MONDAY, March 3. 2021Despite not knowing how long another jab might provide protection, the Biden administration plans to offer a second COVID booster shot to Americans 50 and older. Optional second boosters of the Pfizer or Moderna vaccines could be authorized by the U.S. Food and Drug Administration as soon as this week, people familiar… read on > read on >
All Lifestyle:
Owners Can Play Big Role in Dogs’ Problem Behaviors
Chasing light shimmers reflected onto a wall. Obsessive licking or chewing. Compulsive barking and whining. Pacing or tail chasing. Nearly one in three pet dogs suffer from these ADHD-like repetitive behaviors — and researchers now suspect that an animal’s home life could be the cause. A study involving thousands of Finnish pet dogs found that… read on > read on >
Had COVID or Gotten Vaccine? Hospitalization Is ‘Extremely Uncommon’
Been vaccinated? Already had COVID? New research shows that your chances of winding up in the hospital if you get a breakthrough infection are practically nil. In the study, scientists looked at more than 106,000 hospitalized primary care patients, aged 18 and older, at the Mayo Clinic in Rochester, Minn., who had tested positive for… read on > read on >
Deer Can Shed Coronavirus for 5 Days After Infection
White-tailed deer can shed and transmit the COVID-19 virus for up to five days after they’re infected, according to a study that also identified where the virus develops and replicates in deer. Five days is “a relatively short window of time in which the infected animals are shedding and are able to transmit the virus,”… read on > read on >
Out-of-Network Costs Raise Medical Bills for Special Needs Kids
Special needs children often require out-of-network care from specialists, which means more out-of-pocket costs and extra stress for families, a new study finds. “In the U.S., the reality is that the more health care needs you have, especially from specialists, the greater chance you will find your needs won’t be met, even if you have… read on > read on >
More Evidence COVID Raises Odds for Pregnancy Complications
If you’re pregnant and questioning whether you need to be vaccinated against COVID-19, new research might sway your decision. For mothers-to-be, the coronavirus appears to double the risk of serious pregnancy complications like preterm birth, according to a new California study. “These findings add to the growing evidence that having COVID-19 during pregnancy raises risks… read on > read on >
As Climate Change Worsens Allergy Season, Tips on How to Cope
Climate change is prompting longer pollen seasons and higher pollen counts, which spells trouble for people with seasonal allergies, allergists warn. “Allergy seasons have been changing in North America and across the globe, and we see greater changes the further you get from the equator,” explained Dr. Kara Wada, an allergist immunologist at Ohio State’s… read on > read on >
Vaccinated More Likely to Die During Omicron Wave If They Got J&J Shot: CDC
The COVID-related death rate among Americans who received Johnson & Johnson’s COVID-19 vaccine was more than double that of people who received other vaccines, new data from the Omicron surge show. For the week of Jan. 8, as cases of the highly contagious variant surged, the rate of COVID-related deaths among people who had the… read on > read on >
Smartwatch Heart Data May Be Less Accurate for Black Users
Millions of Americans use smartwatches or fitness trackers to check on their heart rate, but the accuracy may fall short for people of color, a new research review finds. The analysis, of 10 published studies, found that in four of them, wearable devices were clearly subpar in gauging the heart rate of people with darker… read on > read on >
Noisy Neighborhood? It Could Raise Your Odds for Heart Attack
Living in a noisy neighborhood may not only cost you sleep, it could also increase your odds for a heart attack, researchers say. They concluded that 1 in 20 heart attacks in New Jersey were associated with noise from highways, trains and air traffic. “When people talk about pollution, they’re usually talking about particles in… read on > read on >