This season’s flu shot offered virtually no protection against infection, a new government report shows. While this latest vaccine only cut the risk of getting a mild case of flu by 16%, the agency has noted that flu vaccines typically reduce the risk of illness by 40% to 60%. Still, the shot should offer some… read on > read on >
Women plagued by frequent urinary tract infections often take daily antibiotics to ward them off. But an old antibiotic alternative might work just as well, a new clinical trial finds. Researchers found that the medication, called methenamine, was comparable to standard, low-dose antibiotics in preventing women’s recurrent urinary tract infections (UTIs). Either treatment curbed the… read on > read on >
Inflation, Russia’s invasion of Ukraine and continuing concerns about money and COVID-19 have Americans more stressed than ever, a new poll conducted last week reveals. The biggest concerns: rising costs of food, energy and other everyday items due to inflation (87%); supply chain issues (81%); global uncertainty (81%); Russia’s invasion of Ukraine (80%), and potential… read on > read on >
Spring and fall time changes for daylight saving time should be scrapped because they pose health and safety risks, the American Academy of Sleep Medicine (AASM) says. Moving clocks ahead and losing an hour of sleep presents hazards that include: an increase in car crashes and fatal crashes; a rise in missed medical appointments; a… read on > read on >
Just a bit of exercise can help keep your brain in shape as you age, according to the latest study that shows how physical activity can benefit older minds. “This finding isn’t saying, ‘If you’re older, you need to go out there and start running marathons,’” said lead author Marissa Gogniat, a recent doctoral graduate… read on > read on >
You may only worry about losing an hour of sleep when the clocks spring forward this Sunday, but the time change can also be dangerous for your health, an expert says. Research shows that the risk of stroke, heart attack and traffic accidents all increase in the days following the switch to daylight saving time,… read on > read on >
As the war in Ukraine enters its third week, the scale of the devastation is placing the health of all Ukrainians — and the country’s health care system itself — in peril. “It’s mind-boggling,” said James Elder, a spokesperson for UNICEF, who arrived in the western city of Lviv just two days after the Russian… read on > read on >
A day that includes a trip to the emergency room is probably a high-stress one, but man’s best friend could help you cope, new research finds. The study found a reduction in pain, anxiety and depression that ranged from 43% to 48% in patients who were treated with a visit from a trained therapy dog… read on > read on >
Could hugging a soft, mechanized pillow that simulates slow breathing help test-stressed students ward off anxiety and stress? British researchers are betting on it. The pillow in question looks like any typical cushion, noted study author Alice Haynes. She’s a Ph.D. candidate at the University of Bristol in the United Kingdom. But when hugged, the… read on >
A healthy bank account pays dividends after a heart attack, with new research indicating severe financial strain increases survivors’ risk of death. Researchers analyzed data from nearly 3,000 people, 75 and older, whose health was tracked after they suffered a heart attack. “Our research indicates the importance of financial strain in predicting which patients will… read on > read on >
