The world isn’t ready to prevent or deal with another pandemic because many nations aren’t taking the necessary steps to prepare for what is likely an inevitable future scenario, a new report shows. The Global Health Security (GHS) index — an assessment of preparedness for various health emergencies and problems — is produced by the…  read on >  read on >

“Fights off tumors and alleviates symptoms of chemotherapy,” one vape’s advertising claims, while another is touted as an “asthma remedy, ADHD remedy, and dementia treatment.” Don’t believe the hype. Despite claims that certain vaping products may alleviate health problems, there’s no proof that they do — and they may even cause health issues, the U.S.…  read on >  read on >

Cancer patients are at risk for serious COVID-19 illness, but some are still afraid to get vaccinated against the virus, new research shows. Study authors surveyed nearly 200 high-risk cancer patients at the Mays Cancer Center in San Antonio, Texas. Only 56% said they’d received at least one COVID-19 vaccine dose, compared to the community…  read on >  read on >

U.S. operating rooms got busy once again soon after the first round of pandemic shutdowns, according to a study that challenges the widely held belief that operations have been curtailed indefinitely during the age of COVID-19. “It’s an untold story,” said senior study author Dr. Sherry Wren, a professor of general surgery at Stanford University…  read on >  read on >

Children with hard-to-control asthma may get relief from adding an injectable antibody drug to their standard treatment, a clinical trial has found. The drug, called dupilumab (Dupixent), has been available for several years to treat stubborn asthma in adults and teenagers. Based on the new findings, the U.S. Food and Drug Administration recently gave it…  read on >  read on >

The U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention on Thursday backed the emergency approval of Pfizer’s booster shots for Americans aged 16 and 17. The decision came shortly after the U.S. Food and Drug Administration authorized a third dose for that age group; boosters for those aged 18 and up were approved in November. “Although…  read on >  read on >

Children at risk for multiple sclerosis (MS) might find some protection from the disease by spending more time in the sun, a small study suggests. Although MS is rare in children and young adults, those with relatives who have the condition have increased odds of developing the disease early. Exposure to sunlight may cut their…  read on >  read on >

A condition called “diabetic retinopathy” often threatens the vision of adults with diabetes, but new research suggests that kids with type 2 diabetes may be particularly vulnerable to the vision-robbing complication. In fact, these kids were nearly twice as likely to develop the condition as children with type 1 diabetes were, the researchers found. “The…  read on >  read on >

The United States reached a vaccine milestone Wednesday as health officials reported that 200 million Americans are now fully vaccinated. However, that news came as coronavirus cases and hospitalizations are spiking again in some parts of the country. According to the U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, the 200 million people who’ve gotten their…  read on >  read on >