New York health officials said Thursday that the first U.S. case of polio in nearly a decade has been confirmed in a young unvaccinated adult in Rockland County. “Based on what we know about this case, and polio in general, the [New York] Department of Health strongly recommends that unvaccinated individuals get vaccinated or boosted…  read on >  read on >

President Joe Biden has tested positive for COVID-19, the White House announced Thursday. “This morning, President Biden tested positive for COVID-19. He is fully vaccinated and twice boosted and experiencing very mild symptoms,” White House Press Secretary Karine Jean-Pierre said in a statement. “He has begun taking Paxlovid. Consistent with CDC [U.S. Centers for Disease…  read on >  read on >

Better have some savings stored up before you rush to the delivery room: A new analysis shows the average out-of-pocket expense for delivering a child in the United States is nearly $3,000, even if you’re insured. Other studies have looked at the costs for specific services, such as Cesarean sections versus vaginal deliveries, but those…  read on >  read on >

A COVID-19 infection might put pregnant women at risk of premature birth, but only if they’re in their last trimester, Israeli researchers report. “The results are encouraging and reassuring that COVID-19 infection during pregnancy is not associated with any type of pregnancy loss,” said Dr. Tal Patalon, head of the Kahn-Sagol-Maccabi Research and Innovation Center…  read on >  read on >

Having friends in childhood may help keep you clean and sober as a young adult, new research suggests. Researchers from Arizona State University (ASU) interviewed more than 300 college students who participated in assessments that focused on childhood loneliness, stress levels and drinking behaviors. The results determined there was a link between feelings of loneliness…  read on >  read on >

Roughly 30 million Americans have an eating disorder in their lifetime, and calls to a nationwide support group have surged during the COVID-19 pandemic. Between March 2020 and October 2021, the National Eating Disorders Association (NEDA) recorded a 58% increase in calls, texts and emails seeking help. Behind opioid addiction, eating disorders have the second…  read on >  read on >

Medical schools are doing a better job of recruiting minority students, but they still struggle to keep those would-be doctors on the roster. That’s the conclusion of a new study that found minorities were more likely to leave medical school than their white peers. And that can mean fewer doctors for under-served communities, the researchers…  read on >  read on >

Many have experienced side effects after getting a COVID vaccine — tiredness, fever, headache and soreness are the most common. But a new study confirms that people who have periods may experience lesser known issues — heavier periods or breakthrough bleeding. Researchers found certain people were more likely to experience one or the other after…  read on >  read on >