Some good news for folks who are worried about the new, troublesome COVID variant known as BA.2.86: Moderna Inc. said Wednesday that its updated vaccine held its own against this highly mutated version of the virus. While approval for the newest version of the vaccine is still pending from the U.S. Food and Drug Administration,… read on > read on >
All Health and Wellness:
VA Hospitals See Steep, Steady Rise in Heat-Related Illnesses
Heat domes and extreme heat waves have been battering the United States for years now, and a new study shows that increasing temperatures are doing real harm to humans. A significant increase in heat-related illnesses like heat stroke and heat exhaustion has occurred during the past two decades among patients treated at U.S. Department of… read on > read on >
U.S. Heart Deaths Linked to Obesity Have Tripled in 20 Years
Obesity taxes many parts of the body, but new research suggests the heart might take the hardest hit of all. Between 1999 and 2020, deaths from heart disease linked to obesity tripled in the United States, and some groups were more vulnerable than others. Specifically, Black adults had some of the highest rates of obesity-related… read on > read on >
CDC Warns of Rise in RSV Cases Among Young Children, Infants
Doctors are seeing a spike in severe cases of respiratory syncytial virus (RSV) among young children in Florida and Georgia, U.S. health officials warned Tuesday. The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention sent an advisory to doctors, noting that regional increases usually predict the beginning of RSV season, “with increased RSV activity spreading north and… read on > read on >
Many Strains of a Dangerous Foodborne Bacteria Are Now Antibiotic-Resistant
New research on a leading cause of foodborne illness has linked a large share of Michigan infections to antibiotic-resistant bacteria strains. More than 100 strains of Campylobacter jejuni circulating in Michigan are resistant to at least one antibiotic, according to researchers from Michigan State University (MSU) and the Michigan Department of Health and Human Services.… read on > read on >
Warm Waters Raise Risk for Flesh-Eating Bacteria. Here’s Tips to Stay Safe
As waters warm across the United States and hurricanes and flooding season begins, the odds of being infected by flesh-eating bacteria are also rising, U.S. health officials warn. According to a Sept. 1 health alert from the U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, a dozen types of the bacteria called Vibrio cause an estimated… read on > read on >
Fitter Folks Need Fewer Psychiatric Meds, Study Finds
Being fit doesn’t just help your body — it also helps your mind, a new study reports. People in better physical condition appear to have less need for drugs to treat mood disorders, Norwegian researchers have found. “We find that people who are in better shape fill fewer prescriptions for anxiety and depression medications,” said… read on > read on >
Mitch McConnell’s Recent Episodes Weren’t Strokes or Seizures, Capitol Doc Says
The two “freezing” episodes that Sen. Mitch McConnell experienced recently weren’t strokes or seizures, the Capitol physician said in a new letter released Tuesday. “My examination of you following your August 30, 2023, brief episode included several medical evaluations: brain MRI imaging, EEG study and consultations with several neurologists for a comprehensive neurology assessment. There… read on > read on >
Telehealth Services Can Help Women Access, Understand Medical Abortion
Even before Roe v. Wade was overturned in 2022, many U.S. women lived far from a clinic where they could get abortion pills. Now, a new study suggests that telemedicine can help fill that gap. The study focused on one reproductive health clinic in Washington state, where abortion was legal at the time of the… read on > read on >
Normal Body Temperature Varies Between People
You might think you know what a normal body temperature is, but there is no such thing. Analyzing the age-old belief that 98.6 Fahrenheit is normal human temperature, scientists at Stanford Medicine found that your temperature is personal. It also depends on age, sex, height and weight, and changes throughout the day. “Most people, including… read on > read on >