Almost half of Gen Z are ‘germaphobes’ and handwash 10-times or more daily

Almost half of Gen Z are ‘germaphobes’ and handwash 10-times or more daily

If cleanliness is next to godliness, then maybe we should start worshipping Gen Z. A recent survey of more than 1,000 college-age youth reported that 45% of them are “hyperconscious of germs.” And while 47% said that they wash their hands five to 10 times a day, a whopping 32% — nearly a third — … Read more

Loneliness as bad for your health as smoking 15 cigarettes a day: WHO

Loneliness as bad for your health as smoking 15 cigarettes a day: WHO

As the coronavirus pandemic slips into the rearview, the effects of the alone-virus epidemic continue to fuel mental and physical health woes. The World Health Organization has declared loneliness a “pressing health threat,” with risks as deadly as smoking up to 15 cigarettes a day. “[Loneliness] transcends borders and is becoming a global public health … Read more

Get your COVID, flu and RSV shots before Thanksgiving: health experts

Get your COVID, flu and RSV shots before Thanksgiving: health experts

When it comes to preventing a miserable, deadly disease — better late than never. Health professionals are reminding people that there’s still time to get vaccinated before Thanksgiving, especially as the threat of a possible “tripledemic” of flu, COVID-19 and respiratory syncytial virus (RSV) looms. “The bottom line is that the flu is not to … Read more

Do home remedies prevent COVID-19? Experts weigh in

Do home remedies prevent COVID-19? Experts weigh in

Dr. Mom may have been right: The simple home remedy of gargling with saltwater could help fight infection.  Researchers found that patients with COVID-19 who gargled with saltwater and did nasal rinses had lower hospitalization rates compared to those who did not use the home remedy. They presented the findings this week at the American College of … Read more

US men are dying 6 years before women: Study reveals ‘worrisome trend’

US men are dying 6 years before women: Study reveals ‘worrisome trend’

It’s been known that women tend to outlive men, but a new study shows that the gender-death gap is widening. A research paper published Monday in the journal JAMA Internal Medicine found that U.S. men on average die nearly six years before women — the largest rift since 1996. The difference increased to 5.8 years … Read more

Would you volunteer for a nasal swab after a long flight? Why the CDC wants you to

Would you volunteer for a nasal swab after a long flight? Why the CDC wants you to

After being stuffed into an airplane cabin for a long, redeye flight from overseas, you’re finally on your way home — but first, the government wants to shove a cotton swab up your nose. The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention is asking passengers returning from international destinations at four U.S. airports to volunteer for … Read more

Why COVID sufferers in the US can’t get ensitrelvir, the antiviral drug better than Paxlovid

Why COVID sufferers in the US can’t get ensitrelvir, the antiviral drug better than Paxlovid

For people suffering through a bout of COVID-19, the antiviral Paxlovid has been a godsend. The medication emerged as the go-to antiviral treatment during the pandemic emergency after the Food and Drug Administration granted it emergency use authorization in December 2021. Now, there’s a new antiviral that’s superior to Paxlovid — but Americans can’t get … Read more

Here’s how much is needed to afford the typical US home in 2023

Here’s how much is needed to afford the typical US home in 2023

With high borrowing costs and steep home prices, potential buyers need to make at least $114,627 to afford a median-priced home in the U.S. That’s a new record.  It marks the highest annual income households have ever needed to buy a home, and is about $40,000 more than what the typical American household pulls in annually, … Read more

Professors say students aren’t ready for college after pandemic learning: ‘Far from normal’

Professors say students aren’t ready for college after pandemic learning: ‘Far from normal’

When Jonathan Malesic, a writing professor with two decades of teaching experience, returned to campus at Southern Methodist University after a year of teaching remotely during the pandemic, he was shocked to find a new class of students who were less enthusiastic and less engaged than ever before. “Students weren’t turning in homework, and when … Read more

Long COVID could be the result of this chemical shift: UPenn study

Long COVID could be the result of this chemical shift: UPenn study

As the world faces the possibility of another seasonal spike in cases of the coronavirus, medical experts are still pondering the cause of long COVID. The mysterious ailment causes a range of symptoms long after the COVID-19 infection has cleared, such as fatigue, loss of sexual desire, loss of smell and taste, chest pain and … Read more

Vanna White isn’t puzzled about who her ‘Wheel of Fortune’ replacement should be

Vanna White isn’t puzzled about who her ‘Wheel of Fortune’ replacement should be

Vanna White isn’t puzzled over who she wants her replacement to be. Long-time “Wheel of Fortune” co-host Vanna White revealed Monday that she would love to have Pat Sajak’s daughter, Maggie Sajak, take over for her one day. “I think she’s a good replacement if I can’t be there for some reason,” White, 66, told … Read more

More than half of US adults won’t get updated COVID booster vaccine: survey

More than half of US adults won’t get updated COVID booster vaccine: survey

A new poll has revealed how many people are planning on getting — or not getting — the latest COVID-19 vaccine. Results from the survey conducted by KFF (Kaiser Family Foundation) COVID-19 Vaccine Monitor showed that 23% of US adults will “definitely get” the updated vaccine and 23% will “probably get” it. Meanwhile, 33% of … Read more

COVID vaccine pill that kills virus before it infects the body could be coming

COVID vaccine pill that kills virus before it infects the body could be coming

There may soon be an option to take a pill rather than a vaccine to protect against COVID-19. A new paper in the journal Biology Methods and Protocols, published Wednesday by Oxford University Press, reported that researchers in Japan have developed a way to administer the COVID vaccine orally. The pill would allow for easier distribution … Read more

Whoopi Goldberg ‘not dead’ amid wild fan theories about her ‘View’ absence

Whoopi Goldberg ‘not dead’ amid wild fan theories about her ‘View’ absence

Whoopi Goldberg set the record straight Wednesday as to why she’s been absent from “The View” for the start of Season 27. The daytime show co-hosts revealed Tuesday that Goldberg, 67, has her third bout with COVID-19 — but apparently, according to Joy Behar, some viewers hatched their own ideas about her whereabouts. “People write, … Read more

Why Stephen King almost got divorced over ‘Mambo No. 5’

Why Stephen King almost got divorced over ‘Mambo No. 5’

There was a little bit too much of Monica — and Erica and Rita and Tina — in her life. Horror novelist Stephen King revealed Tuesday that his love for Lou Bega’s 1999 hit “Mambo No. 5” nearly caused his wife, Tabitha, to divorce him. “Oh, yeah. Big time,” said King, 75, to Rolling Stone magazine. “My … Read more

‘The View’ season premiere: Joy Behar takes over as host for absent Whoopi Goldberg

‘The View’ season premiere: Joy Behar takes over as host for absent Whoopi Goldberg

Whoopi Goldberg was MIA for the Season 27 premiere of “The View” Tuesday after testing positive for COVID-19. Co-host Joy Behar filled in as moderator and acknowledged the “Ghost” actress’ absence at the top of the show. “As you can see, Whoopi is not here,” Behar, 80, declared. “She has COVID. It’s back!” the comedian added, … Read more

COVID disrupted formative learning years, leaving kids to still struggle with basic reading skills

COVID disrupted formative learning years, leaving kids to still struggle with basic reading skills

They were the kids most disrupted by the pandemic, the ones who were still learning to write their names and tie their shoes when schools shut down in the spring of 2020. Now, they’re the big kids at elementary schools across the United States. Many still need profound help overcoming the effects of the pandemic. To catch up, … Read more

New ‘Pirola’ variant of COVID is spreading fast, has experts concerned

New ‘Pirola’ variant of COVID is spreading fast, has experts concerned

As COVID-19 cases continue to rise nationwide, a new variant dubbed “Pirola” has experts worried. Also referred to as BA.2.86, Pirola is a highly mutated variant of the Omicron strain of the coronavirus, which emerged in 2021 and led to a frightful spike in COVID-19 cases and deaths. “When Omicron hit in the winter of … Read more

99% of new COVID-19 deaths reported by CDC not just due to virus: data

99% of new COVID-19 deaths reported by CDC not just due to virus: data

Nearly 99% of the COVID-19 deaths reported by the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention last week were not primarily caused by the coronavirus, new data shows. According to the CDC’s COVID-19 dashboard, just 1.7% of the 324 COVID-19 deaths logged in the week ending Aug. 19 had the virus listed as the primary cause of death. The … Read more