic, a new study reports that pangolins seized from the illegal wildlife trade in Vietnam were carrying SARS-CoV-2-related coronaviruses. Previously, only pangolins confiscated in China had tested positive for such coronaviruses. The researchers tested 246 pangolins seized from the illegal… read on > read on >
As Clocks Spring Forward, Keep Sleep on Track
You may only worry about losing an hour of sleep when the clocks spring forward this Sunday, but the time change can also be dangerous for your health, an expert says. Research shows that the risk of stroke, heart attack and traffic accidents all increase in the days following the switch to daylight saving time,… read on > read on >
U.S. Airplane, Train and Transit Mask Mandates Extended to April 18
Mask mandates for airplanes, trains and transit hubs that were set to expire next week will be extended to April 18, the Biden administration is expected to announce Thursday. Between now and mid-April, the U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention will work with other federal agencies “to help inform a revised policy framework for… read on > read on >
Health Care Under Siege: Voices From the War in Ukraine
As the war in Ukraine enters its third week, the scale of the devastation is placing the health of all Ukrainians — and the country’s health care system itself — in peril. “It’s mind-boggling,” said James Elder, a spokesperson for UNICEF, who arrived in the western city of Lviv just two days after the Russian… read on > read on >