Public health experts have long recommended getting a seasonal flu shot, but a new study suggests there’s hesitancy about that vaccine, too. Physicians and pharmacists can play a key role in flu shot uptake, the research shows. Only about 44% of people who had a health care provider got their flu shots, the study found,… read on > read on >
A little about: Weekly Sauce
All Sauce from Weekly Sauce:
Smog Could Reduce Exercise’s Benefit to Your Brain
Dirty air could cancel out some of the brain benefits of exercise, a new study suggests. “Physical activity is associated with improved markers of brain health in areas with lower air pollution,” said study author Melissa Furlong. “However, some beneficial effects essentially disappeared for vigorous physical activity in areas with the highest levels of air… read on > read on >
COVID Booster Cuts Death Rate by 90%, Israeli Study Finds
Booster doses of Pfizer’s coronavirus vaccine set recipients up to effectively withstand the ravages of both the Delta and Omicron variants, a group of new studies suggest. Boosted folks are 90% less likely to die from a Delta infection than people relying solely on the initial two-dose vaccination, Israeli data show. That protection will be… read on > read on >
Could Cochlear Implants Cause Harm to Hearing Over Time?
People who get cochlear implants to treat severe hearing loss may develop new bone growth in the ear — and it may lessen any hearing they have left, a new study hints. The researchers found that among 100-plus adults with cochlear implants, two-thirds showed evidence of new bone formation near the implant within four years.… read on > read on >
AHA News: Life Experiences, Outlook Influence How People Are Harmed – Or Helped – By Pandemic Stress
WEDNESDAY, Dec. 8, 2021 (American Heart Association News) — When the COVID-19 pandemic shut down New York City in March 2020, Jose Montanez, like millions of others in the service industry, lost his source of income. A hair stylist who also ran karaoke drag shows, he made his money closely interacting with people. Even his… read on > read on >
Omicron Latest Mental Blow to Americans Exhausted by Pandemic
First, the COVID-19 pandemic brought panic, with successive waves of infection and death, including the emergence this year of the Delta variant. Then vaccines offered the promise of a recovery, with a speed — and on a scale — never before seen. But now, the Omicron variant is sending Americans on another emotional roller-coaster ride… read on > read on >
Pfizer Says Vaccine Booster Should Protect Against Omicron Variant
Pfizer/BioNTech said Wednesday that while two doses of their coronavirus vaccine may not offer good protection against the Omicron variant, adding a booster shot does the trick. According to a statement from the companies, blood tests from people who had only two doses of the vaccine showed a 25-fold reduction in antibody levels generated against… read on > read on >
What’s the Best Blood Thinner for a Blood Clot in Your Legs?
For people suffering from clots in their legs, a new study finds that one of two commonly used blood thinners is safer and more effective than the other. Venous thromboembolism (VTE) can cause clots to form in the deep veins in the legs, and if one breaks loose it can travel to the lungs and… read on > read on >
Another Benefit to Asthma Control for Kids: Less Bullying
Kids can be cruel, and bullies often zero in on kids they view as weak or different, including those with asthma. One in 10 children with asthma say they have been bullied or teased as a result of their condition, but tight asthma control seems to keep bullying at bay, a new study suggests. “Children… read on > read on >
MRI Might Spot Concussion-Linked CTE in Living Patients
Right now, the devastating concussion-linked brain condition known as chronic traumatic encephalopathy (CTE) can only be diagnosed after death via autopsy. But new research could help change that, allowing doctors to someday spot the illness earlier. According to the new study, MRI may be able to detect CTE while people are still alive. “While this… read on > read on >