COH.20G/501Y now accounts for the majority of all COVID-19 cases in the Columbus, Ohio area. The second variant we report likely affects how strongly the virus attaches to the human receptor for the virus. Its prevalence is of concern to Jones and his co-authors. Yuichiro Chino / Getty Images What This Means For You The current COVID-19 vaccines will likely offer protection against these new variants. COVID-19 safety precautions like wearing a mask and social distancing still work to protect you as well....

Many products marketed as stain- and water-resistant containperfluoroalkyl and polyfluoroalkyl substances, also known as PFAS. Of the 47 products marketed as stain- and water-repellent, PFAS were found in 72% of them. At least one product from each of the 10 retailers included in this report contained PFAS. Elena Bennett / EyeEm / Getty Images Water- and stain-resistant products have long been manufactured with a PFAS-rich chemical surface treatment or a laminated membrane....

microgen / Getty Images Key Takeaways Preventing vision loss just got a lot safer. Both supplement formulations also contained vitamin C, vitamin E, copper, and zinc. Lutein and zeaxanthin slow progression more than beta-carotene and do not raise the risk of lung cancer. microgen / Getty Images What Is Macular Degeneration? Age-related macular degeneration is a leading cause of loss of vision and blindness. Changing the Formulation When AREDS started in the 1990s, researchers didnt know much about carotenoids....

Researchers are now examining whether there are less socially and economically disruptive ways to combat a possible resurgence. The research divided various strategies into two categoriestargeted and generalizedand different combinations were tested. This can include actions like school closures, physical distancing, lockdowns, and wearing masks. FrankRamspott / Getty Images What Worked? However, the pandemic was still not completely suppressed. If you haven’t yet received a COVID-19 vaccine, you could find an appointment near you atVaccineFinder....

Eakarat Buanoi / Getty Images Key Takeaways Taking a trip might be an investment for your longevity. A new study published in theJournal of Travel Researchsuggests that positive travel experiences could help slow biological aging. The researchers used the concept of entropya measure of disorder and chaos in physicsto explain how vacations impact health. Eakarat Buanoi / Getty Images Negative travel experiencessuch as stress or illnesscan lead to poor health outcomes....

The nice thing about walking is that everybody knows how to do it. People can do it in any location or any place. The participants assigned to the walking program also worked with a physical therapist throughout the study. Grant Faint / Getty Images The physical therapists provided education on basic pain science and strategies for reducing lower back pain recurrence. Why Might Walking Reduce Lower Back Pain? Light physical activity, rather than bed rest, is often recommended for managing non-specific low back pain....

The 33-year-old has also been coping with social difficulties, sensory challenges, and shutdowns throughout his life. That changed when he was diagnosed withautism spectrum disorder (ASD)this summer. I recall shaking as the therapist delivered the team’s verdict. Patricia Boyce / EyeEm / Getty Images It was incredibly validating, Fleming tells Verywell. I felt like I could finally let out a big breath after holding it for so long. After 10 years of persistent effort, Fleming was referred for the diagnostic assessment by a general practitioner....

Verywell/Canva Key Takeaways New research supports a recent change in thinking about dailyaspirintherapy to prevent heart disease. Heres what experts say about taking daily aspirin, and the risks and benefits of doing so. What Is Low-Dose Aspirin? Verywell/Canva The small benefit was offset by an increased risk of bleedingespecially in patients over 60. Weinrauch added that stroke and heart attack rates have not increased since the USPSTF updated its recommendations....

The single-measure biomarker measures the level of mtDNAcn, an inheritedmitochondrialDNA genetic code, in semen. Elevated levels of this marker have been linked to decreased semen quality and lower odds of fertilization. Approximately 1 in 8 couples in the U.S. have trouble getting pregnant or sustaining a pregnancy. Aleksandr Zubkov / Getty Images We hope to have better diagnostics tests in the future. Lifestyle modifications may help be able to offset infertility....

However, the additional information that the risk reduction lasts 35 years after discontinuation is novel and rather exciting. What This Means For You Deciding whether to take oral contraceptives is an important and personal decision. How Does It Work? Tasii / Getty Images Combination oral contraceptives include estrogen and progestin, which are synthetic forms of female sex hormones. The estrogen and progestin in oral contraceptives prevent ovulation and therefore protect against pregnancy....

All the participants had either mild symptoms, such as cough and fever, or had no symptoms. IgG is the most prevalent antibody in humans and it can indicate an individuals immunity to certain pathogens. The researchers found that only 37% of children produced antibodies, compared to 76% of adults. Franklin Jacome / Agencia Press South / Getty Images Each group had similar viral loads and factors like age and sex didnt seem to impact individuals antibody levels....

Yuan is a research fellow and Ng is an associate professor of medicine at the Dana Farber Cancer Institute. Excluding skin cancers, colorectal cancer is the third most common cancer diagnosed in the United States. It has also been found to have antioxidant, anti-inflammatory, anti-cancer properties. Igor Haritanovich / Pexels Both regular and decaf coffee stimulates colonic motor activity. For some people, a cup of coffee can have a laxative effect....

Fish oil is of interest to researchers because it has the potential to support the immune system. The recent study isnt the first time researchers have looked at whether fish oil could help COVID patients. Fish Oil: A Natural Way to Reduce COVID Symptoms? Evgeniia Siiankovskaia/ Gety Images The researchers reviewed data on more than 110,000 adults in the UK Biobank cohort. Over a 12-year follow-up, the researchers looked at the participants health....