A federal vaccine advisory panel work session focused on next year’s flu shot has been canceled without explanation. It is the second vaccine advisory meeting that has been canceled or postponed since Robert F. Kennedy Jr., a longtime vaccine skeptic, was confirmed as secretary of health and human services (HHS). The U.S. Food and Drug… read on > read on >
Microplastics could be affecting the brain health of people living in coastal areas, a new study says. Marine microplastics — microscopic plastic fragments smaller than 5 millimeters — are associated with disabilities of memory, thinking and mobility, according to findings to be presented in April at a meeting of the American Academy of Neurology in… read on > read on >
President of the American College of Physicians calls for prompt rescheduling of the meeting read on >
Utah may become the first state in the U.S. to ban fluoride in public water statewide, a move that would override local decisions on whether to add the cavity-fighting mineral to drinking water. The bill now awaits the signature of Gov. Spencer Cox, who has not said whether he will approve the measure, The Associated… read on > read on >
The Los Angeles wildfires spewed toxic lead into the southern California atmosphere during their rampage, a new U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) study says. Airborne lead soared to 110 times normal levels during the wildfires, according to readings taken by an air monitoring site located about 14 miles from the Eaton Canyon… read on > read on >
Many Americans don’t realize how everyday habits and overlooked health issues can increase their risk for heart disease, according to a new Cleveland Clinic survey. The nationwide survey found numerous gaps in heart health knowledge. For example: 40% of repondents didn’t know that using tobacco harms heart health. 62% were unaware that air pollution can… read on > read on >
A new study has found no evidence that COVID vaccines increase the risk of sudden cardiac arrest in young athletes, despite numerous claims that circulated during the pandemic. The six-year study — published Feb. 24 in JAMA Network Open — compared sudden cardiac arrests and deaths among competitive athletes aged 10 and older before and… read on > read on >
Each hour a person spends squinting into a smartphone or staring at a screen increases their risk of nearsightedness, a new evidence review suggests. Every daily one-hour increment in digital screen time is associated with 21% higher odds of myopia, researchers reported recently in JAMA Network Open. What’s more, the risk continues to increase as… read on > read on >
With measles cases on the rise and flu season straining the nation’s hospitals, health experts urge adults to check their vaccination status and get any missing shots. Health experts agree that vaccines are the best defense against many infections, but keeping track of vaccines received decades ago can be challenging. “If you’re a 57-year-old adult… read on > read on >
A parent’s mental health appears to influence their kids’ chances of developing anxiety, ADHD and other behavioral disorders, a new study says. Children were more than four times as likely to develop severe ADHD (attention-deficit/hyperactivity disorder) if their caregiver had poor or fair mental health, compared to kids of caregivers in excellent mental health, researchers… read on > read on >
