D.C. Law Allowing Child Vaccinations Without Parental Consent Blocked

March 22, 2022 A federal judge has temporarily prevented a District of Columbia law from going into effect that would have allowed children to get vaccinated – including with the COVID-19 vaccine – without parental consent. The Minor Consent for Vaccinations Amendment Act said children as young as 11 could be vaccinated so long as…

The Truth About Beet Juice

Most lists of “super foods” don’t include beetroot juice, but maybe they should. Beet juice may boost stamina to help you exercise longer, improve blood flow, and help lower blood pressure, some research shows. Why? Beets are rich in natural chemicals called nitrates. Through a chain reaction, your body changes nitrates into nitric oxide, which…

Number of Flu Cases Lower Than Pre-pandemic Levels

March 21, 2022 The number of influenza cases is increasing across the United States but has not hit pre-pandemic levels, the U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Protection says. One of the positive side effects of the COVID pandemic was a drop in flu cases, apparently because people were isolating and social distancing. In the…

FDA to Consider Future of COVID Booster Doses

March 21, 2022 — The FDA today announced its vaccines advisory committee will meet April 6 to discuss the future of COVID-19 booster doses and how to tell if a specific strain of the coronavirus needs its own vaccine. The independent experts on the Vaccines and Related Biological Products Advisory Committee will be joined by…

Postpartum Depression Rates Tripled During the Pandemic

THURSDAY, March 17, 2022 (HealthDay News) — Rates of postpartum depression among American mothers rose nearly three-fold during the COVID-19 pandemic, along with large increases in major depression and thoughts of self-harm, according to a new study. It included 670 new moms who completed online screening between February and July 2020. One-third screened positive for…

U.S. Health Officials Tracking COVID Increase in U.K.

U.S. health officials are watching the steady climb in COVID-19 cases in the U.K., which tends to signal what could happen next in the U.S., according to NPR. Source link

‘Zapping’ Air Passages May Bring Relief for Severe Asthma

FRIDAY, March 18, 2022 (HealthDay News) — Inhalers, pills or injections help most people control their asthma, but some with severe disease opt for cutting-edge surgery that “remodels” their airways to improve their breathing. Bronchial thermoplasty shrinks smooth muscle in the lungs, which prevents them from tightening up and causing an attack. The U.S. Food…

Omicron COVID Causing Severe Croup in Young Children

FRIDAY, March 18, 2022 (HealthDay News) –The Omicron COVID-19 variant can cause croup in young children, including severe cases that require hospitalization and intensive care, a new study shows. “The relatively high hospitalization rate and the large number of medication doses our COVID-19 croup patients required suggests that COVID-19 might cause more severe croup…

Citigroup to Cover Travel Expenses for U.S. Staff Seeking Abortion

March 18, 2022 Citigroup Inc. is starting to cover travel costs for U.S.-based employees seeking an abortion as more states pass new abortion restrictions, according to Bloomberg News. The policy covers certain expenses, such as airfare and lodging, for staff who must travel out of state to receive an abortion. “In response to changes in…

More COVID Deaths in Counties With Lower Internet Access

March 18, 2022 U.S. communities with limited internet access reported higher COVID-19 death rates during the first year of the pandemic, according to a recent study published in JAMA Network Open. Between 2.4 and six deaths per 100,000 people could have been prevented, the researchers estimated, depending on whether they were in rural, suburban or…