News that the highly contagious Delta variant of COVID-19 can be picked up and spread by vaccinated folks has sparked confusion and concern, and an infectious disease expert wants to clarify. These worries follow a recent U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention recommendation that urged even vaccinated folks to wear masks indoors in areas… read on > read on >
Smoke from wildfires burning along the West Coast is choking the entire United States, reminding everyone of the hazards of climate change. But that haze isn’t just stinging your eyes and choking your breath — it poses a direct threat to your health, experts say. Wildfire smoke has been shown to increase risk of heart… read on > read on >
Dr. Anthony Fauci said Sunday he is hopeful that the U.S. Food and Drug Administration will give full approval to the Pfizer coronavirus vaccine by the end of August, and he predicted that a wave of vaccine mandates will soon follow. At the moment, the agency has only granted emergency use of the Pfizer, Moderna… read on > read on >
After lagging behind for months, the European Union (EU) now has a higher COVID-19 vaccination rate than the United States. Rates of people in the 27-member EU with at least one dose have climbed from less than 4% in mid-February to 60%, while rates in the United States rose from nearly 12% to less than… read on > read on >
An experimental gel has shown early promise in treating the most common form of skin cancer — hinting at a potential alternative to surgery in the future. Researchers tested the gel in 30 patients with basal cell carcinoma (BCC), a skin cancer diagnosed in more than 3 million Americans each year. The tumors rarely spread… read on > read on >
Vaccination is the best way parents can protect the health of kids 12 and older during the COVID-19 pandemic, the American Academy of Pediatrics says. AAP offers a checklist to prepare older kids and teens for the shot. To begin, tell their health care provider you’re planning to have your child vaccinated against COVID. Ask… read on > read on >
Gangrene. Throat cancer. A newborn on a feeding tube. Gruesome warning images like those on cigarette packs do indeed scare smokers, but they should be combined with other anti-smoking measures, a new study finds. These kinds of graphic warning labels were approved by U.S. lawmakers in 2009, but implementation has been stalled until legal challenges… read on > read on >
Telemedicine may fall short when it comes to people with voice and speech disorders, researchers report. There was a significant rise in telemedicine use — health visits using computer, tablet or smartphone video conferencing — during the COVID-19 pandemic. And even though the pandemic “appears to be waning, telepractice popularity is here to stay,” said… read on > read on >
Admit it, you’ve probably put off doctor visits whenever possible during the pandemic, and getting back on track with your health care is a daunting prospect. Never fear, says an expert who offers some advice on resuming in-person health care visits. The first step is to push aside any shame about falling behind on regular… read on > read on >
Spit and scan. That’s all you have to do, and in less than an hour, you can not only find out if you have COVID-19 but what variant you have, all without leaving your home. This is the hope and promise of a new saliva-based COVID-19 test that is currently under development. “Several at-home tests… read on > read on >
