The baby “boom” that some expected during last year’s pandemic lockdowns has turned into a baby “bust.” The U.S. birth rate continued to drop in 2020, marking the sixth consecutive year with fewer babies born in America and raising concerns about the economic effects of declining population levels. There were about 3.6 million babies born… read on > read on >
Older women with low levels of vitamin D may have more pain after total knee replacement than those with adequate levels of the nutrient, a new study suggests. Vitamin D is an important part of a healthy diet, and its benefits include protecting against bone disease and maintaining soft tissue health. Estrogen deficiency, inactivity and… read on > read on >
While it’s well established that autism and certain eating issues go hand in hand, does gender also play a role? Apparently it does, according to Swedish researchers who set out to better understand whether being male or female influenced eating issues in people who have autism. The study found that autistic traits predicted eating problems,… read on > read on >
The U.S. Food and Drug Administration plans to expand emergency use of Pfizer’s coronavirus vaccine by next week so that children as young as 12 can be immunized. After Pfizer’s trial in adolescents showed its vaccine worked as well in teens as it does in adults, the FDA started preparing to add an amendment covering… read on > read on >
Two widely used COVID-19 vaccines — Pfizer and Moderna — will likely remain powerfully protective against developing serious illness even if coronavirus variants somehow manage to infect vaccinated patients, new research suggests. Both vaccines are based on messenger RNA (mRNA) technology. And investigators say that, at least in theory, such technology can deploy multiple levels… read on > read on >
Giving birth during the coronavirus pandemic presents its own challenges, but the American Society of Anesthesiologists (ASA) wants to reassure pregnant women that they need not panic. Instead, they “should be comforted to know that the hospital is a very safe place to have a baby now,” said Dr. Beverly Philip, president of the ASA.… read on > read on >
When the coronavirus pandemic hit, a number of services that people count on were put on hold — unfortunately, this included therapeutic and educational services for those with autism, according to a new study. To determine this impact, UCLA’s Center for Autism Research and Treatment distributed a national survey between April 15 and May 1,… read on > read on >
Here’s reassuring news for moms-to-be: Pregnant women who receive the Pfizer-BioNTech or Moderna COVID-19 vaccines appear to transfer protective antibodies to their babies, a new study says. The researchers assessed 122 pregnant women who received the vaccines. They also analyzed the cord blood of the women’s babies at the time of birth. The helpful antibodies… read on > read on >
Americans’ anxiety and concerns about COVID-19 remain high a year into the pandemic, and mental health effects of the health crisis are on the rise, a new survey shows. Hispanic (73%) and Black Americans (76%) are more anxious about COVID-19 than white people (59%), according to the American Psychiatric Association (APA) online survey of 1,000… read on > read on >
Health care in rural America has become ever more scarce during the coronavirus pandemic, with folks finding it increasingly difficult to find a doctor or get to a hospital. For a decade, rural areas have been losing hospitals to financial problems, forcing residents to either drive long distances or shrug their shoulders and forgo needed… read on > read on >
