Just one dose of Pfizer’s coronavirus vaccine might be enough to largely protect people from being infected with COVID-19, preliminary research shows. The vaccine became 90% effective 21 days after the first shot in a two-dose regimen, said British researchers who looked at data from Israel, where the vaccine has been rolled out to a… read on > read on >
All Health and Wellness:
‘So Happy:’ World’s First Hand/Face Transplant Patient Doing Well
Joe DiMeo’s life changed forever when he fell asleep at the wheel on U.S. Route 22 in New Jersey on July 14, 2018. The horrific crash left him with third-degree burns on 80% of his body and a grim prognosis. Now, more than two years later, DiMeo, 22, is the recipient of the world’s first… read on > read on >
Segregation, Poverty Tied to Worse Outcomes for Black Lung Cancer Patients
Racial segregation may help explain why Black Americans with lung cancer do more poorly than their white counterparts, a new study suggests. For years, U.S. studies have documented racial disparities in lung cancer. Black Americans are less likely to receive surgery for early-stage lung cancer — the standard of care — and they typically die… read on > read on >
1 in 3 Young Americans Prescribed a Psychiatric Drug Misuses Them: Study
Many young Americans are prescribed psychiatric drugs to treat medical conditions, but nearly one-third of them wind up misusing the medications, a new study finds. “Misuse of prescription substances is alarmingly high among U.S. youth and young adults,” said lead researcher Israel Agaku, a part-time lecturer in oral health policy and epidemiology at the Harvard… read on > read on >
1 in 5 Older Americans Lack Space to ‘Isolate at Home’ If COVID Strikes
If there is one thing the coronavirus pandemic has taught people, it is that how much living space you have matters when you or someone you love falls ill with COVID-19. But a new survey shows that the very group most vulnerable to infection may have precious little room in which to safely weather the… read on > read on >
AHA News: Ideas for a Safe, Healthy Valentine’s Day Everyone Can Love
WEDNESDAY, Feb. 3, 2021 (American Heart Association News) — “Valentine’s Day in a Pandemic” sounds like the title of a terrible album, or maybe the least-romantic date night movie ever. Unfortunately, it’s also reality in 2021. That doesn’t mean the day can’t be fun, said experts who suggested ways to stay safe while celebrating. Dr.… read on > read on >
Anchor It! Toppling TVs, Furniture Can Injure and Kill Kids
It only takes a second. Experts are warning that unsecured televisions, bedroom dressers and other heavy furniture can crush, maim and even kill curious children, and the issue may only worsen during stay-at-home lockdowns. According to the U.S. Consumer Product Safety Commission (CPSC), between 2000 and 2019, 451 kids aged 17 years and younger died… read on > read on >
In Philadelphia, an Animal Tranquilizer Is Driving Deadly Rise in Opioid ODs
Philadelphia is seeing a surge in overdose fatalities involving heroin and/or fentanyl plus an animal tranquilizer not approved for human use, according to a new study. The tranquilizer — called xylazine — is a non-opioid sedative and painkiller approved by the U.S. Food and Drug Administration solely as a veterinary drug. In Philadelphia, it goes… read on > read on >
Most Dermatology Patients Like ‘Telehealth’ Visits: Survey
WEDNESDAY, Feb.3, 2021A majority of dermatology patients are happy with telehealth appointments in place of in-person office visits, a new study finds. The COVID-19 pandemic has forced many medical specialties to move from in-person to online appointments, but dermatology had already seen increased use of telehealth visits over the last decade, according to the George… read on > read on >
How Your Neighborhood Can Hamper Your Teen’s Sleep
Living in a noisy neighborhood with less green space negatively affects teens’ sleep, which may lead to poorer memory and thinking skills, according to a pair of studies. In a study on residential environment, researchers found that as noise levels steadily increased, so too did the time needed for teens to fall asleep. They also… read on > read on >