Once they’re pregnant, women have a lot of checkups to make sure they stay healthy. But a mom’s health preconception is vitally important, too, and a growing cause for concern. Increasingly, moms in the United States are starting their pregnancies already having heart risks like high blood pressure (hypertension), diabetes and obesity. A new study… read on > read on >
Many women with epilepsy have breakthrough seizures when they get pregnant, and researchers say they’ve figured out why. Their new study shows that pregnancy can trigger steep drops in blood levels of certain antiepileptic drugs soon after conception. “When it comes to epilepsy, maintaining a fine-tuned medication regimen is critical. Some people mistakenly believe that… read on > read on >
Edibles. In adults, they can be used recreationally or to help manage pain, nausea and anxiety. But these THC-loaded products, often sold as gummies, cookies and brownies, have fueled a four-year increase in the number of emergency calls for young children who mistakenly think they’re yummy treats. In 2021 alone, the New Jersey Poison Control… read on > read on >
The U.S. Food and Drug Administration announced Friday that it will postpone an advisory panel meeting that was slated for next week to weigh Pfizer’s COVID vaccine for use in young children. The FDA took the step after Pfizer notified the agency that it would like to wait until data is available on a three-dose… read on > read on >
The power of COVID booster shots does fade somewhat over four months, but they still continue to provide high levels of protection against severe disease, a new government study has found. Booster effectiveness against hospitalization during the Omicron surge was 91% during the first two months after a third dose, researchers from the U.S. Centers… read on > read on >
Vaccinated travelers will no longer have to take COVID-19 tests when they enter Britain, officials announced Friday. British residents and visitors who have had at least two doses of an approved COVID-19 vaccine now only need to fill out a passenger locator form before arrival, the Associated Press reported. Unvaccinated people will still be required… read on > read on >
Pregnant women who aren’t vaccinated against COVID-19 are at greater risk for delivering stillborn babies, and new research provides important clues about why. Unlike other fungal, bacterial or viral infections, which cross over the placenta to affect the fetus, SARS-CoV-2 is particularly lethal to the developing placenta, and this damage deprives the fetus of oxygen… read on > read on >
One in three Americans is exposed to a common and potentially harmful weed killer called 2,4-D, and children may be especially at risk, new research suggests. Exposure to high levels of the chemical has been linked to cancer, reproductive problems and other health issues. The effects of lower levels of exposure are unclear, but 2,4-D… read on > read on >
The pandemic has dramatically disrupted kids’ normal routines, but a new study suggests the initial lockdowns of 2020 did not necessarily hinder preschoolers’ language development. In fact, researchers found, there was an unanticipated “lockdown boost” in youngsters’ vocabulary growth — possibly because parents were spending more time at home. Studying families in 13 countries, the… read on > read on >
Many states are already dispensing with mask mandates, but the U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention’s director says COVID-19 case and hospitalization numbers in the United States remain too high to ease its mask guidelines. The agency “still recommends that all schools encourage students to wear well-fitting masks consistently and while indoors. And that’s… read on > read on >
