Flu, RSV and COVID-19 are creating a perfect storm of respiratory disease that is overwhelming the nation’s health care systems. Vaccination will be key to getting through the winter holidays with your health intact, U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention Director Dr. Rochelle Walensky said during a media briefing Monday. “For two of the… read on > read on >
All Health and Wellness:
Severe Seizures Are Rising, Especially Among Minorities
Growing numbers of Americans are suffering prolonged, life-threatening seizures known as status epilepticus, and Black people are nearly twice as likely to experience these seizures as white people. These are the main findings from new research looking at hospitalizations for status epilepticus from 2010 to 2019 across the United States. Status epilepticus refers to a… read on > read on >
AHA News: ‘Supernatural’ Actor Had a Stroke at a Fan Convention. Now, He’s Giving Back in His Own Way.
MONDAY, Dec. 5, 2022 (American Heart Association News) — Actor and musician Rob Benedict was in his natural habitat, onstage and entertaining an audience, when two of his friends decided to pull a practical joke on him. They were all gathered in Toronto for a fan convention for “Supernatural,” the long-running TV series. Benedict, who… read on > read on >
Shingles Ups Odds of Stroke, Heart Attack By Almost 30%
People who’ve had a bout of shingles may face a heightened risk of heart attack or stroke in later years, a new, large study suggests. Anyone who ever had chickenpox can develop shingles — a painful rash that is caused by a reactivation of the virus that causes chickenpox. About one-third of Americans will develop… read on > read on >
Vicious Cycle: Epilepsy Seizures Could Encourage More Seizures
Seizures tend to get progressively worse over time in people with epilepsy, and a new study in mice suggests why that might be the case. Seizures appear to prompt the brains of mice to produce more myelin, the insulating layer around nerve cells, researchers from Stanford University found. This essentially rewires the brain, creating a… read on > read on >
U.S. to End Mpox Public Health Emergency in January
MONDAY, Dec. 5, 2022 (HealthDay News) – Mpox cases are down significantly in the United States, prompting the federal government to plan not to renew an emergency designation for the virus when it expires late next month. “Given the low number of cases today, HHS does not expect that it needs to renew the emergency… read on > read on >
Bacteria Risk Spurs Recall of 8 Million Laundress Products
MONDAY, Dec. 5, 2022 (HealthDay News) – The Laundress, a laundry and cleaning products company, has recalled nearly 8 million of its products over concerns they may be contaminated with various bacteria. The bacteria include Burkholderia cepacia complex, Klebsiella aerogenes and multiple different species of Pseudomonas. So far, testing has identified these bacteria in certain… read on > read on >
‘COVID-somnia’ May Be Easing as Americans Report Better Sleep
Finally, more than two years into the pandemic, Americans are sleeping better. A new survey from the American Academy of Sleep Medicine (AASM) found that 31% of people have had insomnia since the pandemic began. That was much lower — a 25% decrease — compared to the 2021 survey that found 56% of people were… read on > read on >
‘How Can I Prevent Heart Disease?’ Docs Give Different Answers to Men, Women
Doctors give men and women different advice to head off heart disease, even though guidelines for both are the same. Men were 20% more likely to be prescribed statins to lower blood levels of bad cholesterol compared with women, a new study found. Women, meanwhile, were 27% more likely to be advised to lose weight… read on > read on >
For Kids, Mental Trauma From Gun Injury Far Exceeds That of Car Crashes
Firearm injuries traumatize children, saddling them with mental health issues that include stress disorders and drug or alcohol use, according to a new study. In all, 35% of kids injured by firearms receive a new mental health diagnosis in the following year, the research found. That compares to a 26% rate of mental health diagnoses… read on > read on >