Power outages are becoming more frequent in the United States, and a new study highlights one consequence of prolonged blackouts: carbon monoxide poisonings. Looking at major U.S. power outages between 2007 and 2018, researchers found that carbon monoxide poisonings spiked during those disruptions, versus the days immediately before. The pattern is not surprising, said lead… read on > read on >
All Travel:
Don’t Snow Shovel Your Way to a Heart Attack
Shoveling snow may trigger a heart attack if you’re not careful, especially if you already have risk factors, an expert warns. The combination of shoveling and cold weather can cause your arteries to spasm and constrict, explained Dr. Sam Kazziha, chief of cardiovascular services at Henry Ford Macomb Hospital in Detroit. “During the snow season… read on > read on >
More Folks Drive High When Pot Made Legal: Study
Here’s more evidence that marijuana may make driving more dangerous: As pot has been legalized in more countries and states, a greater number of people are driving intoxicated by the drug and crashing, researchers report. THC, the active ingredient in cannabis, has been detected in twice as many injured Canadian drivers since 2018, when cannabis… read on > read on >
Americans Should Avoid Travel to Canada: CDC
Americans should avoid travel to Canada due to “very high” levels of COVID-19 cases in that country, the U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention said Monday. The agency placed Canada under a Level 4 travel health notice, which is the highest category and includes other countries such as France, Germany, Britain, Spain and South… read on > read on >
Rain or Shine, Allergies Are Tough. What’s the Link to Weather?
If you think frequent changes in weather are triggering your allergy symptoms, you may be right. A shift from a cold front to a rainy day then back to warm weather can have an impact on those with allergies, said Dr. David Corry, professor of medicine-immunology, allergy and rheumatology at Baylor College of Medicine, in… read on > read on >
UK Eases COVID Testing Rules for International Visitors
British Prime Minister Boris Johnson on Wednesday announced that pre-departure tests for people traveling to the United Kingdom will no longer be required because restrictions meant to contain the international spread of the highly contagious Omicron variant are now meaningless. The change should come as welcome news to people who had refrained from traveling overseas… read on > read on >
Weak Action on Climate Change Is Stressing Young People Worldwide
While climate change calls to mind extreme weather and melting polar ice caps, government officials’ inaction to stop it is also affecting the mental health of young people, new research reveals. “This study paints a horrific picture of widespread climate anxiety in our children and young people. It suggests for the first time that high… read on > read on >
More Flights Canceled as Omicron Continues to Hit Flight Crews
The Omicron variant continued to keep flights grounded on Monday as airlines canceled at least 2,400 more flights around the world, including 900 in the United States. Several airlines acknowledged that COVID-19 was contributing significantly to the cancellations, not just the usual bad weather and maintenance issues, the New York Times reported. A JetBlue spokesman… read on > read on >
Science Shows Safest Plane Seating to Cut COVID Spread
Taking to the skies for a long-awaited holiday? Choose your seat on the plane wisely and don’t overlook familiar steps like keeping your mask on to reduce your odds for getting COVID-19 or another contagious disease, experts suggest. “Spacing is an obvious challenge on airplanes, especially when the planes are filled at or near capacity… read on > read on >
U.S. to Lift Travel Restrictions for Southern African Countries
MONDAY, Dec. 27, 2021 (HealthDay News) – Starting Dec. 31, the United States will lift travel restrictions from eight countries in southern Africa. The restrictions were first announced in late November in response to concerns about Omicron, the new highly contagious variant of COVID-19. Omicron was spotted first in southern Africa. The restrictions had been… read on > read on >