If the pandemic is causing you to lose sleep at night, you’re not alone. About 56% of Americans say they have what experts have dubbed “COVID-somnia,” an increase in sleep disturbances. Of people reporting these disturbances, 57% say they’re having trouble falling or staying asleep. About 46% are sleeping less; 45% are experiencing worse sleep;…  read on >  read on >

SUNDAY, Jan. 2, 2022 (HealthDay News) – When it comes to routine health screenings, resolve to include a memory assessment in 2022. The Alzheimer’s Foundation of America offers routine screenings that are both virtual and free every Monday, Wednesday and Friday. The process is quick, taking about 10 to 15 minutes. It includes a series…  read on >  read on >

It’s clear that these last couple of years have been tough for a lot of people. So now that it’s the week when people make New Year’s resolutions, go easy on yourself. If you’d like to make a resolution, start small, the American Psychological Association (APA) suggests. By small, the goal should be one you…  read on >  read on >

FRIDAY, Dec.31, 2021When a sick child spends time in the intensive care unit, the impact lasts even after the hospital stay is over. Added to it are days, weeks, sometimes months out of school for the young patient and extended work absences for their primary caregivers. “Pediatric critical illness impacts a family’s health and well-being…  read on >  read on >

A certain gene mutation known as APOE4 has long been known to raise the risk for Alzheimer’s disease. Now, researchers report it may also predispose people to increased susceptibility to COVID-19 infection and severe symptoms, including small brain bleeds. Researchers in Finland, where about one-third of people carry the APOE4 mutation, studied the link between…  read on >  read on >

By now, most folks know obesity is a leading risk factor for severe COVID-19, but a new study suggests that losing a significant amount of weight can reduce that risk. “The research findings show that patients with obesity who achieved substantial and sustained weight loss with bariatric [weight-loss] surgery prior to a COVID-19 infection reduced…  read on >  read on >

Economic status appears linked to increased risk of being born with a cleft palate or lip, new research suggests, building on past evidence that it can also result in delayed care and poorer outcomes. Cleft palate and cleft lip are the terms that describe openings or splits in the roof of the mouth and lip,…  read on >  read on >