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
A regional public health department in Idaho is no longer providing COVID-19 vaccines to residents in six counties after a narrow decision by its board. Southwest District Health appears to be the first in the nation to be restricted from giving COVID-19 vaccines. Vaccinations are an essential function of a public health department. While policymakers … Read more
An Apple Watch a day keeps the doctor away. Some users are astounded by their device’s ability to flag early signs of sickness before an ailment like COVID or a cold arises after the iOS 11 software update rolled out last month. The startlingly accurate health assessment from the Apple Watch’s Vitals app — available … Read more
Children and teenagers who have been infected with strands of the coronavirus are more likely to develop Type 2 diabetes than those afflicted by other respiratory illnesses, according to a new research study published on Monday. Children were 50% more likely to be diagnosed with diabetes around six months after contracting the coronavirus infection compared … Read more
A history of COVID-19 can double the long-term risk of heart attack, stroke or death, according to a new study from the Cleveland Clinic and the University of Southern California. Researchers analyzed data from 10,000 people treated for COVID-19 in 2020 and roughly 200,000 people who were not infected. Doctors followed the health progress of the … Read more
Patients taking the weight-loss drug semaglutide were less likely to die from COVID-19, according to a recent study. The patients who contracted COVID-19 while using a weekly 2.4 mg dose of semaglutide, the active ingredient in Novo Nordisk’s Wegovy and Ozempic, had a 34% lower risk of dying from COVID-19, according to Dr. Benjamin M. Scirica, one … Read more
U.S. regulators approved updated COVID-19 vaccines on Thursday, shots designed to more closely target recent virus strains — and hopefully whatever variants cause trouble this winter, too. With the Food and Drug Administration’s clearance, Pfizer and Moderna are set to begin shipping millions of doses. A third U.S. manufacturer, Novavax, expects its modified vaccine version to be … Read more
This technology could be aah-mazing! Researchers in Iraq and Australia say they have developed a computer algorithm that can analyze the color of a person’s tongue to detect their medical condition in real-time — with 98% accuracy. “Typically, people with diabetes have a yellow tongue; cancer patients a purple tongue with a thick greasy coating; … Read more