A panel of science advisers to the U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevent recommended on Thursday that a single booster dose of the Pfizer COVID-19 vaccine can be given to 5- to 11-year-olds. The move is expected be confirmed by a sign-off from CDC director Dr. Rochelle Wallensky, and follows on authorization from U.S.… read on > read on >
Two drugs are better than one when it comes to stopping asthma attacks in progress, a new clinical trial has found. The study, of more than 3,100 asthma patients, found that a two-drug “rescue” inhaler worked better than a standard inhaler in thwarting severe asthma exacerbations — helping some patients avoid trips to the hospital.… read on > read on >
U.S. hospitals are running low on contrast dye injected into patients undergoing enhanced X-rays, CT scans and MRIs. The fluid, which makes the routine but potentially life-saving scans readable, helps doctors identify clots in the heart and brain. The shortage is expected to last until at least June 30, the American Hospital Association (AHA) says.… read on > read on >
Folks often believe that video games rot a kid’s mind, but a new study argues the opposite could be true. Children actually might get a brain boost from playing hour after hour of video games, researchers report. American kids between 9 and 10 years of age who spent more time playing video games experienced a… read on > read on >
Many people who are overweight or obese avoid cancer screening for fear of stigma and judgment about their weight, British researchers report. In a review of 10 published studies, researchers found that many doctors around the world don’t look kindly on patients with obesity, an attitude that can affect treatment and screening for breast, cervical… read on > read on >
Is an upcoming final exam or big-time job interview stressing you out? Hug your honey. That’s the takeaway from new research that showed how embracing your significant other can help calm women. But sorry, guys, the same isn’t true for you, according to the study published May 18 in the journal PLOS ONE. “As a… read on > read on >
Getting a COVID-19 shot after you’ve been infected could reduce your risk of developing prolonged COVID symptoms, or so-called long COVID, according to a new study. “Our results suggest that vaccination of people previously infected may be associated with a reduction in the burden of long COVID on population health, at least in the first… read on > read on >
It’s getting hotter and hotter outside due to global warming and, as a result, outdoor workers in southwestern states are increasingly vulnerable to heat-related illnesses. Making matters worse, many of these workers may not realize their health is in jeopardy. This is the main finding of a new study that looked at how extreme heat… read on > read on >
Pollution from varied sources caused 9 million deaths worldwide in 2019, accounting for 1 in 6 of all deaths, a new study says. Of those pollution-related deaths, three-quarters — close to 7 million — were caused by outdoor or indoor air pollution. Toxic chemical pollution (including lead) caused 1.8 million deaths — a 66% increase… read on > read on >
Annual lung cancer screenings are strongly encouraged for men and women in danger of developing lung cancer. But new research finds that among those who do get assessed, nearly half fail to seek prompt follow-up care when the CT scans pick up a potential problem. The stats are troubling, said study author Dr. Matthew Triplette,… read on > read on >
