Wednesday is St. Patrick’s Day, a holiday often marked by one (or more) too many drinks. But experts warn that simple holiday fun can quickly turn deadly when alcohol is involved. The U.S. National Institute on Alcohol Abuse and Alcoholism (NIAAA) offered these reminders about the dangers of alcohol overdose and urged everyone to drink…  read on >  read on >

Ohio’s lockdown early in the COVID-19 pandemic led to a significant decline in traffic crashes, injuries and deaths, but numbers ticked up once the stay-at-home order ended, a new study finds. Like many other states, Ohio had a stay-at-home order prohibiting nonessential travel from March 9-22, 2020. Compared to the same stretch in 2019, Ohio’s…  read on >  read on >

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 >

Limiting global warming to targets proposed in the Paris Agreement could keep tropical regions from reaching temperatures that are beyond human tolerability, a new study projects. Researchers estimate that if countries are able to cap warming at 1.5 degrees Celsius above pre-industrial levels, the tropics will be spared temperatures that surpass the “survival limit.” But…  read on >  read on >

Fine particles in wildfire smoke pose a far greater threat to the lungs than similar particles in vehicle exhaust and other types of air pollution, researchers report. These fine particles — called PM2.5 — have a diameter about 1/20th the size of a human hair and can get into the respiratory tract, enter the bloodstream…  read on >  read on >

Clearing away snow can be hazardous to your health, experts warn. Shoveling snow causes 100 deaths a year in the United States, and injuries due to improper use of snowblowers are common. “Cold weather will cause the body to constrict blood vessels to maintain warmth, which can then raise blood pressure and the risk for…  read on >  read on >

Young drivers who cruise down the highway with a cellphone in hand probably exhibit other risky behind-the-wheel behaviors, a new study suggests. Talking or texting on a smartphone while driving correlates with a whole range of dangerous driving practices for many young, novice drivers — from intoxicated driving to speeding, unsafely passing other vehicles or…  read on >  read on >

If you suffer the itchy, sneezy, wheezy consequences of seasonal allergies, you’re probably painfully aware that pollen season is starting earlier and lasting longer than ever. It’s an upshot of climate change, and new research from Germany offers an explanation for this extended sneezin’ season: Pollen is on the move, with early blooming spores now…  read on >  read on >

Golfing legend Tiger Woods was recovering in the hospital on Wednesday following a crash where his SUV flipped over in a Los Angeles neighborhood on Tuesday morning. “Tiger Woods was in a single-car accident this morning in California where he suffered multiple leg injuries. He is currently in surgery, and we thank you for your…  read on >  read on >

Severe winter weather has a grip on much of the United States, which increases the risk of injuries from slipping on ice, shoveling, sports such as skiing and sledding, and car crashes. “One of the most frequently seen causes for visits to the emergency room this time of year is from slipping on icy sidewalks,”…  read on >  read on >