For the first time ever, more than 1 in 5 American kids is obese. From 2011 to 2012 and again from 2017 to 2020, rates of obesity rose for kids between 2 and 5 years of age as well as 12- to 19-year-olds, a new analysis of nationwide health survey data shows. And the uptick… read on > read on >
All Mommy:
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 >
First U.S. Polio Case in Nearly a Decade Reported in New York
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 >
Biden Tests Positive for COVID
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 >
Childbirth Now Costs Nearly $3,000 for Insured Americans
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 >