Children have largely been spared severe COVID-19 infection, and new research hints at why. In the study, children’s immune systems attacked the new coronavirus faster and more aggressively than adults’ immune systems did, the findings showed. The researchers analyzed blood samples from 48 children and 70 adults who lived in 28 households in Melbourne, Australia,… read on > read on >
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Should You Take a Painkiller Before Your COVID Vaccine?
You finally managed to score an appointment to be vaccinated against the new coronavirus and you’re a little nervous about side effects, so taking a painkiller right before you get your shot seems like a smart idea. Not so fast, says the U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. Instead, the agency is telling people… read on > read on >
Mental Illness in Childhood Could Mean Worse Physical Health Decades Later
As if suffering from a mental illness as a child isn’t tough enough, new research suggests it could predict higher odds for physical ills in later life. There was one silver lining to the findings, however. Knowing that childhood mental illness is a factor, “you can identify the people at risk for physical illnesses much… read on > read on >
AHA News: Why Less Noise During the Pandemic Might Help Our Ears But Not Our Hearts or Brains
THURSDAY, Feb. 18, 2021 (American Heart Association News) — Jack hammers. Buzz saws. Screaming toddlers. Barking dogs. Horns blaring from incessant traffic jams. Any of these can set nerves on edge, especially if you are subjected to the noise for hours, days or weeks on end. It’s more than aggravating. Studies show noise-generated stress is… read on > read on >
Pfizer, Moderna Vaccines Less Effective Against South African COVID Variant
Two of the world’s leading coronavirus vaccines don’t work as well against a more contagious South African variant, though both did manage to neutralize the virus, two new studies show. But experts pointed out that what level of neutralization is needed to actually protect against the variant is still unclear and these latest studies on… read on > read on >
COVID-19 Caused U.S. Life Expectancy to Drop by 1 Full Year
In a sign that the coronavirus pandemic is cutting short the lives of Americans, a new government report finds that average life expectancy in the United States took a drastic plunge during the first half of 2020, particularly among Black and Hispanic people. Overall U.S. life expectancy dropped to 77.8 years, down one full year… read on > read on >
Drivers May Be Inhaling Dangerous Carcinogens Inside Their Cars
Worried about what damage the polluted air outside might pose to your health during your work commute? New research suggests you might want to worry more about the chemicals you are exposed to inside your car. Benzene and formaldehyde are used in automobile manufacturing, and both are known to cause cancer at or above certain… read on > read on >
Fertility Treatments Might Affect Kids’ Growth, But Not for Long
The growth patterns of kids born through fertility treatment differ initially from those conceived naturally, but those growth rates do catch up over time, a new study finds. In-vitro fertilization and other forms of “assisted reproductive technology” (ART) has long been associated with lower birth weights in babies, but it wasn’t clear how long differences… read on > read on >
Tougher State Gun Laws, Less Gun Violence Among Teens: Study
States with more gun laws have less youth gun violence, new research reveals. For the study, the researchers examined data from several states from 2005 to 2017, and found that kids were less likely to be armed in states with more gun laws, and more likely to carry a weapon in states with fewer gun… read on > read on >
Mom’s Heart Health While Pregnant Could Influence Her Child’s Health for Years
In a finding that suggests heart health starts in the womb, a new study shows that the state of a woman’s heart during pregnancy may predict her kids’ health by the time they reach adolescence. Researchers found that when mothers’ weight, blood pressure and cholesterol levels were less healthy during pregnancy, their children were at… read on > read on >