It’s that time of year when flowers and trees bloom freely and pollen makes the lives of many miserable. But new research reveals a hidden risk: It could also make you more vulnerable to COVID-19 infection. COVID-19 infection rates waxed and waned with pollen counts in 2020, according to tracking data gathered across 31 countries…  read on >  read on >

School-based dental care cut cavities in half among thousands of elementary students, a new study says. “The widespread implementation of oral health programs in schools could increase the reach of traditional dental practices and improve children’s oral health — all while reducing health disparities and the cost of care,” said senior author Dr. Richard Niederman.…  read on >  read on >

If you are approaching menopause and you have some extra belly fat, new research suggests you might want to shed some inches now. Women who carry weight around their midsection during menopause may be more likely to develop heart disease even if their overall weight remains the same, researchers report. For every 20% increase in…  read on >  read on >

Researchers who recorded the most detailed images ever made of newborns’ lungs as they took their first breaths say the breakthrough could improve treatment of breathing problems in babies. “Respiratory problems are the most common reason we need to treat babies in intensive care,” said researcher David Tingay of Murdoch Children’s Research Institute in Melbourne,…  read on >  read on >

Many women suffer through countless urinary tract infections (UTIs), but a new study in mice offers hope that a vaccine could one day bring their nightmares to an end. “Although several vaccines against UTIs have been investigated in clinical trials, they have so far had limited success,” said senior study author Soman Abraham, a professor…  read on >  read on >