Pharmaceutical giant Merck & Co. said Friday that it will seek federal approval for emergency use of its new antiviral pill molnupiravir, after a clinical trial showed the drug halved the risk of hospitalization or death when given to high-risk people shortly after infection with COVID-19. The new medication is just one of several antiviral… read on > read on >
All Mommy:
Silver Lining Found in Pandemic: Fewer Teens Are Vaping
It turns out that the pandemic has reaped one unexpected benefit: As teens were kept home more often, their use of electronic cigarettes dropped by nearly 40%, a new report finds. U.S. health officials said these numbers should be taken with a grain of salt, but the decrease in vaping in 2021 is probably real… read on > read on >
Breastfeeding Longer May Lower Postpartum Depression Risk
Besides the long-established benefits of breastfeeding for baby and mom, a new study reports one more: Nursing could help chase the blues away. It is linked to a lower risk for postpartum depression — the so-called “baby blues” — and nursing for a longer time may further ease depression symptoms, according to the findings. “Women… read on > read on >
Sibling Bullying Carries Long-Term Mental Health Costs
FRIDAY, Oct. 1, 2021 (HealthDay News) – Bullying by a brother or sister in childhood can have lasting effects, threatening mental health in the teen years, new British research suggests. Researchers found that mental health was affected whether one was the bully or the victim. “Of particular note was the finding that even those who… read on > read on >
Active Learning Best for Students: Study
Whether you’re a kid or a college student, you’ll learn more with interactive activities, discussions, movement and even AI-enhanced technologies than you will just sitting still and listening, a new study suggests. Learning methods that work best are hands-on, as well as what the researchers called “minds-on” and “hearts-on,” using emotional and social support, the… read on > read on >
CDC Pushes Hard on Vaccination for Pregnant Women in New Advisory
The country’s leading health agency on Wednesday implored all Americans who are pregnant, breastfeeding or planning to become pregnant to get a coronavirus vaccine. COVID-19 poses a serious risk to women who are expecting, since they are vulnerable because of pregnancy’s dampening effect on their immune system, experts say. But less than one-third of pregnant… read on > read on >
Second Report on Toxins in Baby Foods Finds Continuing Problems
Despite the troubling findings of a congressional report released earlier this year on toxins in baby foods, a new report finds even more manufacturers are selling baby foods that contain potentially unsafe levels of heavy metals. The toxins in question include dangerous levels of arsenic, lead, cadmium and mercury, among others. “No level of toxic… read on > read on >
SmartWatches Detect Viral Infection Before Symptoms Surface in Study
Someday, your smartwatch might be able to tell you if you’re coming down with a virus and how sick you’ll be — even before symptoms start. In a small study, researchers showed that a wearable device, like a Fitbit or Apple Watch, could detect which patients had the H1N1 flu and which had a common… read on > read on >
LGBQ Teens More Likely to Contemplate Suicide at Younger Age
Kids who are gay, bisexual or questioning their sexuality may be vulnerable to contemplating suicide at a tender age, a new U.S. government study finds. It has long been known that teenagers who are part of sexual minorities have a higher risk of suicidal thoughts and behaviors, compared to their heterosexual peers. That includes kids… read on > read on >
AI Model Predicts Which Animal Viruses Are Likely to Jump to Humans
Artificial intelligence (AI) might be able to spot the next virus to jump from animals to humans, Scottish researchers report. Identifying diseases before they become a threat to humans is challenging, because only a few of the nearly 2 million animal viruses can infect humans. By developing machine learning models, researchers can analyze genetic patterns… read on > read on >