Questions about the rare monkeypox virus are on the rise in tandem with reports about new cases of the zoonotic disease. Among them: How worried should you be about the recent outbreak? How does monkeypox spread? And what does a monkeypox rash look like, anyway? The first U.S. case this year was confirmed in Massachusetts […]
Tag: CDC Centers for Disease Control and Prevention
Can Quitting Reverse the Adverse Long-Term Health Effects of Smoking?
Since nicotine is an addictive substance, it can be challenging for individuals to stop smoking. However, the short and long-term benefits of quitting smoking are significant, and quitting improves the health status of those who smoke and who are exposed to secondhand smoke. According to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC), Quitting smoking: […]
CDC signs off on Pfizer Covid-19 Booster Shots for Kids 5 to 11
On Thursday, the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention signed off on booster shots of the Pfizer-BioNTech Covid-19 vaccine for children ages 5 to 11. The final endorsement, from CDC Director Rochelle Walensky, came hours after the agency’s Advisory Committee on Immunization Practices voted 11-1, with one abstention, in favor of giving 5- to 11-year-olds the boosters […]
When Should You Get Tested for COVID-19?
A third round of Free Covid-19 at-home test kits have been made available for every American household by the Biden Administration’s Health and Human Services Department. This news comes as reports of Covid-19 cases are on the rise… again. Which begs the question: when should you take a test? The Centers for Disease Control and […]
Women have Unique Stroke Risk Factors. Here’s how to Spot them and Prevent one.
Stroke is the No. 4 cause of death in women and kills more women than men. In fact, one in five women will have a stroke. According to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC), the lifetime risk of stroke for women between the ages of 55 and 75 in the United States is […]
Now that Covid-19 is on the Decline, “Normal” Viruses like the Stomach Flu are on the Rise
Now that the pandemic seems to be easing (knock on wood), mask mandates are ceasing, and people are kind of returning to “normal,” those age-old “normal” viruses like the Stomach Flu (norovirus) are once again on the rise, as the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) reports. For most of the U.S., roughly 99.5%, […]
CDC says Waiting 8 Weeks between COVID-19 Vaccines may Lower Myocarditis Risk for Some
The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) says that actually extending the time between the first and second doses of COVID-19 vaccines may help reduce the risk of the rare heart-related side effects for some. The new guidance mainly affects Americans who aren’t fully vaccinated against COVID-19—that amounts to roughly 35% of the US population right now. […]
STIs are on the rise for People over 55: “Age is Not a Condom”
There’s no such thing as being too old to get a sexually transmitted infection (STI). As reported by Yahoo Life, there’s “a misconception” that older adults are “immune to STIs simply because they’re over the age of 55 and that’s not going to happen to them anymore,” Dr. Ina Park, associate professor of family community medicine at the […]
CDC releases new Guidelines: Indoor Mask use no longer necessary across MOST of the U.S.
Most Americans are safe going without a mask in indoor settings, including in schools, the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention said Friday. The highly anticipated change to the agency’s mask guidance leans less heavily on the number of Covid-19 cases as a key measure, instead giving more weight to hospitalizations and local hospital capacity. […]
With Mask Mandates Ending, Health Officials urge getting Kids vaccinated against Covid-19
As Fox News reported, many mask mandates are closer to expiring and many area school districts are making their own decisions on mask policies, but health officials say the COVID-19 vaccine is still the best bet for parents hoping to protect their kids. However, UW Health says it has seen a decrease in COVID-19 vaccinations […]