The sooner girls are vaccinated against human papillomavirus (HPV), the lower their future risk of cervical cancer, a new study finds. Compared to unvaccinated women, the risk of cervical cancer was 87% lower among those who received the bivalent vaccine Cervarix at ages 12 or 13. By contrast, it was 62% lower in those who… read on > read on >
All Lifestyle:
Nearly 3 in 10 U.S. Adults Say They Have a Disability
A growing number of American adults say they have a physical or mental disability, a new study finds. Of more than 400,000 adults who responded to a 2019 U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention survey, 27% reported a disability. That’s a 1% increase since 2016, and represents about 67 million Americans, according to researchers… read on > read on >
More Evidence COVID Shots Less Effective for People With Weak Immune Systems
Transplant patients and certain other folks may need four shots of COVID-19 vaccine for optimal protection, new research suggests. People with weakened immune systems who’ve received both doses of two-dose COVID-19 vaccines aren’t adequately protected against severe illness. They should be given a third shot plus a booster, according to the study. “These findings indicate… read on > read on >
Medicare Could Negotiate Drug Prices Under Democrat Proposal
A measure designed to lower prescription drug costs for seniors has been added to President Joe Biden’s social safety net and climate change bill that Democratic leaders hope to bring to a House vote this week. For the first time, the measure would enable the federal government to negotiate prices for medications covered by Medicare,… read on > read on >
Insomnia Tied to Raised Risk of Aneurysm
Researchers may have unearthed a surprising risk factor for often-fatal brain bleeds: Sleepless nights. In a study of about 70,000 adults, researchers found that people with a genetic predisposition to insomnia were at somewhat higher risk of a brain aneurysm. An aneurysm is a weak spot in an artery wall that bulges out and fills… read on > read on >
Will an Early-Stage Breast Cancer Spread? New Analysis Offers Some Answers
It’s a life-and-death prediction: How likely is early-stage breast cancer to spread throughout the rest of a patient’s body? A new analysis that tried to make that call easier for doctors to predict found that a younger age at diagnosis was a strong indicator of spreading (“metastatic”) cancer. To come to that conclusion, the researchers… read on > read on >
Women Less Likely to Ask for More Time When Deadlines Loom
It’s a case of being your own worst enemy: New research shows that women are more reluctant to ask for deadline extensions at work than their male colleagues are, in part because they worry about being seen as incompetent. In a series of studies, researchers found that overall, women were less likely than men to… read on > read on >
Report Shows Arizona Man Infected His Dog, Cat With COVID-19
An Arizona man infected his dog and cat with the new coronavirus, according to a new case study that researchers say is the first in the United States to use genetics to document such transmission. The owner wasn’t vaccinated, did little to protect his pets, and had houseguests who weren’t vaccinated. The owner recovered from… read on > read on >
Pandemic Has Stressed Out Doctors
It’s a finding that stands to reason: A new study shows the pandemic has triggered anxiety and depression in many doctors. Researchers used surveys to assess the mental health of more than 5,000 doctors in Spain, Italy and the United Kingdom at two points during the pandemic — June 2020 and November/December 2020. Doctors in… read on > read on >
Have Diabetes? Here’s How to Save Your Sight
Managing your diabetes can be tough, but your eyes might thank you for it. Diabetic retinopathy is a diabetes complication that damages the retina’s blood vessels, often resulting in vision loss and blindness. The condition occurs in more than half of people with diabetes. It affects nearly 8 million Americans and that number is expected… read on > read on >