In record time, the Omicron variant has become the dominant variant in the United States, accounting for 73% of new infections last week, the U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention said Monday. That rate suggests that there were more than 650,000 Omicron infections in the United States last week, the Associated Press reported. CDC… read on > read on >
All Lifestyle:
Big Review Confirms Power of Fasting Diets for Weight Loss
TUESDAY, Dec. 21, 2021 Intermittent fasting is all the rage due to its potential health benefits, and now a new review shows this style of eating really does produce weight loss and may even improve certain markers of heart health. Intermittent fasting is an umbrella term for several diets that alternate between feasts and fasts.… read on > read on >
Are Cortisone Injections Good or Bad for Arthritic Knees?
Cortisone injections have gotten a bad rap in recent years as a treatment for arthritis pain, because steroids are known to damage cartilage and could potentially cause the joint to further deteriorate. But a new study suggests that if used wisely, cortisone shots are as safe as another type of injection used to treat knee… read on > read on >
Throat Cancers Tied to HPV Are Rising Among U.S. Men, Women
You might have heard a lot about the human papillomavirus (HPV) and its role in cervical cancer, but this sexually transmitted virus can also cause another type of cancer. Rates of oropharyngeal cancer, which occurs in the middle part of the throat, are rising rapidly among older men throughout the United States. They’re also growing… read on > read on >
Make Asthma, Allergy Control Your Resolution for the New Year
If your New Year’s resolution is to keep your allergy and asthma symptoms under control in 2022, it’s best to do so in small steps, an expert says. “The best way to tackle health challenges is in small bits, and that goes for allergy and asthma control,” said Dr. Mark Corbett, president of the American… read on > read on >
More Evidence Heart Risk From COVID Vaccine Is Very Low
There’s a very low risk of heart inflammation after getting the Pfizer and Moderna COVID-19 vaccines, according to a new study that adds to previous research supporting the safety of the shots. The two mRNA vaccines had been linked in some studies with an increased risk of myocarditis (inflammation of the heart muscle) and myopericarditis… read on > read on >
Maker Cuts Price of Controversial New Alzheimer’s Drug in Half
The maker of the pricey new Alzheimer’s drug Aduhelm (aducanumab) said Monday it will slash the cost of its medication in half, effective Jan. 1, 2022. The move follows widespread criticism of the drug’s original $56,000-a-year price tag. The reduction in the wholesale acquisition cost announced by Biogen means that the annual cost for a… read on > read on >
Moderna Says Its Booster Protects Well Against Omicron
Moderna Inc. announced Monday that its COVID-19 vaccine booster shot significantly increased antibodies against the Omicron variant. “The dramatic increase in COVID-19 cases from the Omicron variant is concerning to all. However, these data showing that the currently authorized Moderna COVID-19 booster can boost neutralizing antibody levels 37-fold higher than pre-boost levels are reassuring,” Moderna… read on > read on >
Mom & Dad’s Holiday Stress a Downer for Kids, Poll Finds
Many parents want to make the holiday season magical for their kids, but for some the stress they feel trying to live up to that ideal may actually be doing the opposite. A poll from Michigan Medicine found that about 1 in 5 parents said their holiday stress level negatively affected their child’s enjoyment of… read on > read on >
Highly Inbred, French Bulldogs Face Higher Odds for 20 Health Issues
French Bulldogs are incredibly cute, sporting adorable snub snouts, big round heads, bright wide eyes and large bat ears. Unfortunately, the physical traits that make them one of the most popular breeds in the United States and United Kingdom also saddle them with a host of health problems, a new study shows. Frenchies have significantly… read on > read on >