Residents of nursing homes have been a particularly at-risk group throughout the pandemic, and the advent of the fast-spreading Omicron variant has them facing another wave of infections and deaths, new data shows. During the week ending Jan. 9, U.S. nursing homes reported more than 32,000 COVID-19 cases and 645 deaths among its residents, according… read on > read on >
Flu vaccines protect children against serious illness, even when the vaccine doesn’t match the circulating flu virus, according to a new study that reinforces the importance of flu shots. Flu viruses are constantly changing, and the effectiveness of flu vaccines can be influenced by the similarity between the viruses used in vaccine production and the… read on > read on >
Quitting smoking is a daunting challenge for anyone, but a new international study suggests that women may struggle more than men to kick the habit. Women were less likely than men to be successful on their first day of trying to quit, a critical predictor of long-term success, researchers found, although the team also discovered… read on > read on >
Parents struggling with infant feeding issues may have another reason to persevere: New research ties feeding problems with an increased risk of developmental delays. For the study, the mothers of nearly 3,600 children were surveyed about feeding problems at 18, 24 and 30 months of age, such as gagging, crying during meals or pushing food… read on > read on >
Think you’re safe from lung cancer because you’ve never smoked? Think again. While cigarette smoking is the main cause of lung cancer, it’s possible to get the disease without ever lighting up. “Anyone with lungs can get lung cancer,” said Dr. Missak Haigentz Jr., chief of Thoracic and Head and Neck Medical Oncology at Rutgers… read on > read on >
Unvaccinated pregnant women are putting themselves and their baby at risk for serious complications of COVID-19, according to new research out of Scotland. For women who have the virus within 28 days of their delivery date, those complications include preterm births, stillbirths and newborn deaths. Infant deaths are four times higher among unvaccinated women, the… read on > read on >
Want to look more alluring? Wear a mask. Really. That’s the takeaway from Welsh researchers who found that masking up may make men look more attractive to the opposite sex and that some kinds of masks do a better job of this than others. “Research carried out before the pandemic found medical face masks reduce… read on > read on >
The Biden administration can’t enforce a vaccine-or-testing mandate for large employers, the U.S. Supreme Court ruled Thursday. The 6-3 decision was driven by the conservative majority on the court. The mandate was a crucial component of the White House’s plan to tackle the COVID pandemic as cases skyrocket due to the Omicron variant. President Joe… read on > read on >
As the Omicron variant rages across the United States, an expert outlines how to reduce your risk of getting infected with COVID-19. Be cautious when it comes to social activities and consider the amount of risk you’re willing to accept in order to get together with others, said Dr. Michael Lin, an infectious disease specialist… read on > read on >
One in 10 people with COVID-19 could still be infectious beyond 10 days, and some could remain so for as long as two months, a new study suggests. U.K. researchers reported that a new test can detect whether the coronavirus is potentially still active. They used it to analyze samples from 176 people who had… read on > read on >
