MONDAY, Dec. 20, 2021 ( HealthDay News) — As coronavirus cases start to surge once again across the United States, President Joe Biden will address the nation about the Omicron variant on Tuesday. “Building off his Winter Plan, the President will announce new steps the Administration is taking to help communities in need of assistance,…  read on >  read on >

Kids with autism have low levels of a protein that quiets overactive brain cells, which may explain why so many have epilepsy, according to a new study. Because the protein can be detected in cerebrospinal fluid, it may have promise as a marker to diagnose autism and as a potential treatment target for the epilepsy…  read on >  read on >

Large, simultaneous heat waves have become much more common in northern regions worldwide due to climate change and could have disastrous consequences, researchers warn. The investigators also found that these concurrent heat waves are becoming larger and hotter. “More than one heat wave occurring at the same time often has worse societal impacts than a…  read on >  read on >

It is likely a connection few have considered, but new research in mice suggests that obesity may up your risk of gum disease. Specifically, chronic inflammation caused by obesity may trigger the development of cells called osteoclasts that break down bone tissue — including alveolar bone that holds teeth in place. “Although there is a…  read on >  read on >

Like Mr. Grinch, heartburn can crush your holiday, but there are easy ways to prevent it. “Heartburn is caused by acidic stomach content moving into the esophagus, or gullet, which is much less resistant to acid,” said Dr. James East, a gastroenterologist at Mayo Clinic Healthcare in London. “This results in irritation and damage to…  read on >  read on >

Unvaccinated students exposed to COVID-19 can remain in the classroom as long as they’re regularly tested for the virus at school, the U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention said Friday. The CDC pointed to two new studies from California and Illinois as evidence that school districts can employ a “test-to-stay” policy to keep kids…  read on >  read on >

Two doses of a pediatric Pfizer-BioNTech COVID-19 vaccine failed to spur an adequate immune response in children aged 2 to 5, the companies announced Friday. That’s a setback for parents hoping to get their youngest children immunized against the new coronavirus as soon as possible. The pediatric trials used a 3 microgram (mcg) dose of…  read on >  read on >