This season’s flu shot offered virtually no protection against infection, a new government report shows. While this latest vaccine only cut the risk of getting a mild case of flu by 16%, the agency has noted that flu vaccines typically reduce the risk of illness by 40% to 60%. Still, the shot should offer some… read on > read on >
Women plagued by frequent urinary tract infections often take daily antibiotics to ward them off. But an old antibiotic alternative might work just as well, a new clinical trial finds. Researchers found that the medication, called methenamine, was comparable to standard, low-dose antibiotics in preventing women’s recurrent urinary tract infections (UTIs). Either treatment curbed the… read on > read on >
Inflation, Russia’s invasion of Ukraine and continuing concerns about money and COVID-19 have Americans more stressed than ever, a new poll conducted last week reveals. The biggest concerns: rising costs of food, energy and other everyday items due to inflation (87%); supply chain issues (81%); global uncertainty (81%); Russia’s invasion of Ukraine (80%), and potential… read on > read on >
A day that includes a trip to the emergency room is probably a high-stress one, but man’s best friend could help you cope, new research finds. The study found a reduction in pain, anxiety and depression that ranged from 43% to 48% in patients who were treated with a visit from a trained therapy dog… read on > read on >
Could hugging a soft, mechanized pillow that simulates slow breathing help test-stressed students ward off anxiety and stress? British researchers are betting on it. The pillow in question looks like any typical cushion, noted study author Alice Haynes. She’s a Ph.D. candidate at the University of Bristol in the United Kingdom. But when hugged, the… read on >
California will once again be able to set its own car emission standards under a waiver approved Wednesday by the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency. The move reverses a Trump administration decision to revoke the state’s authority to determine its own limits on auto emissions. Under the EPA waiver, California will be allowed to create tighter… read on > read on >
A healthy bank account pays dividends after a heart attack, with new research indicating severe financial strain increases survivors’ risk of death. Researchers analyzed data from nearly 3,000 people, 75 and older, whose health was tracked after they suffered a heart attack. “Our research indicates the importance of financial strain in predicting which patients will… read on > read on >
Want to breathe better air indoors? Go green. Houseplants can make your home or office air cleaner, according to British researchers. In lab tests, they found that three common houseplants — peace lily (Spathiphyllum wallisii), corn plant (Dracaena fragrans), and ZZ plant or fern arum (Zamioculcas zamiifolia) — could reduce levels of a common air… read on > read on >
The often-used steroid spironolactone is not linked to any increased risk of a range of common cancers, according to a new study. The synthetic steroid is routinely used to manage heart failure, high blood pressure and edema, and also used off-label to treat acne, hair loss and excessive hair growth (hirsutism). “Though the U.S. Food… read on > read on >
Pfizer Inc. announced Tuesday that it has launched a Phase 2/3 clinical trial of its COVID antiviral pill known as Paxlovid in children ages 6-17. A news release from the company said the trial will assess the safety and efficacy of the drug in children with COVID symptoms and a confirmed infection who are not… read on > read on >
