Very few privately insured young children get recommended dental fluoride treatments at health wellness visits, even though insurance typically covers them, a new study finds. “Medical providers are not required to do this; it’s like a mammogram,” said lead author Kimberley Geissler, an associate professor of health policy and management at the University of Massachusetts… read on > read on >
All Food:
Here’s How COVID-19 Can Affect Your Mouth
A lost or altered sense of taste, dry mouth and sores are common among COVID-19 patients and those symptoms may last long after others disappear, Brazilian researchers report. Nearly 4 in 10 COVID patients experience impaired taste or total loss of taste, but dry mouth affects even more — up to 43%, according to their… read on > read on >
Which Cancer Patients Need a COVID Booster Shot Most?
An alliance of leading U.S. cancer centers has updated guidance about COVID-19 vaccine boosters for cancer patients and the people around them. The National Comprehensive Cancer Network’s new recommendations are intended for health care providers. “COVID-19 can be very dangerous, especially for people living with cancer, which is why we’re so grateful for safe and… read on > read on >
Breastfeeding May Strengthen a Baby’s Heart
Breast milk can give preemies’ hearts a big boost, a groundbreaking study suggests. “This study … adds to the already known benefits of breast milk for infants born prematurely,” said study leader Dr. Afif El-Khuffash, a clinical professor of pediatrics at the Royal College of Surgeons in Ireland (RCSI) University of Medicine and Health Sciences… read on > read on >
Kids’ Accidental Poisonings Are on the Rise: Protect Your Child
MONDAY, Sept. 6, 2021 (HealthDay News) – As the COVID-19 pandemic grinds on and stress on families mounts, more kids are falling victim to accidental poisoning. Experts attribute the surge to disrupted sleep patterns, work schedules and parenting routines. “I think what’s happening is, parents are challenged with a couple of things,” said Helen Arbogast,… read on > read on >
Weight Loss Can Help Cut Lung Risks in 9/11 First Responders
Twenty years on from the terrible event itself, weight loss may reduce the risk of lung disease among 9/11 first responders, a new study suggests. “Our findings should reassure World Trade Center first responders that there are steps they can take to protect their lungs even decades after exposure,” said co-lead author Dr. Sophia Kwon.… read on > read on >
Hen Hazard: Salmonella a Threat From Backyard Chickens
It’s still not OK to kiss your chickens or your ducklings — you could catch a salmonella infection from barnyard birds. The U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention has offered that warning before, and now an agriculture expert reminds backyard farmers that it’s better to have a less hands-on approach with their feathered friends.… read on > read on >
Top Federal Health Officials Ask White House to Scale Back on COVID Boosters
Top U.S. health officials have reportedly warned the White House to curtail its plans to offer COVID-19 booster shots to Americans later this month. Leaders of the U.S. Food and Drug Administration and the U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention both told White House pandemic coordinator Jeffrey Zients in a meeting Tuesday that their… read on > read on >
Stop Use of Ivermectin for COVID-19: AMA, Pharmacist Groups
The prescribing, dispensing and use of ivermectin to prevent or treat COVID-19 outside of clinical trials must end immediately, the American Medical Association, American Pharmacists Association and American Society of Health-System Pharmacists say. The drug has U.S. Food and Drug Administration approval to treat people with infections caused by internal and external parasites, but is… read on > read on >
Rheumatoid Arthritis Drug Might Help Save Hospitalized COVID Patients
As doctors around the world come up against severe cases of COVID-19, some positive news has emerged: New research shows the rheumatoid arthritis drug baricitinib may help reduce hospitalized COVID patients’ risk of death. Current standard-of-care medications aren’t enough, said study co-author Dr. E. Wesley Ely, a professor of medicine at Vanderbilt University Medical Center… read on > read on >