Many people pop a zinc supplement at the first sign of a cold, and there’s new evidence supporting the habit. Australian researchers found that the supplements appear to help shorten respiratory tract infections, such as colds, flu, sinusitis and pneumonia. Many over-the-counter cold and cough remedies offer only “marginal benefits,” the researchers noted, making “zinc…  read on >  read on >

Nearly one-third of older U.S. adults visit at least five different doctors each year — reflecting the growing role of specialists in Americans’ health care, a new study finds. Over the past 20 years, Americans on Medicare have been increasingly seeing specialists, researchers found, with almost no change in visits with their primary care doctor.…  read on >  read on >

Dole Fresh Vegetables Inc. said Monday it has recalled bags of garden salad sold in 10 states after a bag tested positive for listeria contamination. No illnesses have been reported in connection with the recalled salad sold in Alabama, Florida, Georgia, Louisiana, Maryland, Massachusetts, North Carolina, Pennsylvania, South Carolina and Virginia, the company said in…  read on >  read on >

Contaminated water is the leading cause of large-scale outbreaks of infectious diseases that can be transmitted from animals to people, researchers say. These health threats are called zoonotic infectious diseases, and recent outbreaks include COVID-19 and Ebola. “In the age of COVID-19, it is understandable that many people may not realize how many outbreaks of…  read on >  read on >

Most people who’ve had a root canal say they don’t regret it, even though many still have pain and discomfort in the affected tooth, a new Swedish study finds. Root canals are commonly done when the soft tissue (pulp) inside the tooth is inflamed or infected. The soft parts are removed and replaced with a…  read on >  read on >

The U.S. Food and Drug Administration on Friday approved the emergency use of a smaller dose of Pfizer’s coronavirus vaccine for children ages 5 to 11, paving the way for 28 million kids across the country to get their shots. These youngest Americans can now receive one-third of the adult dose, with two injections given…  read on >  read on >

Living near a fast-food restaurant may provide a quick fix if you’re famished and pressed for time, but it may also boost your odds for type 2 diabetes, a large study of U.S veterans suggests. Neighborhoods with more supermarkets, however, may protect you against developing diabetes, especially in suburban and rural areas, the researchers said.…  read on >  read on >

Just days before Halloween, attorneys general in several states have issued warnings about cannabis edibles that look like candy and snacks. “These look-alike cannabis products are unregulated, unsafe and illegal,” Connecticut Attorney General William Tong said in a statement. “Accidental cannabis overdoses by children are increasing nationwide, and these products will only make this worse.”…  read on >  read on >

A cheap and widely available antidepressant drug called fluvoxamine may reduce COVID-19 patients’ risk of serious illness requiring hospitalization, according to a new study. The trial included almost 1,500 unvaccinated outpatients in Brazil. All of the patients tested positive for infection with SARS-CoV-2 and were deemed to be at high risk for a severe case…  read on >  read on >