It’s known that certain chronic health conditions up the odds of death from COVID-19. Now, new research identifies another risk factor. Shorter telomeres are associated with an increased likelihood of death from COVID-19, particularly in older women, researchers say. Telomeres are protective caps on the end of chromosomes (DNA) that shorten with age. Previous research…  read on >  read on >

Scientists have long known that as the Earth warms due to climate change, plants produce more pollen, making allergy season longer and more pronounced. Now, a new survey finds that hay fever sufferers are increasingly taking notice. In a poll of more than 2,000 U.S. adults conducted by the Harris Poll in partnership with HealthDay,…  read on >  read on >

Two in five adults with attention-deficit/hyperactivity disorder say their mental health is excellent, which is significantly lower than people without the disorder, but still an encouraging finding, according to the authors of a new study. Their analysis of a Canadian government mental health survey found that 42% of 480 respondents with attention-deficit/hyperactivity disorder (ADHD) termed…  read on >  read on >

Many kindergartners fell behind on their childhood vaccinations during the pandemic, U.S. health officials warned Thursday. The drop has not been precipitous: About 94% of kindergarteners had their required vaccines during the 2020-2021 school year, a drop of about one percentage point and just below the 95% vaccination target, the U.S. Centers for Disease Control…  read on >  read on >

After 23 years of decreases in overall air pollution levels, a new report shows that the United States recorded the highest ever number of “very unhealthy” and “hazardous” air quality days between 2018 and 2020. In its State of the Air 2022 report, the American Lung Association said more than 137 million Americans reside in…  read on >  read on >