As demand for COVID-19 vaccination in the United States shows signs of declining, President Joe Biden on Wednesday offered businesses new incentives to help more workers get their shots. He asked — but did not mandate — that businesses give employees paid time off to get vaccinated, and even offered special tax credits to businesses… read on > read on >
All Lifestyle:
Two Is Not Better Than One When It Comes to Blood Thinners
It may not be a good idea to take a daily low-dose aspirin if you’re also taking a widely used class of blood thinners called direct oral anticoagulants (DOACs), researchers caution. DOACs include drugs such as Eliquis (apixaban), Pradaxa (dabigatran), Lixiana (edoxaban) and Xarelto (rivaroxaban). They’re used to help prevent strokes from atrial fibrillation or… read on > read on >
Don’t Linger: ‘Aerosolized Droplets’ Hang in the Air After Toilet Flush
If you’re in a public restroom, you may not want to hang around too long, because lots of airborne pathogens are hanging around, too. Researchers from Florida Atlantic University’s College of Engineering and Computer Science conducted flush tests in a public restroom with both a toilet and a urinal. “After about three hours of tests… read on > read on >
Wildfire Smoke Can Trigger Eczema, Study Finds
When wildfires choked the air and turned the skies orange throughout the American West in recent years, they caused a variety of health problems from coughs and runny noses to life-threatening heart attacks and strokes. But eczema and other skin issues were a result of the wildfires, too, according to researchers from the University of… read on > read on >
Do You Live in One of America’s Unhealthiest Cities for Polluted Air?
More than 40% of Americans live with unhealthy air, according to the American Lung Association’s annual “State of the Air” report. Certain cities, and certain types of Americans, are far more prone to be affected. People of color are 61% more likely to live in a county shrouded in unhealthy air than are white people… read on > read on >
The Big COVID Vaccine Holdouts: Republican Men
Outspoken pandemic denier Ted Nugent announced this week that he’s tested positive for COVID-19, after 10 days of symptoms so severe that at times he “literally could hardly crawl out of bed.” But despite his illness, the Republican rocker from Michigan remains skeptical about COVID vaccines. “I haven’t taken the vaccine, because nobody knows what’s… read on > read on >
Supply May Soon Outstrip Demand in U.S. Vaccine Rollout: Report
Since the first COVID-19 vaccine was approved in December, millions of Americans have eagerly sought to find and receive one. But a new report finds that that could change over the next few weeks, as the pool of eager recipients shrinks and only the vaccine-hesitant remain. “While timing may differ by state, we estimate that… read on > read on >
Workers’ Deaths From Paint Stripping Chemicals Are on the Rise
A deadly chemical in paint strippers continues to kill workers despite its known dangers, a new study finds. The chemical methylene chloride, also known as dichloromethane (DCM), is a solvent found in paint strippers, cleaners, degreasers, adhesives and sealants. When inhaled, it produces large quantities of carbon monoxide that can cut off oxygen to the… read on > read on >
Have Allergies? See If You’re at Risk for Severe COVID Vaccine Reaction
Only certain people with high-risk allergy histories need to consult an allergist before they get a COVID-19 vaccine, according to new research. Investigators have updated their prior guidelines after analyzing data from more than 65,000 people who were fully vaccinated. “With more time and experience, we have been able to significantly narrow the group of… read on > read on >
Eviction Bans Helped Stop COVID’s Spread in Cities: Study
Eviction bans during the COVID-19 pandemic reduced infection rates not only in people who avoided displacement but also in their communities, according to a new study. “When it comes to a transmissible disease like COVID-19, no neighborhood is entirely isolated,” said study author Alison Hill, assistant professor of biomedical engineering at Johns Hopkins University, in… read on > read on >