People fully vaccinated against COVID-19 should be tested for the virus if they come into contact with infected people, whether or not they have symptoms, say updated testing guidelines from the U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. The agency previously said that fully vaccinated people did not need to be tested after exposure to… read on > read on >
All Lifestyle:
Mississippi Health System Buckles Under ‘Astounding’ Rise in COVID Cases
An “astounding” rise in COVID-19 cases in Mississippi is putting intense strain on the state’s health care system. Compared to the first half of July, the number of infections more than doubled in the past two weeks and deaths rose by 51%. In Mississippi, deaths lost to COVID-19 now average between three and four a… read on > read on >
Biden to Announce ‘Vaccine or Testing’ Mandate for Federal Employees
President Joe Biden plans to announce on Thursday that all civilian federal employees will have to be vaccinated or submit to regular testing, masking and travel restrictions. White House officials said the administration is still finalizing the details of the new policy, which Biden will outline in a speech from the White House. In a… read on > read on >
FDA OKs Automatic Use of a Cheaper GenericĀ Insulin
U.S. pharmacists will now be able to automatically substitute a cheaper biosimilar for a more expensive brand-name insulin, the U.S Food and Drug Administration announced Wednesday. The agency’s approval of an “interchangeable” biosimilar could save diabetics and health plans millions each year, the Associated Press reported. Until now, doctors have had to specifically prescribe a… read on > read on >
More Than Half of Americans Plagued by Back, Leg Pain
There’s much Americans may disagree on, but many share one thing in common: chronic pain. More than half of U.S. adults suffer from pain, with backs and legs the most common sources, according to researchers from the U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention’s National Center for Health Statistics (NCHS). Overall, the investigators found that… read on > read on >
Testosterone’s Ties to Success May Be a Myth
Higher levels of testosterone don’t give men or women an edge in life, claims a new study that challenges a common belief. “There’s a widespread belief that a person’s testosterone can affect where they end up in life. Our results suggest that, despite a lot of mythology surrounding testosterone, its social implications may have been… read on > read on >
Why Strokes Can Affect Women, Men Differently
It is often said that stroke affects men and women differently. Now, scientists say the location of the stroke’s damage in the brain may help explain why. Women have more strokes, and are more likely to have symptoms such as fatigue and mental confusion rather than classic indications such as paralysis. Women also tend to… read on > read on >
Pandemic Boosted Paranoia and Conspiracy Theories, Study Confirms
The COVID-19 pandemic upended life in the United States in many ways. Now, a new study confirms another effect: paranoia and belief in conspiracy theories, especially in areas with low adherence to mask mandates. “Our psychology is massively impacted by the state of the world around us,” said study author Phil Corlett, an associate professor… read on > read on >
Cats Might Be Purrfect Model for Human Genetics Research
Dogs may be man’s best friend, but cats may hold critical keys to humans’ health. Our feline friends have the potential to become a valuable model for genetic research, because their genome is similar to that of people, according to Leslie Lyons of the Feline Genetics Laboratory at the University of Missouri in Columbia. “Using… read on > read on >
Pfizer Says 3rd Shot of Vaccine Boosts COVID Protection
New data show that protection from both doses of the Pfizer COVID-19 vaccine decreases slightly over time, but that a third dose significantly boosts levels of antibodies against several variants of the virus, including the highly contagious Delta variant that’s now dominant in the United States. Not everyone thinks a third dose is necessary or… read on > read on >