Paxlovid Cuts Odds for Hospitalization After Omicron Infection by 45%

Paxlovid appears to living up to its reputation as the Tamiflu treatment for COVID-19, maintaining its effectiveness even against emerging variants, a new study shows.

The antiviral COVID pill reduced the risk of hospitalization by 45% when administered to people infected by the coronavirus, researchers report.

The protection was low...

Postpartum Depression Can Hit Both Mom & Dad, Sometimes at Same Time

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MONDAY, June 27, 2022 (HealthDay News) – Most people have heard that women can experience depression after the birth of a child.

But the condition is not limited to moms: New dads can experience depression in the months after their baby is born, by all accounts an enormous life change. Th...

Just 1 in 4 Patients Get Rehab After Heart Attack, Cardiac Surgery

MONDAY, June 27, 2022 (HealthDay News) -- Medically supervised exercise programs can do heart patients a lot of good, but few people of color take part in them -- regardless of income, new research finds.

The study, of more than 100,000 U.S. patients, found that while all were eligible for cardiac rehabilitation, only ab...

FDA Panel to Weigh Improved Booster Shots From Moderna, Pfizer

A U.S. Food and Drug Administration advisory panel will vote on Tuesday whether to recommend that updated COVID-19 booster shots be used this fall to protect against Omicron and its highly contagious subvariants.

Because the virus mutates so quickly, the FDA may approve the new vaccine formulations as COVID-19 cases are expect...

AHA News: 5 Steps for a Heart-Healthy Grilling Season

The smells of summer have returned: sunscreen, freshly cut grass and burgers sizzling on the grill.

For many families, backyard barbecues are a staple of summer dining. But often the foods people associate with summer grilling – including ribs, sausages, hot dogs and hamburgers – are processed or high in saturated fat and sodium, which...

Ob-Gyns Call Bans on Abortion Devastating for Women's Health

The U.S. Supreme Court's decision to overturn a woman's right to have an abortion marks a "very dark day in health care" that will leave patients at risk and doctors afraid to act, leaders of the American College of Obstetricians and Gynecologists (ACOG) said Friday.

"It is a dark day indeed for the tens of millions of patients who have su...

WHO Says Monkeypox not a Global Health Threat for Now

MONDAY, June 27, 2022 (HealthDay News) – The spread of monkeypox should be closely monitored, the World Health Organization said on Saturday, but it is not a global emergency at this time.

Monkeypox is a long-neglected illness, endemic in some African countries, the WHO emergency committee explained.

The current outbreak, involvin...

Muting Your Phone May Cause More Stress, Not Less

MONDAY, June 27, 2022 (HealthDay News) -- Are you plagued by FOMO -- "fear of missing out"? Then silencing your smartphone may not be the stress-buster you think it is.

That's the takeaway from a new study that found many folks check their phones a lot more when they're set to mute or vibrate than when they beep and ring...

Pfizer Has Two Updated Booster Shots to Help Fight Omicron

MONDAY, June 27, 2022 (HealthDay News) – Pfizer Inc. announced Saturday that it has two possible candidates that beat back Omicron infection more effectively than its original vaccine.

The news follows Moderna's announcement last week that its Omicron booster shot showed greater protection against the highly contagious variant.

On ...

After Appeal, Court Rules Juul Can Still Sell E-Cigarettes for Now

A federal appeals court has ruled that for now, Juul Labs can continue to sell its electronic cigarettes on the U.S. market.

The Friday ruling came in response to the company seeking a temporary emergency hold while it appeals a ban of its products that was issued Thursday by the U.S. Food and Drug Administration.

The e-cigarette mak...

HIV Testing Plummeted During Pandemic

Testing for HIV suffered a sharp setback during the first year of the pandemic, new government data shows.

The number of HIV tests funded by the U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention and administered in health care settings dropped 43% between 2019 and 2020, the study showed. Tests administered in non-health care settings droppe...

Babies, Toddlers & the COVID Shot: An Expert Answers Your Questions

MONDAY, June 27, 2022 (HealthDay News) – After a very long wait, babies, toddlers and preschoolers can now get COVID-19 shots.

Many parents may feel relief, but some may also have questions. Dr. Jessica Ericson, a pediatric infectious disease physician at Penn State Health Children’s Hospital in Hershey, Pa., offers some answers to hel...

COVID Boosters Raise Antibody Levels by 85% in Nursing Home Residents

Getting a COVID-19 booster shot can significantly increase an at-risk person's immunity and protect against the contagious Omicron variant.

New research focusing on nursing home residents and their caregivers found a third dose of vaccine boosted antibodies by more than 85%, with high levels of Omicron-specific immunity.

The study a...

Race, Gender Matter in Receiving Timely Heart Attack Care

Despite improvements in treatment for heart attacks, care lags behind for women.

Women are still less likely to receive timely care, according to a new study that reviewed 450,000 patient records for two types of heart attacks.

"Heart attack treatments have come a long way but timely access to appropriate care is still an issue, espe...

Pandemic Lockdowns, Closures Tough on People With Disabilities

When the early days of the pandemic prompted social distancing measures and gym closures, people with certain disabilities had a much harder time getting exercise and their mental health suffered, new research shows.

Researchers studying those impacts surveyed more than 950 people with diverse disabilities. They identified four categories...

Tough Choices: When It's Time to Move From Home to Assisted Living

While 8 in 10 Americans ages 65 and older say they want to age in their homes, it's not always possible when health declines.

Knowing when a loved one needs a more supportive environment, such as assisted living, continuing care retirement community or a nursing home, can be challenging. Though "aging in place" remains a cherished goal, s...

Live in a Wildfire Zone? Be Prepared

More Americans now live in wildfire zones as wildfire seasons have become longer, with hotter, faster-moving fires.

If you're one of those who live in a location threatened by wildfires, it's important to be prepared, according to Environment America, a national network of 30 state environmental groups.

You should have a plan for ev...

Smells Like Friendship: Similar Body Odors May Draw Folks Together

FRIDAY, June 24, 2022 (HealthDay News) -- You and your best friend may have your noses to thank in helping bring you together, a new study suggests.

Researchers found that pairs of friends who'd just "clicked" upon meeting tended to smell more alike, compared to random pairs of strangers. What's more, a high-tech electro...

NYC Opens First Monkeypox Vaccine Clinic in U.S.

On Thursday, New York City became the first U.S. city to start offering the monkeypox vaccine to those at high risk for the disease.

The announcement follows similar ones issued from the United Kingdom and Canada. Although most cases of the disease have been reported among gay and bisexual men, anyone can get it from close physical contac...

SCOTUS Overturns Roe v. Wade, Leaving Many Women Without Access to Abortion

The U.S. Supreme Court issued a ruling on Friday that overturns the landmark 1973 Roe v. Wade decision guaranteeing a woman's right to abortion.

"The Constitution does not confer a right to abortion... and the authority to regulate abortion is returned to the people and their elected representatives," the high court said in its opinion on ...