U.S. wildfires have become larger, more frequent and more widespread in the past two decades, and the situation will become even worse in the future, a new study warns. “Projected changes in climate, fuel and ignitions suggest that we’ll see more and larger fires in the future,” said lead author Virginia Iglesias, a research scientist… read on > read on >
Knee replacement surgery is one of the most common procedures in the United States, with more than 790,000 performed each year. Deciding the time for knee replacement needs to be determined by you and your doctor, but certain factors make it more likely, according to experts at Keck Medicine of the University of Southern California.… read on > read on >
Most medical debt will be dropped from Americans’ credit reports as of this summer, the top three credit reporting agencies said Friday. The announcement by Equifax, Experian and TransUnion comes as medical bills have become the largest source of personal debt in the United States, CBS News reported. Credit reports are used by lenders to… read on > read on >
Consider it a silver lining, courtesy of the coronavirus: A new government report reveals that both cigarette smoking and electronic cigarette use dropped slightly among American adults during the first year of the pandemic. The findings, published March 18 in the Morbidity and Mortality Weekly Report, are based on a survey of more than 31,000… read on > read on >
Using medical marijuana to treat pain, anxiety or depression may quickly lead to dependence, without relieving symptoms, a new study suggests. Those most at risk for misusing medical marijuana are patients using it to treat anxiety and depression, the researchers found. Based on these findings, the benefits of medical marijuana may have been exaggerated, the… read on > read on >
Moderna said late Thursday that it has asked the U.S. Food and Drug Administration to approve the emergency use of a second booster of its COVID vaccine for all adults. In a statement, the company noted its request is based partly on recent data from the United States and Israel showing how well its vaccine… read on > read on >
Most brain studies that rely on MRI scans don’t include enough people to provide trustworthy results, researchers say. These brain-wide association studies use MRI (magnetic resonance imaging) to see how brain structure and function connect with personality, behavior, thinking, neurological conditions and mental illness. Such studies require thousands of participants to get accurate results, but… read on > read on >
The potentially deadly tick-borne Heartland virus is spreading across the United States and has now been found in Georgia, Emory University researchers report. First identified in Missouri in 2009, the virus is found in the Southeast and Midwest and is spread by the lone star tick. The genetic fingerprint of the virus found in Georgia… read on > read on >
The COVID-19 pandemic has been tough on America’s teachers, and nearly half of those recently surveyed said they’re thinking about quitting their jobs or switching schools. Enforcing mask-wearing and pivoting to remote learning hasn’t been easy. But many teachers and other school staff have also endured harassment and threats of violence from students and parents… read on > read on >
Could cigarette taxes help lower newborn and infant death rates? Yes, claims a new study. The researchers suggest that pregnant women are less likely to smoke when tobacco taxes are raised, leading to fewer infants being exposed to secondhand smoke. Smoking during pregnancy and secondhand smoke exposure are known to increase the risk of infant… read on > read on >
