The 2018 wildfire that destroyed 239 square miles in Northern California, including the town of Paradise, left a lasting mental health crisis in its wake. Many residents who survived the so-called Camp Fire are now grappling with chronic post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD) and depression, according to a new study in the International Journal of Environmental… read on > read on >
All Lifestyle:
U.K. COVID Variant May Be More Lethal, and Could Become Dominant U.S. Strain by March
Even as efforts to vaccinate Americans gain steam, more evidence has emerged that suggests a coronavirus variant already known to spread faster is also likely to be more deadly. The B.1.1.7 variant, which is thought to have originated in Britain, is already firmly entrenched in America and could soon become the dominant strain, according to… read on > read on >
Handgun Ownership Raises Odds for Gun Suicide
Owning a handgun increases a person’s risk of firearm-related suicide more than owning a shotgun, a new study finds. Researchers surveyed surviving loved ones of 121 gun owners who had died by suicide, including 93 who died by a firearm and 28 by other means. The survey respondents were asked about the types and numbers… read on > read on >
Not the Flu: COVID Death Risk Is 3.5 Times That of Influenza
The risk of death from COVID-19 is more than triple that from seasonal flu, researchers in Canada say. Their findings are similar to recent studies from the United States and France. The study was published Feb. 10 in the Canadian Medical Association Journal. “We can now say definitively that COVID-19 is much more severe than… read on > read on >
When Will Kids Get the COVID Vaccines?
For parents with questions about COVID-19 vaccines and children, Johns Hopkins Medicine experts offer answers. While vaccinations for adults are underway in the United States, clinical trials for the first U.S. Food and Drug Administration-authorized COVID-19 vaccines haven’t yet been completed for children and teens younger than 16. Before that age group can receive a… read on > read on >
Silent Killer: Watch Out for Carbon Monoxide Dangers This Winter
Carbon monoxide poisoning can prove fatal without a warning, because it can’t be seen, smelled or heard. It’s important to be aware of it, especially during winter when you’re indoors and using heat sources to stay cozy. The Nebraska Regional Poison Center has some tips for preventing carbon monoxide (CO) poisoning and recognizing symptoms of… read on > read on >
U.S. Schools Can Reopen, With Safeguards in Place: CDC
It may be safe for many of America’s kids to head back to classrooms, experts at the U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention announced on Friday. According to the agency’s new operational guidance, schools can safely reopen if they employ five key “layered mitigation” strategies based on the level of COVID-19 transmission in their… read on > read on >
Daytime Napping May Be in Your Genes
If you like to take a snooze in the afternoon, your genes may explain your love of daytime naps, researchers say. For their study, investigators analyzed data from the UK Biobank, which contains genetic information from nearly 453,000 people who were asked how often they nap during the day. The genome-wide association study identified 123… read on > read on >
Is Any Amount of Coffee Safe for Baby During Pregnancy?
Too much coffee during pregnancy could lead to kids with behavior problems later on. That’s the key takeaway from new research that examined 9,000 brain scans from 9- and 10-year-olds as part of the largest long-term study of brain development and child health. “The goalposts are moved by caffeine, and there are subtle, but real… read on > read on >
U.S. Will Have Enough Vaccine for All Americans by Summer: Biden
The United States will have enough COVID-19 vaccines to inoculate 300 million Americans by summer, President Joe Biden announced Thursday. During a tour of the National Institute of Health’s Viral Pathogenesis Laboratory, where the Moderna COVID-19 vaccine was created, Biden said his administration had secured the delivery of 600 million doses of the Moderna and… read on > read on >