Diane Kondyra knows a lot about the hidden dangers of diabetes. Both she and her husband have been diagnosed with the blood sugar disease, and her husband suffered one of its devastating complications in 2018 when he developed a staph infection that cost him part of his leg. Uncontrolled diabetes can restrict blood flow to… read on > read on >
Whether they’re household pets in South Africa, strays in India or living in rural Laos, dogs have similar microbes colonizing their digestive tracts. That’s the key takeaway from a new study that built upon existing research into the canine microbiome — the collection of bacteria that live inside dogs’ guts. Researchers noted that most other… read on > read on >
While it’s more widely known that polluted air can harm human health, another danger may be lurking at your feet. New research shows that soil, too, can contain contaminants that can impact health. These include pesticides and heavy metals. In this study, scientists focused on the impact of contaminated soil on the cardiovascular system. “Soil… read on > read on >
The natural gas being piped into your home contains a wide array of toxic chemicals, including nearly two dozen so harmful they’re classified as hazardous air pollutants, a new study says. Natural gas samples taken from 69 Boston-area cooking stoves were found to contain at least 21 different hazardous air pollutants, including benzene, toluene, ethylbenzene,… read on > read on >
New York City’s Mayor Eric Adams announced Thursday that the city has launched the first-of-their-kind mobile COVID-19 testing units that will also dispense the antiviral drug Paxlovid to those who test positive for the virus. The “Test-to-Treat” program is part of federal and city efforts to catch and treat infections early and be ready for… read on > read on >
Who you voted for at the ballot box may have the most influence over whether you’ve gotten a COVID-19 booster shot. Researchers studying vaccine hesitancy two years into the pandemic found that political party affiliation was a key determinant of where study participants got their information about the pandemic and vaccines. “Survey respondents who described… read on > read on >
(HealthDay News) – In a ruling that will curb efforts to fight climate change, the U.S. Supreme Court on Thursday limited the Environmental Protection Agency’s ability to regulate carbon emissions from power plants. The 6-3 decision comes as scientists are warning about the growing threat posed by global warming. It could potentially extend to other… read on > read on >
The U.S. Food and Drug Administration announced Thursday that it has asked vaccine makers to update their COVID-19 booster shots to target the Omicron subvariants known as BA.4 and BA.5. The two highly contagious subvariants now account for more than half of all new COVID cases in the United States. “As we move into the… read on > read on >
After being infected with COVID-19 earlier this month, Dr. Anthony Fauci experienced a rebound after taking the antiviral pill Paxlovid, but he maintained on Wednesday that the drug kept him out of the hospital. “Paxlovid did what it was supposed to do,” Fauci, 81, told the New York Times. He added that he thought the… read on > read on >
Anticipating a surge in booster shots this fall, the U.S. government said Wednesday that it is buying an added 105 million more doses of Pfizer’s COVID-19 vaccine. The $3.2 billion deal comes at a time when the government is trying to figure out the best way to update COVID vaccines to deal with the ever-changing… read on > read on >
