Back in December, the U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention held a detailed briefing to warn public health officials about an emerging COVID variant dubbed Omicron. Officials were incredibly specific, said Lori Tremmel Freeman, CEO of the National Association of County and City Health Officials, predicting that Omicron would enter the United States in… read on > read on >
Guns have surpassed road crashes as the leading cause of death among U.S. children and teens. Gun-related deaths rose 29% among 1- to 19-year-olds from 2019 to 2020, according to a new University of Michigan study. In all, there were more than 4,300 gun-related deaths — including suicides, homicides and accidents — in that age… read on > read on >
Children with Down syndrome are more likely than other kids to have sleep apnea, and existing treatments often fail to work. Now, an implanted device that stimulates tongue nerves shows promise in reducing their sleep disruptions, a new study finds. A device called a hypoglossal nerve stimulator is already approved by the U.S. Food and… read on > read on >
The majority of antibiotic prescriptions for U.S. seniors and Black and Hispanic Americans are inappropriate, a new report reveals. For the study, researchers analyzed federal government data on more than 7 billion outpatient visits to doctors’ offices, hospital clinics and emergency departments nationwide between 2009 and 2016. Nearly 8 million visits (11%) led to antibiotic… read on > read on >
Genetic mutations build up faster in the brain cells of Alzheimer’s disease patients than in other people, new research reveals. The discovery could point the way to new Alzheimer’s treatments. DNA errors called somatic mutations can occur in brain cells as people age. The authors of this study compared somatic mutations in hippocampal and prefrontal… read on > read on >
Showing highway death tolls on roadside message boards in a bid to curb crashes may actually cause more accidents, a new study suggests. That’s because they distract drivers, the researchers said. At least 27 states have used such messages. The new report focused on Texas, where officials decided to display highway death tolls one week… read on > read on >
College football players live longer than those who didn’t play, but they suffer more brain-related issues as they age, a new study finds. Among former Notre Dame football players, being physically fit was tied to lower deaths from heart disease and diabetes. But the former players were five times more likely to have impaired thinking… read on > read on >
THURSDAY, April 21, 2022 (American Heart Association News) — In her late 40s, Alicia Wilson had a hectic schedule. She had a full-time job administering contracts, was a single mom of a busy high schooler, and had decided to take on the challenge of going back to school for a master’s degree. So when Alicia,… read on > read on >
The Biden administration on Wednesday appealed a Florida ruling that struck down a federal mask mandate for planes, trains and other forms of public transportation. The announcement, made by the U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, came after the agency deemed the mandate was still needed to protect Americans from the spread of COVID-19.… read on > read on >
A fully vaccinated health care worker got COVID-19 twice in less than a month — the shortest known time between infections, Spanish researchers report. The 31-year-old was infected with the Omicron variant just 21 days after catching the Delta variant. “This case highlights the potential of the Omicron variant to evade the previous immunity acquired… read on > read on >
