As the pandemic unfolded, nations adopted diverse methods to contain COVID-19. Some sought to eliminate the virus, targeting zero community transmission. Others tried to slow transmission through a mix of intermittent lockdowns, workplace, business and school closings, social distancing, the wearing of face masks, and the cancellation of public gatherings and public transport. Efforts to… read on > read on >
Far fewer U.S. women lost health insurance coverage after giving birth during the COVID-19 pandemic than in previous years, likely due to a federal law that prevented Medicaid from dropping people, researchers say. But they noted that the Families First Coronavirus Response Act, which was signed into law in March 2020, is set to expire… read on > read on >
U.S. cancer survivors under age 65 with medical-related financial struggles have an increased risk of early death, a new study finds. “Our findings show the need to address financial hardship to ensure that cancer survivors do not delay or forgo necessary care because they cannot afford it,” said lead author Dr. Robin Yabroff. She is… read on > read on >
Thanks to the Omicron surge this past winter, 3 in every 5 Americans have now been infected with COVID-19, a new government report shows. Once Omicron surfaced as the predominant variant in this country, the highest infection rates were seen among children and teens, and the upward shift was steep: Only 1 in 3 Americans… read on > read on >
It remains one of the most painful images of the pandemic: Families who were not allowed to be by their loved ones’ bedside as they waged a lonely battle against COVID in a hospital ICU, with some forced to say goodbye via a smartphone or tablet held by a compassionate nurse who didn’t want a… read on > read on >
It seemed a simple prospect — take a low-dose baby aspirin tablet once a day and reduce your risk of ever suffering a heart attack or stroke. But new science has shown it’s not that simple. Noting the drug’s risk of dangerous bleeding, the nation’s leading panel of preventive health experts has reversed course and… read on > read on >
TUESDAY, April 26, 2022 (American Heart Association News) — Olivia Lopez came home from school one day, walked into her mom’s office and announced: “I can’t smell.” It was November 2020, so then-13-year-old Olivia and her mom knew what this likely meant. A test confirmed she had COVID-19. In addition to a loss of smell… read on > read on >
Imagine a birth control pill a woman can take before having sex that prevents pregnancy for the next three to five days. This may become a reality, according to a small, new study. The traditional birth control pill is taken daily, while emergency contraceptive pills are taken after sex to prevent pregnancy from occurring, but… read on > read on >
Plans to nearly double the number of pharmacies and other locations that carry the antiviral pill Paxlovid for COVID-19 were announced Tuesday by the Biden administration. Demand for the drug has risen in recent weeks along with coronavirus cases, but many Americans have said they can’t find a doctor to prescribe the drug, or a… read on > read on >
If you think teen gun violence is not a pressing issue, a new study suggests otherwise. Researchers found the percentage of U.S. teenagers carrying handguns has risen by 41% over the past two decades — with notable increases seen among white teens from higher-income families. The researchers tracked handgun carriage among 12- to 17-year-olds between… read on > read on >
