Getting the HPV shot in adolescence can spare kids a lifetime of risk for cervical and other cancers related to the virus, but only half of American kids are up-to-date on these shots. Now, a new review suggests that if schools mandate HPV shots as an entry requirement for students, immunization rates rise. “A majority… read on > read on >
All Lifestyle:
Staying Fit Boosts Kids’ Mental Health
The benefits of physical fitness for kids spill over into their mental health, new research shows. Getting plenty of exercise may guard against depressive symptoms, anxiety and attention-deficit hyperactivity disorder (ADHD), a new study published April 29 in the journal JAMA Pediatrics found. And the more exercise, the better: Higher performance in cardiovascular activities, strength and… read on > read on >
Another Teen Vaping Danger: Toxic Lead, Uranium
Teens who vape frequently are exposing themselves to harmful metals like lead and uranium, a new study finds. Lead levels in urine are 40% higher among intermittent vapers and 30% higher among frequent vapers, compared to occasional vapers, results show. And urinary levels of uranium were twice as high among frequent vapers as occasional vapers,… read on > read on >
Painless Skin Patch Could Deliver Vaccines to Kids
Kids who don’t like vaccination shots might soon have an alternative in a painless skin patch, researchers say. More than 90% of 190 Gambian infants were protected from measles and all were protected from rubella after receiving a single vaccine dose through the patch, early trial results show. The patch contains an array of microscopic… read on > read on >
1 in 20 ER Visits Involve Homeless People
At major medical centers across the southeast, 1 in every 20 visits to emergency departments involve people who are homeless or face “housing insecurity,” a new U.S. study finds. Concerns of suicide was the leading medical reason bringing these types of patients to the ER and many were uninsured, said a team reporting recently in… read on > read on >
FDA Says First Round of Tests Show No Live Virus in Pasteurized Milk
Live bird flu virus has not been found in any of the first batch of retail milk samples tested, federal health officials said Friday. Amid an ongoing outbreak of bird flu in U.S. dairy cows, the early findings should reassure the public that the milk sold in stores remains safe, officials added. In the online… read on > read on >
Biden Administration Delays Menthol Cigarette Ban
A long-awaited ban on menthol cigarettes has been delayed indefinitely, the Biden administration said Friday. “This rule has garnered historic attention, and the public comment period has yielded an immense amount of feedback, including from various elements of the civil rights and criminal justice movement,” U.S. Health and Human Service Secretary Xavier Becerra said in… read on > read on >
Dogs Can Get Lyme Disease, Too
People worry about contracting Lyme disease from ticks, but they should be concerned for their furry friends as well, veterinarians say. Dogs throughout the United States are increasingly vulnerable to the tick-borne illness, say experts from the Virginia-Maryland College of Veterinary Medicine at Virginia Tech. Lyme disease was traditionally thought to be limited mostly to… read on > read on >
Vaccines Have Saved 154 Million Lives, Mostly Babies, Over Past 50 Years
Global vaccination efforts have saved an estimated 154 million lives, including 101 million infants, a new study led by the World Health Organization (WHO) shows. Immunization has contributed more to the health and survival of newborns than any other medical advance, researchers concluded. The measles vaccine has had the most significant impact on reducing infant… read on > read on >
Smokers, Former Smokers May Gain From Switch to Plant-Based Diet
Current and former smokers might lower their risk for emphysema if they adopt a highly nutritional plant-based diet, a new study shows. People with a history of smoking who adopted a plant-based diet had a 56% lower risk of developing emphysema, compared to those who ate more meat, researchers report. Further, the more veggies and… read on > read on >