At least 4.4 million Americans have received the updated COVID-19 booster shot. The U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention posted the count Thursday as public health experts decried President Joe Biden’s televised claim that “the pandemic is over.” The White House estimates that more than 5 million people have actually received the reformulated booster,… read on > read on >
Climate change could spell trouble for those with heart failure, a new study suggests. When the temperatures soared in France during the summer of 2019, the heat wave appears to have worsened the conditions of heart failure patients, researchers report. “The finding is timely, given the heat waves again this year,” said study author Dr.… read on > read on >
If you haven’t had a COVID vaccine, you can’t travel to Canada, but that could change soon. The vaccine requirement for foreign nationals in that country is likely to be eliminated by the end of September, the Associated Press reported, citing an official close to the matter who wasn’t authorized to speak about it. That… read on > read on >
Too few children with sickle cell anemia are getting the recommended screening tests for stroke, a common complication of this disease, a new government report finds. What’s more, many aren’t receiving hydroxyurea, a medication that can reduce the complications associated with the blood disorder, researchers from the U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention noted.… read on > read on >
Your children’s school clothes may look neat, but are they safe to wear? Maybe not. Researchers found high levels of dangerous chemicals called per- and polyfluoroalkyl substances (PFAS) in school uniforms sold across North America. These chemicals — which can build up in people and the environment over time — can be harmful to health.… read on > read on >
An unprecedented water crisis continues to take a heavy toll on the mental health of adults in Flint, Michigan, a large survey shows. Five years after the crisis, an estimated one in five — about 13,600 people — remained clinically depressed, the survey found. And about one in four — 15,000 people — had post-traumatic… read on > read on >
Could air pollution land children with autism in the hospital? A new study found that short-term exposure to air pollution is linked to a higher risk for hospitalization among kids with the developmental disorder. People with autism spectrum disorder (ASD) are often admitted due to such symptoms as hyperactivity, aggression and self-injury. While neuro-inflammation and… read on > read on >
In what amounts to a public acknowledgement that anxiety disorders have run rampant during the pandemic, an influential expert panel is recommending for the first time that all American adults under the age of 65 be screened for the condition. “COVID has taken a tremendous toll on the mental health of Americans,” panel member Lori… read on > read on >
Contact lenses can be indispensable for those with poor vision, but if they aren’t properly cleaned and stored you run the risk of serious eye infections, experts say. Up to one out of every 500 contact lens wearers get such infections every year, which can sometimes lead to permanent blindness. Even minor infections caused by… read on > read on >
Weeks after a stay in the hospital, your bill arrives and you can barely believe the amount due. How is this even possible if you have good health insurance and, more importantly, how will you pay it? Unfortunately, you’re not alone. More than one in 10 American adults and nearly one in five U.S. households… read on > read on >
