While COVID-19 has taken the lives of many children and caused serious illness for many more, it is generally agreed that the virus is much less likely to inflict severe damage in the young. But new data from the U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention has revealed a concerning trend: The rate of COVID-19-linked… read on > read on >
All Lifestyle:
Could Binge Drinking Set Your Heart Rhythm Off-Kilter?
Binge drinking on Super Bowl Sunday or other special occasions could put you at risk for a dangerous heart rhythm disorder called atrial fibrillation (a-fib), even if you’ve never had it, researchers warn in a new study. “Worldwide, alcohol is the most popularly consumed drug, and it now is clear that alcohol consumption is an… read on > read on >
Worried About Your Teen’s Social Media Use? Experts Offer Help
Is your teen staring at their smartphone all day? There’s many things parents can do to protect kids from the potentially negative effects of social media, experts say. While there are positive aspects to social media, there’s evidence it can pose risks to teens’ mental health due to issues such as bullying, body image concerns… read on > read on >
Immune-Based Drug Fights Advanced Endometrial Cancer: Study
A drug used to treat several types of cancer is also an effective treatment for aggressive forms of endometrial cancer, the second most common cancer in women worldwide, a new clinical trial shows. The endometrium is the inner lining of the uterus. “These findings suggest a long-term benefit to patients,” said lead researcher Dr. David… read on > read on >
Wildfires Plus Heat Make Breathing Dangerous in America’s West
Wildfires and rising temperatures are exposing more and more Americans to an air pollution double-whammy of smoke and smog, a new study warns. Researchers found that over the past 20 years, a growing number of people in western states have been simultaneously exposed to high levels of two kinds of air pollution: Fine-particle pollution generated… read on > read on >
Progress on Lung Cancer Drives Overall Decline in U.S. Cancer Deaths
A new report offers hope on the lung cancer front: Patients are being diagnosed at an earlier stage in their disease and living longer due to better access to care, higher screening rates and improved treatments. And that is driving overall cancer rates down, researchers discovered. Still, lung cancer remains the leading cause of cancer… read on > read on >
Nearly 600,000 U.S. Kids Had COVID Last Week
In a sign that the highly contagious Omicron variant is sparing no one, a new report shows that new COVID-19 cases among U.S. children spiked to a high of more than 580,000 for the week ending Jan. 6, a 78% increase from the week before. “Since many children remain unvaccinated — or are too young… read on > read on >
As Omicron Rages, How Important Are Case Counts Anymore?
The record-breaking numbers surrounding the Omicron surge are dizzying, with so many Americans falling prey to the highly infectious COVID-19 variant. The United States reported more than 1.3 million COVID cases on Monday, the highest daily total recorded for any country in the world. The seven-day case average has tripled in two weeks, reaching more… read on > read on >
Medicaid Rules May Affect Americans’ Cancer Survival
The chance of someone who is covered by Medicaid surviving cancer may depend in part on where they live, a new analysis finds. In states that had lower Medicaid income eligibility limits, cancer survival rates were worse for cancers both in early and late stages compared to states with higher Medicaid income eligibility limits, American… read on > read on >
Pfizer Says Omicron-Specific Vaccine Ready by March
Pfizer Inc. said Tuesday that a COVID-19 vaccine that specifically targets the Omicron variant will be ready by March. The company has already started making the new version of the vaccine, Pfizer CEO Albert Bourla told CNBC‘s “Squawk Box,” CBS News reported. Omicron now accounts for more than 98% of all new COVID-19 cases in… read on > read on >