FRIDAY, Sept. 23, 2022 (HealthDay News) – Japan announced plans Thursday to relax tight COVID travel restrictions, making it easier for tourists to return to the country. Independent tourists can begin traveling to Japan on Oct. 11. Some tour groups had already been allowed. The country will also end a cap on tourist numbers, as…  read on >  read on >

Climate change could spell trouble for those with heart failure, a new study suggests. When the temperatures soared in France during the summer of 2019, the heat wave appears to have worsened the conditions of heart failure patients, researchers report. “The finding is timely, given the heat waves again this year,” said study author Dr.…  read on >  read on >

As summer gives way to fall, hot weather isn’t likely to let up anytime soon, and that means it’s important to stay hydrated to keep urinary tract infections at bay. Getting dehydrated is a leading risk factor for these common, painful infections, also known as UTIs. “Patients can experience more UTIs during the summer due…  read on >  read on >

Internet hotheads are often literally that, with hateful tweets rising in number as temperatures soar, a new study reports. Temperatures higher than 86 degrees Fahrenheit are consistently linked to heavy increases in online hate messages, according to a review of more than 4 billion English-language tweets. The researchers identified a “feel-good window” between 54 and…  read on >  read on >

A new report reveals a hidden secret about the nation’s beautiful rural roads: They’re too often fatal for motorists. Nearly half of all U.S. crashes happen on rural roads, despite only 19% of Americans living in those areas. The report, conducted by the Governors Highway Safety Association (GHSA), details why and what can be done…  read on >  read on >

In Washington state, 22 wildlife bridges and underpasses provide animals with a safe way through to search for food or escape predators and wildfires. It turns out the crossings have been benefiting humans, too. In a 10-mile radius around wildlife crossings, there are between one and three fewer collisions a year between vehicles and animals,…  read on >  read on >

Life-threatening heat waves will become more common by the end of this century, according to a new study. A “dangerous” heat index — what the temperature feels like when humidity and air temperature are combined — is defined by the National Weather Service (NWS) as 103 degrees Fahrenheit. NWS defines “extremely dangerous” as 124 degrees…  read on >  read on >

This year’s hurricane season has been quiet so far, but if and when it cranks up many American cities won’t be prepared to execute mass evacuations, a new study finds. After Hurricane Katrina slammed into New Orleans in 2005, the country bore witness to the pitfalls of not having an effective evacuation plan. Since then…  read on >  read on >