Staffing shortages at nursing homes across the United States are severe in disadvantaged areas where needs may be greatest, researchers say. The study — recently published in the Journal of the American Geriatrics Society — looked at staffing before the COVID-19 pandemic. It found that skilled clinical workers such as registered nurses (RNs) and physical… read on > read on >
Poliovirus detected in New York City wastewater last week put public health officials on high alert, as it indicates the potentially paralyzing virus is circulating widely in the area. But infectious disease experts say there’s no need for families of fully vaccinated children to panic. “The inactivated polio vaccine is part of the standard childhood… read on > read on >
A COVID-19 booster that’s targeted to the Omicron variant will be available soon — and it’s already been approved in Britain. The U.K. Medicines and Healthcare products Regulatory Agency was the first to give the go-ahead for the vaccine that was designed to fight both the original COVID virus from 2020 and the omicron BA.1… read on > read on >
U.S. workers without paid leave lost out on an estimated $28 billion in wages during the first two years of the COVID-19 pandemic, according to a new report. The analysis showed that the greatest increases in unpaid absences were among low-income workers who were self-employed, Black or Hispanic, female, or raising families with children. Work… read on > read on >
While most people know that breathing in wildfire smoke isn’t good for respiratory health, they may not know that unclean air is also problematic for the heart. Individuals with underlying cardiovascular disease risk factors may also be at risk from the smoky air impacting their heart conditions, according to the American Heart Association (AHA). “Wildfire… read on > read on >
The most popular COVID-19 vaccines are safe to use in pregnancy, a large, new Canadian study has concluded. About 4% of pregnant women given an mRNA vaccine had a significant health event within a week of their first dose, and about 7% did after dose two, according to data gathered from more than 191,000 Canadian… read on > read on >
The Inflation Reduction Act is expected to bring out-of-pocket drug costs down for many U.S. seniors, but most of its benefits aren’t immediate. Under the law, Medicare will now be allowed to negotiate the cost of some drugs. That should eventually bring down out-of-pocket costs for seniors with Medicare Part D prescription drug plans, according… read on > read on >
Reading, doing yoga and spending time with family and friends might help lower your risk of dementia, a new study suggests. “Previous studies have shown that leisure activities were associated with various health benefits, such as a lower cancer risk, a reduction of atrial fibrillation, and a person’s perception of their own well-being,” said study… read on > read on >
When dogs’ hearing fades, their mental skills follow, new research reveals. For the study, the researchers examined the link between hearing loss in aging dogs and dementia. The findings shed light on ways sensory loss affects canine cognition (thinking skills) and could lead to better treatment of aging dogs. “In humans, we know that age-related… read on > read on >
American kids who are poor or members of ethnic minority groups are missing out on the youth sports that have long been touted for building strong bodies and strong character, a new study reports. The researchers found that youngsters who are poor, or from Black or Hispanic households, are less likely to take part in… read on > read on >
