Is air pollution a bigger health threat to minorities? Apparently so, claims a new U.S. study that finds while air pollution levels have fallen in recent decades, people of color still have more exposure to dirty air than white Americans do. Air pollution is linked to a range of health conditions, including heart disease, cancer… read on > read on >
COVID-19 vaccination provides far less protection to people with multiple myeloma than to survivors of other types of cancer, new research shows. The findings highlight the need for multiple myeloma patients “to be especially careful — to take social distancing seriously and utilize masking — even if they’ve been vaccinated,” said study senior author Dr.… read on > read on >
People with depression symptoms might find some help from online programs or smartphone apps — but the human component remains key, a new research review suggests. Not everyone with depression can readily get to face-to-face therapy — whether due to time, distance, money or stigma. But smartphones are nearly universal, and thousands of apps promise… read on > read on >
Compared to previous coronavirus variants, Omicron appears to cause less severe illness, but is more resistant to the Pfizer vaccine, researchers at South Africa’s largest health insurer report. The team at Discovery Health analyzed 211,000 positive coronavirus cases during the country’s fourth wave, including 78,000 attributed to Omicron. It’s the first major private study since… read on > read on >
Pfizer Inc. announced Tuesday that a final analysis shows its experimental antiviral pill Paxlovid sharply reduced hospitalizations and deaths among people at high risk for severe illness. The latest results, which reinforce an earlier analysis released in November, show that Pfizer’s drug cut hospitalizations and deaths by nearly 90 percent when taken within three to… read on > read on >
As COVID-19 cases surge nationwide, only about half of fully vaccinated nursing home residents have received a vaccine booster dose, the U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention reports. Research shows that the effectiveness of COVID-19 vaccines may decrease over time, especially among people aged 65 and older, and early studies suggest that boosters are… read on > read on >
A statewide indoor mask mandate will be reintroduced in California on Wednesday and last one month, officials in America’s largest state said Monday. “To ensure that we collectively protect the health and well-being of all Californians; keep schools open for in-person instruction; and allow California’s economy to remain open and thrive, the California Department of… read on > read on >
Stress about the COVID-19 pandemic may be eclipsing holiday joy for many older Americans, a new poll reveals. About half (47%) of 50- to 80-year-olds polled reported a mixed experience of joy and stress. One in five said they feel a lot of stress, while 38% said they have little to none. Those between 50… read on > read on >
Poor neighborhoods of color bore the brunt of a surge in violent crime in U.S. cities early in the COVID-19 pandemic, new research shows. “This study adds to the mounting body of research showing that equal opportunities — including the opportunity to live, work, learn, play and worship free from violence — are not afforded… read on > read on >
