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COVID Booster Cuts Death Rate by 90%, Israeli Study Finds

Booster doses of Pfizer's coronavirus vaccine set recipients up to effectively withstand the ravages of both the Delta and Omicron variants, a group of new studies suggest.

Boosted folks are 90% less likely to die from a Delta infection than people relying solely on the initial two-dose vaccination, Israeli data show.

That protection...

Could Cochlear Implants Cause Harm to Hearing Over Time?

WEDNESDAY, Dec. 8, 2021 (HealthDay News) -- People who get cochlear implants to treat severe hearing loss may develop new bone growth in the ear — and it may lessen any hearing they have left, a new study hints.

The researchers found that among 100-plus adults with cochlear implants, two-thirds showed evidence of new b...

AHA News: Life Experiences, Outlook Influence How People Are Harmed – Or Helped – By Pandemic Stress

When the COVID-19 pandemic shut down New York City in March 2020, Jose Montanez, like millions of others in the service industry, lost his source of income. A hair stylist who also ran karaoke drag shows, he made his money closely interacting with people. Even his third business – wedding planning – had to close shop. And then his husband, D...

Omicron Latest Mental Blow to Americans Exhausted by Pandemic

First, the COVID-19 pandemic brought panic, with successive waves of infection and death, including the emergence this year of the Delta variant.

Then vaccines offered the promise of a recovery, with a speed -- and on a scale -- never before seen.

But now, the Omicron variant is sending Americans on another emotional roller-coaster ...

Pfizer Says Vaccine Booster Should Protect Against Omicron Variant

Pfizer/BioNTech said Wednesday that while two doses of their coronavirus vaccine may not offer good protection against the Omicron variant, adding a booster shot does the trick.

According to a statement from the companies, blood tests from people who had only two doses of the vaccine showed a 25-fold reduction in antibody levels g...

What's the Best Blood Thinner for a Blood Clot in Your Legs?

WEDNESDAY, Dec. 8, 2021 (HealthDay News) -- For people suffering from clots in their legs, a new study finds that one of two commonly used blood thinners is safer and more effective than the other.

Venous thromboembolism (VTE) can cause clots to form in the deep veins in the legs, and if one breaks loose it can travel to...

Another Benefit to Asthma Control for Kids: Less Bullying

WEDNESDAY, Dec. 8, 2021 (HealthDay News) -- Kids can be cruel, and bullies often zero in on kids they view as weak or different, including those with asthma.

One in 10 children with asthma say they have been bullied or teased as a result of their condition, but tight asthma control seems to keep bullying at bay, a new st...

MRI Might Spot Concussion-Linked CTE in Living Patients

Right now, the devastating concussion-linked brain condition known as chronic traumatic encephalopathy (CTE) can only be diagnosed after death via autopsy. But new research could help change that, allowing doctors to someday spot the illness earlier.

According to the new study, MRI may be able to detect CTE while people are still alive.

US Surgeon General Report Warns of Mental Health Crisis Hitting Youth

The pandemic has intensified mental health struggles that were already widespread among American teens, U.S. Surgeon General Dr. Vivek Murthy warned Tuesday.

The pandemic and other major issues faced by their generation are causing "devastating" mental health effects in young people, he warned in a new report.

Emergency room visits f...

What Time You Get Your COVID Shot Might Affect Immune Response

Can the time of day you get your COVID-19 vaccine affect how many antibodies you’ll make?

A new study suggests that it can.

Researchers found higher antibody levels in health care workers who received their vaccines in the afternoon, and they suggest that response to the vaccine may be affected by circadian rhythms.

"Our o...

Gastro Symptoms of Menopause May Vary by Race

When a woman's periods begin to slow down and finally stop, digestive problems often pick up -- and new research suggests race and ethnicity play a role.

With menopause, levels of estrogen decrease, while cortisol levels increase, triggering an adrenaline boost that changes digestive function. It can set off symptoms such as bloating, naus...

Half of Drinkers Who Think They're Fit to Drive Are Wrong: Study

If you think you're fine to drive after drinking, there's a good chance you're wrong, new research shows.

The study found that despite being over the legal driving limit, half of the participants believed they were safe to drive.

The study included 90 volunteers, average age 24, in Germany who drank either wine or beer until they r...

NYC's Ban on Heating Oil Helped Clean the Air

New York City's ban on a certain type of heating oil led to significant reductions in air pollutants that pose a risk to health, new research shows.

“It is very encouraging to see the overall success of the Clean Heat Program in reducing pollution levels in the city, and particularly exciting to find that the policy is effective in both ...

1 in 3 U.S. Children Lack Adequate Health Insurance

Though they live in one of the world’s richest nations, a growing number of young Americans are without ample health insurance.

A new study reports that 34% of U.S. kids age 17 and under were "underinsured" in 2019. That means their insurance failed to address their overall health needs or ensure access to preferred providers; that it ca...

Cataract Surgery Might Lower Your Odds for Dementia

People who undergo surgery to treat cataracts may have a lower likelihood of developing Alzheimer's disease, a new study suggests.

Of more than 3,000 older adults with the eye disease, those who had surgery were about 30% less likely to be diagnosed with Alzheimer's in the coming years, researchers found.

The findings cannot prove ca...

New Hormonal Pill May Boost Outcomes for Older Breast Cancer Patients

An experimental hormone therapy pill can effectively stall the progression of breast cancer, even in older patients whose tumors have mutated to make such therapy less effective, new trial results show.

The drug elacestrant reduced the risk of breast cancer progression and death by 30% in postmenopausal patients whose cancers were fueled b...

Marijuana Can Really Mess With Your Sleep, Study Suggests

Many folks turn to pot to help them relax and get a good night's sleep, but new research finds the practice may do the exact opposite.

"I think [the results] were somewhat surprising because, in our mind, anecdotally cannabis seems to help with sleep, but … the evidence to support that notion is just not there yet," said senior study aut...

Biden Pledges to Lower Prescription Drug Prices for Americans

President Joe Biden promised cheaper prescription drugs for all Americans on Monday as his social agenda legislation winds its way through Congress.

Biden tried to shift Americans' focus to pocketbook provisions overlooked in his $2 trillion legislation, which deals with everything from climate to family life and taxes. The legislation has...

AHA News: Diagnosed With a Heart Defect in the Womb, Baby Had Two Heart Surgeries and Then Got COVID-19

Samantha Snell drove to her doctor's office in Uniontown, Ohio, for a routine ultrasound. Already the mother of three, she was 23 weeks along and eager to get a glimpse of her new baby boy.

"Getting an ultrasound is fun and cute," said Snell, who at the time was working as a phlebotomist. "But this was a totally different experience."

Black Women Have Triple the Odds for Lymphedema After Breast Cancer Surgery

A condition called lymphedema is a well-known side effect of breast cancer treatment that can lead to swelling in the arms and legs.

New research suggests that Black women experience are at more than three times the risk of this painful issue compared to white women.

"Lymphedema worsens quality of life for breast cancer patients," ...