Don’t let a picture-perfect snowfall turn deadly. Shoveling snow can cause heart attacks or sudden cardiac arrest in folks with heart conditions and even in those who are unaware that they have heart disease, the American Heart Association (AHA) warns. “Shoveling snow is a very strenuous activity, made even more so by the impact that…  read on >

Give yourself and your loved ones the gifts of health and safety this holiday season, the U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention suggests. The agency outlines 12 ways to do that, beginning with a reminder that washing your hands with soap and clean running water for at least 20 seconds helps prevent the spread…  read on >  read on >

Determining whether a young person with autism is ready to drive can be tricky for their health care providers. That’s the upshot of a new survey that included 78 pediatric physicians, psychologists and other providers in Pennsylvania and New Jersey. Half of the respondents said they routinely talk to teen patients about their transportation needs…  read on >  read on >

Summer can sizzle in the city, but a new report finds urban living is getting hotter than ever before. The research shows that city dwellers may be suffering from what scientists call an urban “heat penalty” — an extra two to six hours a day of uncomfortably hot summer temperatures. And most of those sweltering…  read on >  read on >

At least 48 passengers and crew members on Royal Caribbean’s Symphony of the Seas — the world’s largest cruise ship — have tested positive for COVID-19 and have been quarantined, the company said Monday. Of the 48 people who tested positive during the sailing, 98% were fully vaccinated. That’s not surprising, since the overall vaccination…  read on >  read on >

Large, simultaneous heat waves have become much more common in northern regions worldwide due to climate change and could have disastrous consequences, researchers warn. The investigators also found that these concurrent heat waves are becoming larger and hotter. “More than one heat wave occurring at the same time often has worse societal impacts than a…  read on >  read on >

The deadly tornadoes that devastated communities in multiple states this past weekend have destroyed many homes and left others without power. But if people turn to generators to manage in the aftermath, they should use caution, the U.S. Consumer Products Safety Commission (CPSC) warns. Portable generators can expose users to increased risk of carbon monoxide…  read on >  read on >

The world isn’t ready to prevent or deal with another pandemic because many nations aren’t taking the necessary steps to prepare for what is likely an inevitable future scenario, a new report shows. The Global Health Security (GHS) index — an assessment of preparedness for various health emergencies and problems — is produced by the…  read on >  read on >