FRIDAY, Aug. 4, 2023 (American Heart Association News) — Covered in menacing needlelike spines, the prickly pear cactus demands to be treated with care. In return, it will reward you with a juicy neon fruit and fleshy green pads that have nourished people for millennia. While the spines that protect the plant from predators can… read on > read on >
All Health and Wellness:
CDC Recommends RSV Shot for All Infants
FRIDAY, Aug. 4, 2023 (HealthDay News) – The U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention on Thursday recommended that all infants under the age of 8 months be given a new antibody shot to help guard against severe respiratory syncytial virus (RSV). The antibody shot, sold as Beyfortus, has been shown to reduce the risk… read on > read on >
More Typos: Workers’ Mistakes Rise on Fridays, Study Shows
Workers may sense it intuitively but their mouse clicks prove it: Friday afternoon is the least productive time of the work week. It’s also when workers make the most typos. A Texas A&M University team studied this using the computer usage metrics of 789 in-office employees at a large energy company over two years. “Most… read on > read on >
Leprosy on the Rise in Florida: An Expert Answers Your Questions
A wave of leprosy cases in Florida has led public health officials to conclude the disease-causing bacteria may be naturally found in the state. In the past, most people with leprosy in the United States had been first infected in some other country where it might be more common. But the U.S. Centers for Disease… read on > read on >
Think Your Job Is ‘Socially Useless’? You’re Not Alone
Ever feel like your job is pointless? A big part of the population feels just that way — that the jobs they do matter little to society. And a Swiss study that delved into what’s been dubbed the “bullshit jobs theory” found that feeling was especially likely for folks in financial, sales and management jobs.… read on > read on >
One Personality Type Is More Prone to Be an Anti-Vaxxer
When studying which personality types were more likely to resist getting vaccines, researchers got a surprise. It was the extroverts who were more vaccine resistant. Compared to other personality styles, extroverts were 18% more likely to refuse the COVID-19 vaccine, the new study finds. “We expected that people who were especially high in extroversion would… read on > read on >
Troubled Childhood Could Mean a Troubled Old Age, Study Finds
The trauma and unhappy family dynamics of childhood may follow kids into old age, affecting both their mind and body, according to new research. “We looked at self-reported disability, as well as objectively measured physical and cognitive impairment, and learned that early-life stressful experiences can have ramifications all the way into older age,” said senior… read on > read on >
Yoga Might Do Wonders for Women’s Aging Brains
Yoga is known for its benefits to both the mind and body. And a gentle form of yoga may be an ideal early intervention technique for older women at risk of Alzheimer’s disease, new research suggests. In a small study involving kundalini yoga, participants reported that its stress-relieving effects translated to more efficient memory. “Women… read on > read on >
Researchers Explore New Nonaddictive Means of Fighting Pain
New research shows that an experimental drug fine-tuned to a specific pain pathway can ease post-surgery aches, a finding that may eventually offer an alternative to highly addictive opioids. The pill, known for now as VX-548, targets a particular sodium channel that is active only in the body’s peripheral sensory nerves, where it helps transmit… read on > read on >
Moderna or Pfizer? One COVID Shot May Be Safer for Older Adults
While both the Moderna and Pfizer COVID-19 vaccines are considered safe and highly effective, new research finds the Moderna shot has been the safest and most effective for seniors. “The results of this study can help public health experts weigh which mRNA vaccine might be preferred for older adults and older subgroups, such as those… read on > read on >