Here’s a silver lining to having to strap a mask across your face when you go out in public: That mask may also help guard against severe spring allergies, an expert says. Many patients with spring allergies are doing well this season because they’re spending more time indoors and wearing a mask when they go… read on > read on >
Despite the fact that Americans have been driving less during the pandemic, pedestrian deaths per mile in the United States spiked 20% in the first half of 2020, new research shows. The culprits? Increases in speeding, distracted and impaired driving, and other dangerous driving behaviors, researchers said. Factoring in a 16.5% reduction in vehicle miles… read on > read on >
With tens of millions of COVID-19 vaccine doses going into American arms, pressure is mounting for a U.S. “vaccine passport” that would allow the fully immunized to travel freely and more easily enjoy other aspects of pre-pandemic life. More than two dozen airline trade organizations, labor unions and the U.S. Chamber of Commerce have asked… read on > read on >
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 >
