As monkeypox continues to spread, with nearly 3,500 cases now reported in the United States, the Biden administration is weighing whether to declare the outbreak a public health emergency. The administration may also name a White House coordinator to supervise the response, all in an effort to keep the virus from becoming endemic in the… read on > read on >
All Mommy:
Gun Deaths Rose 30% Among U.S. Kids in a Decade
A grim new analysis finds that American youth became 30% more likely to die as a result of gun violence over the past decade. The jump in risk appears to have been largely driven by big spikes in gun-related suicides, as well as increases in all manner of gun-related deaths among both girls and non-Hispanic… read on > read on >
Telehealth Visits Can Boost Prenatal, Maternal Care
Seeing their doctors via telehealth instead of in person during the COVID-19 pandemic appears to have been as good, and sometimes even better, for pregnant women and new moms. Researchers from Oregon Health & Science University reviewed 28 randomized clinical trials and 14 observational studies that included more than 44,000 women. The goal was to… read on > read on >
Obesity Rates Continue to Climb Among U.S. Kids, Teens
COVID Reinfections Are Now Common. Will Getting a Booster Even Help?
Everyone in the United States knows someone — often multiple someones — who have been reinfected with COVID-19. Despite vaccines, boosters and natural immunity, the highly infectious Omicron variant appears capable of getting around whatever protection you might have gained against SARS-CoV-2. Even President Joe Biden – famously vaccinated and fully boosted – announced July… read on > read on >
WHO Declares Monkeypox a Global Health Emergency
Monkeypox, which has now spread to 75 countries and sickened at least 16,000 people, has been declared a global health emergency by the World Health Organization (WHO). The declaration came after WHO Director General Dr. Tedros Adhanom Ghebreyesus overruled a panel of advisors that could not come to a consensus on whether the virus had… read on > read on >
Neighborhood Factors Could Raise Your Child’s Odds for Asthma
Inner-city kids are known to be at greater risk for uncontrolled asthma. Now, new research suggests that violent crime and poor school achievement may be two reasons why. “Experiencing violent crime can result in toxic stress, and decreased educational attainment is associated with lower health literacy,” said study author Dr. Jordan Tyris, a hospitalist at… read on > read on >
High Blood Pressure Doubles Odds That COVID Will Be Severe
Nearly half of American adults have high blood pressure — and that alone more than doubles their odds of being hospitalized if they are infected with the Omicron variant of the coronavirus, a new study revealed. This was true even in people who were fully vaccinated and boosted against COVID-19, according to researchers at the… read on > read on >
Summer Swim? Watch Out for ‘Swimmer’s Ear’
When weather gets hot and people start jumping into a pool, lake or ocean, cases of swimmer’s ear are likely to climb, but one expert says there are steps you can take to avoid the painful condition. The best prevention is a simple one: avoid getting water in your ears, said Dr. Hongzhao Ji, an… read on > read on >
When Genes Raise a Mom’s Risk for Cancer, Is It OK to Tell Kids?
It’s important to talk to kids about family health risks, but the impact of sharing this kind of information has been unclear. It’s probably safe, according to a new study, but how are you supposed to do it — and when? Researchers found that kids generally have no problem coping when cancer risk information is… read on > read on >