Pandemic Poses Short- and Long-Term Risks to Babies, Especially Boys
Liz Szabo, Kaiser Health News The pandemic has created a hostile environment for pregnant people and their babies. Stress levels among expectant mothers have soared. Pregnant women with covid are five times as likely as uninfected pregnant people to require intensive care and 22 times as likely to die. Infected moms are four times as […]
Biden to expand access to at-home COVID kits: 4 essential reads on the critical role of rapid tests
Matt Williams, The Conversation President Joe Biden has outlined plans to massively ramp up COVID-19 testing in an effort to curb – or at least slow – the spread of the highly infectious omicron variant across the U.S. In a speech on Dec. 21, 2021, Biden said he aimed to get out “as many tests, […]
Yes, we should be keeping the healthier hand-washing habits we developed at the start of the pandemic
Melissa Hawkins, American University People were washing their hands so much early in the pandemic that sensitive skin and soap shortages were common problems in 2020. All this focus on hand-washing was for good reason. The science uniformly demonstrates that frequent hand-washing reduces the risk of a variety of illnesses. It is low-hanging fruit in […]
The magnificent history of the maligned and misunderstood fruitcake
Jeffrey Miller, Colorado State University Nothing says Christmas quite like a fruitcake – or, at the very least, a fruitcake joke. A quip attributed to former “Tonight Show” host Johnny Carson has it that “There is only one fruitcake in the entire world, and people keep sending it to each other.” It’s certainly earned its […]
Flu: What should you do if you get sick?
What should I do if I get sick? Most people with flu have mild illness and do not need medical care or antiviral drugs. If you get sick with flu symptoms, in most cases, you should stay home and avoid contact with other people except to get medical care. If, however, you have symptoms of […]
Rapid tests play a crucial role in curbing COVID-19 infections – especially as people gather for the holidays
Nathaniel Hafer, UMass Chan Medical School As winter begins and the holidays are in full swing, the COVID-19 pandemic has entered another worrying phase. Emergence of the omicron variant, along with increasing rates of infections, have left many people unsure about their holiday plans. On Dec. 2, 2021, President Joe Biden outlined a series of […]
Dietary Supplements for Exercise and Athletic Performance: Fact Sheet for Consumers
What are dietary supplements for exercise and athletic performance and what do they do? If you get regular exercise—and especially if you’re an athlete and compete in sporting events—you know that a nutritionally adequate diet and plenty of fluids are important for maximizing your physical performance. But you may wonder if dietary supplements could help […]
4 Types of Exercise
Exercise and physical activity fall into four basic categories—endurance, strength, balance, and flexibility. Most people tend to focus on one activity or type of exercise and think they’re doing enough. Each type is different, though. Doing them all will give you more benefits. Mixing it up also helps to reduce boredom and cut your risk […]
Heart disease risk from saturated fats may depend on what foods they come from – new research
Marinka Steur, University of Cambridge and Nita Forouhi, University of Cambridge Heart disease is a major cause of death worldwide – responsible for some 9 million deaths a year. But it is preventable, and health behaviour changes – such as exercising more, quitting smoking and eating healthier – are often recommended. One diet change commonly […]
Is It Time to Change the Definition of ‘Fully Vaccinated’?
Victoria Knight December 3, 2021 [UPDATED on Dec. 6] As more indoor venues require proof of vaccination for entrance and with winter — as well as omicron, a new covid variant — looming, scientists and public health officials are debating when it will be time to change the definition of “fully vaccinated” to include a […]