Demand for a new shot that protects babies against respiratory syncytial virus (RSV) has outpaced supply, prompting U.S. health officials to recommend the doses be saved for high-risk infants. In an alert posted Monday afternoon, the U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention said nirsevimab (Beyfortus) should be reserved for infants with underlying health conditions… read on > read on >
All Health and Wellness:
EPA to Ban Carcinogenic Chemical Found in Degreasers, Cleaners
The U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) proposes to ban a cancer-causing chemical commonly used as a furniture cleaner and degreaser. The ban would prohibit most uses of trichloroethylene (TCE) within one year. Limited remaining commercial and industrial uses would be phased out over a longer period and would require stringent worker protections. “Today, EPA is… read on > read on >
Homeless Americans Face 16 Times the Odds for Sudden Death
Life on the streets can be deadly, with homeless Americans 16 times more likely to die suddenly than their peers, a new study says. “Homeless individuals die young, at a mean age of 50 years,” said study co-author Dr. Zian Tseng, a cardiologist and professor of medicine at the University of California, San Francisco (UCSF).… read on > read on >
Steroid Use Could Raise Teen Athletes’ Odds for Concussion
Use of steroids among high school athletes is a continuing problem, and now new research finds these youths are also more likely to suffer a concussion while they play. The study was published Oct. 20 in the Journal of Osteopathic Medicine. “The neurobehavioral shifts of steroid use may lead to increased aggressive play and a… read on > read on >
Depression Rates Rising Among College Students, and Race Matters
Many college kids are depressed and anxious, especially when they are a minority on campus or the first in their family to go to a university, a new study finds. These feelings may be particularly pronounced among minorities attending mostly white colleges, the researchers reported. In that setting, more than half of Black and Hispanic… read on > read on >
Biometric Gun Safes Recalled After 12-Year-Old’s Death
More than 60,000 gun safes have been recalled following the death of a 12-year-old boy and dozens of reports that unauthorized people can open the Fortress Safe devices. The U.S. Consumer Product Safety Commission said a programming flaw allows unauthorized people into the biometric safe. The youth died in Nevada after he opened and allegedly… read on > read on >
Pandemic Didn’t Lower Parents’ Trust in Childhood Vaccines
MONDAY, Oct. 23, 2023 Lots of vaccine disinformation spread during the pandemic, and doctors worried that may have given some parents pause about not only the risks of the COVID shot, but of childhood vaccines as well. Now, new research puts that worry to rest. “We did not see a significant increase in parents who… read on > read on >
High-Tech ‘Home Simulations’ Could Help Folks Fight Hoarding
A virtual reality program helped hoarders clear out their clutter, researchers report. Hoarding disorder, which strikes more than 2.5% of Americans, has only been defined as a mental health condition for 10 years, and it’s both debilitating and hard to treat. So, researchers at Stanford Medicine recently conducted a small pilot study to see if… read on > read on >
Restricting Access to Vapes Might Drive People to Cigarettes
While U.S. policymakers have restricted flavored vapes to make e-cigarettes less appealing to young people, that plan may be backfiring. A new study found that for every 0.7 milliliters of “e-liquid” for e-cigarettes that isn’t sold because of flavor restrictions, an additional 15 traditional cigarettes were sold. The study, supported by U.S. National Institutes of… read on > read on >
Sour Notes: Girls in Marching Bands at High Risk for Injury
Not all high school injuries happen on the football field or the basketball court. Marching band is also a physically demanding activity and participants can suffer injuries, as seen in a new study that looked at emergency room visits. Injuries ranged from issues with the knees or ankles to mild head trauma. Girls were the… read on > read on >