Obese people have a tougher time fighting COVID-19, even if they have a milder form of the virus, a new study finds. Researchers looked at more than 500 patients who tested positive for COVID but didn’t require hospitalization. Teens and adults who were overweight or obese had more symptoms, including cough and shortness of breath,… read on > read on >
The White House on Wednesday unveiled a national plan to roll out coronavirus vaccines for 5- to 11-year-olds that is designed to make getting shots as easy and comfortable as possible for both kids and their parents. Rather than mass vaccination sites, the Biden administration plans to have pediatric COVID shots delivered in settings that… read on > read on >
Affordable over-the-counter hearing aids could soon bring relief to millions of Americans suffering from hearing loss, under a landmark proposal announced Tuesday by the U.S. Food and Drug Administration. The proposal would create a category of hearing aids that could be sold directly to consumers, without either a medical exam or a fitting by an… read on > read on >
China and the United States are super powers of salt consumption. The two world leaders emerged with the highest salt levels in processed meat and fish products among five countries assessed in a new study. High salt levels in food is a major cause of high blood pressure and its related risks of heart and… read on > read on >
While they’re helping to ease reflux, some heartburn drugs may also be reducing the severity of gum disease, new research suggests. For the study, researchers assessed probing depth in the gums (the gap between teeth and gums) in more than 1,000 patients with gum disease who were or weren’t using drugs called proton pump inhibitors… read on > read on >
Health officials say they are trying to track down the source of 10 reported cases of Legionnaires’ disease within a one-mile radius in a Long Island, N.Y., neighborhood. The patients range in age from 35 to 96. As of Saturday, one had died, two remained hospitalized and seven had been released from the hospital, CBS… read on > read on >
In a unanimous vote, the U.S. Food and Drug Administration’s vaccine advisory panel on Friday recommended that the agency grant emergency use of booster shots of Johnson & Johnson’s coronavirus vaccine. The FDA is expected to make a decision within days that will help guide the 15 million Americans who have received the Johnson &… read on > read on >
Americans’ increasing consumption of ultra-processed foods is putting their health at risk, researchers warn. Ultra-processed foods are ready-to-eat or heat, include additives, and contain little, if any, whole foods. They include frozen pizza, soda, fast food, sweets, salty snacks, canned soup and most breakfast cereals. Previous research has shown that eating ultra-processed foods is associated… read on > read on >
Mirroring a similar recommendation issued last month for the Pfizer COVID-19 vaccine, an expert advisory panel to the U.S. Food and Drug Administration on Thursday recommended a half-dose booster shot of the Moderna vaccine be given to certain recipients six months after their second shot. Panelists recommended that everyone aged 65 or older who received… read on > read on >
Former U.S. Food and Drug Administration commissioner Robert Califf is under strong consideration by the White House to once again lead the agency. The FDA hasn’t had a permanent head for more than eight months and is being overseen by acting commissioner Janet Woodcock. Under federal law, President Joe Biden has until mid-November to pick… read on > read on >
