Thanks to the Omicron surge this past winter, 3 in every 5 Americans have now been infected with COVID-19, a new government report shows. Once Omicron surfaced as the predominant variant in this country, the highest infection rates were seen among children and teens, and the upward shift was steep: Only 1 in 3 Americans… read on > read on >
All Mommy:
PTSD Often Haunts Family Members of Hospitalized COVID Patients
It remains one of the most painful images of the pandemic: Families who were not allowed to be by their loved ones’ bedside as they waged a lonely battle against COVID in a hospital ICU, with some forced to say goodbye via a smartphone or tablet held by a compassionate nurse who didn’t want a… read on > read on >
Taken Prior to Sex, New Combo Pill May Prevent Pregnancy for Days
Imagine a birth control pill a woman can take before having sex that prevents pregnancy for the next three to five days. This may become a reality, according to a small, new study. The traditional birth control pill is taken daily, while emergency contraceptive pills are taken after sex to prevent pregnancy from occurring, but… read on > read on >
White House Moves to Make COVID Antiviral Pills More Widely Available
Plans to nearly double the number of pharmacies and other locations that carry the antiviral pill Paxlovid for COVID-19 were announced Tuesday by the Biden administration. Demand for the drug has risen in recent weeks along with coronavirus cases, but many Americans have said they can’t find a doctor to prescribe the drug, or a… read on > read on >
Far More American Teens Carrying Guns These Days, Study Finds
If you think teen gun violence is not a pressing issue, a new study suggests otherwise. Researchers found the percentage of U.S. teenagers carrying handguns has risen by 41% over the past two decades — with notable increases seen among white teens from higher-income families. The researchers tracked handgun carriage among 12- to 17-year-olds between… read on > read on >
Who’s Least Likely to Get a ‘Breakthrough’ Case of COVID?
Are you vaccinated and wonder what your chances are of a breakthrough COVID-19 infection? A new study answers that question: Breakthrough COVID infections in fully vaccinated people are least likely to occur in those who’ve received an mRNA vaccine and who were infected with the coronavirus before vaccination. The study included more than 8 million… read on > read on >
Six in 10 COVID Patients Have a Symptom Persisting Over 1 Year
If you’ve had COVID-19, there’s a good chance that at least one symptom will still be haunting you a year later, new research suggests. The researchers found that six in 10 people who’ve had COVID-19 still have at least one symptom after one year, and symptoms that don’t resolve after 15 weeks are likely to… read on > read on >
White Women Tend to Get Better Pain Management After Childbirth
After childbirth, some women who received an epidural for pain will develop a debilitating headache. But minority women are less likely than white moms to receive the treatment that can provide relief, according to a new study. Researchers also found that even when women from minority groups received this care, it was more likely to… read on > read on >
WHO Says Acute Hepatitis Cases in Children Now Reported in 11 Countries
(HealthDay News) – The World Health Organization said it is investigating an outbreak of acute hepatitis among children that now involves 11 countries, including the United States. Among the 169 reported cases, at least one child has died from this inflammation of the liver and 17 children needed liver transplants, the WHO said Saturday in… read on > read on >
Only 1 in 4 Long COVID Sufferers Fully Recovered One Year Later
A year after being hospitalized with COVID-19, only about 25% of people felt fully recovered, a new study shows, and the risk of long COVID was highest among women, obese people and those who were on a ventilator. There are no specific treatments for long COVID, and researchers said these findings highlight the urgent need… read on > read on >