FRIDAY, Oct. 21, 2022 (HealthDay News) – In an unanimous vote on Thursday, a panel of U.S. vaccine experts recommended that COVID shots be added to the list of recommended vaccinations for children and adults. Now it’s up to the U.S. Centers of Disease Control and Prevention to decide whether to follow the advice of… read on > read on >
All Lifestyle:
Kept Home Under Lockdown, U.S. Couples May Have Spurred a ‘Baby Bump’
The pandemic brought about a lot of changes in people’s lives. For many, that included a new baby. The United States saw a “baby bump” in 2021 described in a new study as “the first major reversal in declining U.S. fertility rates since 2007.” It was the opposite of what early forecasts predicted. “There was… read on > read on >
Use of Hair Straighteners Tied to Doubling of Risk for Uterine Cancer
Women who regularly use chemical hair straighteners may be more prone to developing uterine cancer, a new large government study suggests. The study, which followed nearly 34,000 U.S. women over a decade, found that those who frequently used hair straighteners were 2.5 times more likely to develop uterine cancer, versus non-users. “Frequent” was defined as… read on > read on >
Your Hospital Room Could Affect Outcomes After Surgery
“Location, location, location” works in real estate, and a new study argues that the location of your hospital room could save your life after surgery. Patients are more likely to die after surgery if they are placed in certain types of rooms to recover, researchers from the University of Michigan School of Medicine found. Specifically,… read on > read on >
FDA OKs Novavax COVID Vaccine as First Booster Shot
THURSDAY, Oct. 20, 2022 (HealthDay News) – Americans will now have another choice if they want a COVID booster shot. On Wednesday, the U.S. Food and Drug Administration approved Novavax Inc.’s protein-based vaccine as a first booster dose. Until now, it had only been approved as a two-dose primary series. “The U.S. now has access… read on > read on >
Even Alligators Might Be Harmed by PFAS ‘Forever Chemicals’
Alligators along North Carolina’s Cape Fear River have high blood levels of 14 toxic chemicals, along with signs of immune system damage, new research shows. The study of levels of per- and polyfluoroalkyls (PFAS) in the reptiles’ blood adds to concerns that the chemicals may cause genetic and immune system harm. Alligators are a sentinel… read on > read on >
It Doesn’t Take Much Weight Gain to Raise Odds for Knee Trouble
A person doesn’t have to pack on very many extra pounds before their risk of needing a knee replacement increases substantially, a new evidence review has found. Weight gain of just 11 pounds increases a woman’s odds of needing total knee replacement surgery by one-third, and a man’s by one-quarter, researchers reported Tuesday at the… read on > read on >
Parks, Gardens Might Boost Life Spans in Poorer Neighborhoods
The key to narrowing the gap in how long a person lives if they’re poor vs. if they’re wealthy could be as simple as adding green space to certain neighborhoods. Every 10% increase in natural space and private gardens was linked to a 7% drop in early deaths in people younger than 65, according to… read on > read on >
Online Sexual Abuse of Kids Is Common; Perps Usually Friends, Partners
Substantial numbers of kids and teens are being tracked, lured and sexually abused online, and adult strangers aren’t always the perps. In many cases, it’s friends and dating partners who are doing the grooming, a new study shows. The prevailing image of online sexual abuse is an older predator who seeks out kids online, but… read on > read on >
As Tough Flu Season Looms, CDC Hopes for More Flu Shots Among Minorities
It’s a troubling equation: Many Americans with the highest rates of hospitalization for influenza have the lowest uptake of the annual flu vaccine. That’s why the U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention is stepping up outreach to minority communities, including Black, Hispanic and American Indian/Alaska Native (AI/AN) groups, and working to reduce barriers to… read on > read on >