It’s very frustrating to get a COVID-19 vaccine and then wind up catching the virus anyway. But these breakthrough infections actually do you a world of good, providing a powerful boost to your existing vaccine-induced immune protection, a new study reports. People infected after getting a basic two-dose COVID vaccination experienced an immune response equal…  read on >  read on >

Use of the over-the-counter sleep aid melatonin is increasing among young people, and calls to poison control centers and visits to the emergency room are also on the rise. This is mostly because young children and teens are accidentally ingesting more of the supplement than is safe, according to the U.S. Centers for Disease Control…  read on >  read on >

Folks who drink two or three cups of coffee daily appear to live longer than people who don’t care for the beverage, new research shows. Coffee lovers also seemed to have healthier hearts, which might contribute to the longevity boost, said the team of Australian investigators. The findings were published Sept. 27 in the European…  read on >  read on >

Too much anxiety isn’t good for anyone, but a new study suggests it is particularly perilous for pregnant women because it can raise the chances of their child being born early. Given that finding, the researchers recommended that doctors screen for anxiety during the first and third trimesters of pregnancy. “Anxiety about a current pregnancy…  read on >  read on >

Head lice are ubiquitous still, so there’s a good chance your son or daughter could develop an infestation. Now, the nation’s leading pediatrics group is issuing new guidelines to help schools and families cope. The American Academy of Pediatrics (AAP) is emphasizing education to reduce stigma and manage infestations. The new guidelines are the first…  read on >  read on >

Both Pfizer and Moderna have asked the U.S. Food and Drug Administration to approve their updated coronavirus boosters for children. The “bivalent” shots, like those that adults were able to start receiving this month, target both the original coronavirus and the Omicron BA.4 and BA.5 subvariants. Pfizer has asked the FDA for approval of its…  read on >  read on >