Being 14 is hard enough, let alone in the middle of a public health crisis. So when Liliana “Lili” Castaneda began experiencing strange symptoms in the spring of 2020, her local doctor chalked it up to “pandemic stress.” But things only got worse — and it wasn’t all in her head. Liliana “Lili” Castaneda began … Read more
Just in time for respiratory virus season, a highly transmissible COVID-19 strain is fueling a wave of infections across the US. The XFG variant, informally known as “Stratus,” has been driving up case numbers. Stratus’ ability to evade immune system defenses has propelled it past NB.1.8.1 (aka “Nimbus”) as the dominant Covid strain. The increased … Read more
Don’t sweat the fall stuff — including respiratory viruses. Cases of the common cold, flu, COVID-19 and respiratory syncytial virus (RSV) tend to increase in the autumn and winter as people spend more time indoors. Drier air also helps these viruses survive and spread more easily. Here are the best ways to protect yourself from … Read more
Health Secretary Robert F. Kennedy Jr.’s hand-picked advisory panel declined to recommend COVID-19 vaccines for anyone on Friday — leaving it up to Americans to decide if they want the jap or not. The Advisory Committee on Immunization Practices (ACIP) voted unanimously to move away from broad recommendations for the vaccine and instead suggested people make individual decisions, … Read more
It’s ah-choo much for the body to handle. Viral infections like the flu and COVID-19 can “awaken” dormant breast cancer cells hiding in the lungs, paving the way for deadly metastatic disease, a new study finds. “Our findings indicate that individuals with a history of cancer may benefit from taking precautions against respiratory viruses,” Julio Aguirre-Ghiso, … Read more
Your medicine cabinet could be packing more than just cold and flu relief. A groundbreaking new study found that a widely available over-the-counter nasal spray may help healthy adults fend off COVID-19. The news comes amid a late-summer surge driving up cases across the country — including in New York City. A widely available over-the-counter … Read more
COVID-19 could leave behind a hidden problem that lingers in women’s bodies for years, a new study has found. The research revealed the virus can prematurely age women’s blood vessels by around five years, raising their risk of heart attack and stroke later in life. The study, published in the European Heart Journal, followed nearly 2400 … Read more
A former sitcom star might have fans doing a double-take when she reunites with her ex-castmates on the small screen this fall. “Home Improvement” actress Patricia Richardson looks nearly unrecognizable since she portrayed Jill Taylor on the popular ABC sitcom starring Tim Allen throughout most of the ‘90s. The 74-year-old no longer has a chestnut … Read more
Vaccines using mRNA technology weren’t immune to the latest round of federal research cuts. Health and Human Services Secretary Robert F. Kennedy Jr. said this week that he’s pulling the plug on nearly $500 million in funding for the development of mRNA vaccines. The 22 projects are managed by the Biomedical Advanced Research and Development … Read more
Llama just say — this probably wasn’t on your 2025 bingo card. A new study suggests that the long-necked, fuzzy mammals could be our secret weapon against COVID-19. Researchers in Belgium found that special particles in llama blood could help us develop powerful new treatments that keep working even as the virus mutates. While llamas … Read more
Since we take prescription drugs to feel better, it’s alarming to think that some common ones can actually make you more sick. But that’s precisely what a shocking new study out of Norway has revealed. “We have found a surprising and potentially serious side effect of a class of anti-inflammatory drugs. They can help viruses … Read more
Double-jointed? It’s not just a fun party trick. Uber-flexible joints could be a sign of a rare genetic condition that makes you more susceptible to respiratory illnesses and also complicates recovery, experts warned. The good news: There’s an easy test you can do at home to gauge your risk. In most people, hypermobility doesn’t cause … Read more
DEAR ABBY: I have been with my boyfriend for 3 1/2 years. Before me, he was known for sleeping around. He has never cheated on me that I am aware of, but when we go to social gatherings (or just out), he flirts with other women. If there is another woman in the room, he … Read more
This isn’t working out. Remote work policies ushered in by the COVID-19 pandemic have taken a serious toll on employees’ social and emotional well-being, a new study found. A shocking 25% of remote workers say their social skills declined since going fully remote, with millennials being the most susceptible to the harms of telecommuting, a … Read more
Actress Danielle Vasinova died during her battle with COVID-19 — yet lived to tell the tale. The star of the “Yellowstone” prequel “1923” and the upcoming spinoff “The Madison” has revealed that her heart stopped for three minutes while hospitalized because of the disease. “On Dec. 12, 2019, I died for three minutes,” Vasinova, 42, … Read more
Researchers developing Australia’s first mRNA Covid vaccine say they may have solved the “immune imprinting” issue that has contributed to the declining effectiveness of boosters as the virus mutates. Immune imprinting, also known as original antigenic sin, occurs when the body’s original immune response to a virus — either from vaccination or infection — becomes … Read more
No one wants a blue Christmas, but a flu Christmas can be much, much worse. Colds, flus and other respiratory illnesses are more common in the winter. Flu viruses can survive longer in cold, dry air — and people spend lots of time indoors in chilly months, giving viruses more opportunity to spread. While respiratory … Read more
Obesity rates in the United States have finally started to show a decline, heading in the right direction for the first time in a decade likely due to the popularity of weight loss drugs like Ozempic. A new study published in JAMA Health Forum found that obesity numbers started to drop slightly from 46% in 2022 to … Read more
This tourist attraction is sick. A UK tourist stumbled upon a COVID-19 theme park with “googly-eyed” pathogen sculptures and more while exploring Vietnam, as seen in photos going viral — in every sense of the word — online. “It was such a weird experience,” Ella Ribak, 29, told South West News Service while detailing the … Read more
Scientists have discovered a surprising silver lining of COVID-19 infection. A new study by researchers at Northwestern Medicine Canning Thoracic Institute, published in the Journal of Clinical Investigation, revealed a correlation between COVID-19 infection and cancer regression. Though doctors at Northwestern University warned that the research is still in early stages, they’re hopeful that more tests could lead … Read more