If you’re counting on a cloth mask to protect you from COVID-19, you may need to re-think that strategy, a new study shows. Researchers found that cloth face masks do little to fend off tiny airborne particles, while concluding that specialized N95 and similar masks do a much better job. “Masks are air filters, and… read on > read on >
Screening mammograms can lead to overdiagnosis of breast cancer, but a new study finds it happens less often than experts have thought. Researchers estimated that about 15% of breast cancers caught through routine mammography screening are overdiagnoses — meaning the tumors would never have caused harm if they had not been detected. The figure suggests… read on > read on >
Fresh data shows that Pfizer’s COVID vaccine is far less powerful at preventing infection among children ages 5 to 11 than teens, a finding that could leave some parents of younger children worried. The vaccine — the only one authorized for that age group in the United States — does prevent severe illness in young… read on > read on >
Although Texas Gov. Greg Abbott has deemed it “child abuse,” access to “gender-affirming” services cuts the odds of severe depression and maybe even suicide among transgender teens, a new study finds. Investigators came to that conclusion after tracking the mental health of 104 transgender and nonbinary kids, aged 13 to 20. Over a year, roughly… read on > read on >
First-time moms and new mothers of twins may be among those at greatest risk of postpartum depression symptoms, a large new study suggests. Postpartum depression is a common illness. In the United States alone, about one in eight women report depression symptoms soon after giving birth, according to the U.S. Centers for Disease Control and… read on > read on >
As coronavirus cases across the United States drop, nearly half of the 500 million free COVID tests offered by the federal government have gone unused, according to the White House. It said Americans have placed 68 million orders for packages of four free rapid tests per family, but about 46% of the tests are still… read on > read on >
Women with migraine may have a higher risk of preeclampsia and other pregnancy complications, a new study suggests. The researchers looked at more than 30,000 pregnancies in about 19,000 women over a 20-year period. “Roughly 20% of women of childbearing age experience migraine, but the impact of migraine on pregnancy outcomes has not been well… read on > read on >
Who hasn’t had the urge to trace their roots by buying consumer genetic testing kits? But in a new report, researchers warn that you may come across some unexpected, and potentially troubling, information if you discover relatives this way. “If you’re going to participate in one of these services, you should be ready to learn… read on > read on >
FRIDAY, Feb, 25, 2022Mass cullings have been implemented as a highly contagious form of avian flu has swept across the eastern half of the United States in recent weeks, killing both farmed poultry and wild birds. “It’s very concerning, given how quickly this thing is accelerating,” Henry Niman, a biochemist in Pittsburgh who studies the… read on > read on >
Many folks have been waiting over two years for the chance to hear live music and see sports in person again, but if you plan to attend events you still need to protect yourself against COVID, an expert says. “We are doing much better and our viral numbers are improving rapidly and dramatically, so that’s… read on > read on >
