An infection that can disable and kill stalks the land, but a brand-new vaccine offers hope that almost everyone, kids included, can evade it. After scientific testing, a nationwide rollout of the vaccine begins. Sound familiar? As the U.S. government gears up to offer COVID-19 shots to about 28 million 5- to 11-year-olds, high levels… read on > read on >
Mike Smith is beating the odds. Diagnosed with stage 4 lung cancer back in 2016, the 56-year-old South Carolina resident says there are a lot of reasons to be optimistic as the “narrative of lung cancer changes from being a horrific, terminal disease to a chronic disease and, ultimately, to a cure.” Still, he remains… read on > read on >
Many people pop a zinc supplement at the first sign of a cold, and there’s new evidence supporting the habit. Australian researchers found that the supplements appear to help shorten respiratory tract infections, such as colds, flu, sinusitis and pneumonia. Many over-the-counter cold and cough remedies offer only “marginal benefits,” the researchers noted, making “zinc… read on > read on >
TUESDAY, Nov. 2, 2021 (American Heart Association News) — The latest word on heart-healthy eating is “balance.” A new report encourages people to think of broad eating habits instead of narrowly focusing on single foods. Rather than one-size-fits-all rules, it leaves room for personal preferences. “The emphasis is on dietary patterns, not specific foods or… read on > read on >
Nearly one-third of older U.S. adults visit at least five different doctors each year — reflecting the growing role of specialists in Americans’ health care, a new study finds. Over the past 20 years, Americans on Medicare have been increasingly seeing specialists, researchers found, with almost no change in visits with their primary care doctor.… read on > read on >
As teens dramatically stepped up their screen time during COVID-19 lockdowns, their well-being took a hit, a new study reveals. Recreational screen time among U.S. teens doubled from before the pandemic to nearly eight hours per day during the pandemic, according to the report. And this estimate doesn’t include time spent on screens for remote… read on > read on >
Contaminated water is the leading cause of large-scale outbreaks of infectious diseases that can be transmitted from animals to people, researchers say. These health threats are called zoonotic infectious diseases, and recent outbreaks include COVID-19 and Ebola. “In the age of COVID-19, it is understandable that many people may not realize how many outbreaks of… read on > read on >
Suicidal thoughts are more common among Americans who bought guns when firearm sales spiked during the pandemic, compared to those among other gun owners or folks who don’t own guns, a new study shows. About 6% of U.S. residents bought a gun between March and mid-July of last year. Of these, 34% were first-timers —… read on > read on >
The U.S. government’s COVID-19 vaccination program for children ages 5-11 will be ready to roll on Nov. 8, the White House said Monday. On Friday, the U.S. Food and Drug Administration approved vaccines for the 28 million American children who fall into this age group, but the U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention still… read on > read on >
