Health

People have been living in a storm of stress during the ongoing pandemic and political turmoil, which has had a negative impact on our well-being. A little bit of stress is good, and essential for survival, but severe or prolonged stress can increase the risk for stress-related diseases, including cardiovascular disease, diabetes, depression, Alzheimer’s disease,

The January 6 invasion of the US Capitol laid bare many uncomfortable truths about American society. Consider law enforcement’s differential treatment of armed insurrectionists compared with demonstrators calling for racial equity and the end of police brutality. Take note of the race and class divisions at the heart of the rioters’ discontent. The unchecked violence,

South African health officials said Sunday they’re pausing the country’s rollout of AstraZeneca’s coronavirus vaccine after a study showed it offered reduced protection from the Covid-19 variant first identified there. During a briefing on Sunday, South Africa Minister of Health Dr. Zweli Mkhize said the hold would be temporary while scientists figure out how to

Covid-19 cases and hospitalizations are decreasing across much of the United States, but health experts warned that could change if fans gathered Sunday to watch the Super Bowl with people from outside their households. “When people get together in private residences in close proximity, that is one of the single most effective ways to spread

A new study finds that cases of a more contagious coronavirus variant are rapidly increasing in the United States, and significant community transmission may already be occurring. Although the B.1.1.7 variant first identified in the UK is currently at a relatively low frequency in the United States, the paper says it’s doubling every week and

For the Super Bowl this weekend, or if you are thinking ahead and planning for Valentine’s Day, the health experts say with the pandemic still raging, and with variants popping up, the safest choice for a special meal is takeout. Despite the high number of cases, more states and cities are letting restaurants open their

As officials make strides to improve accessibility to Covid-19 vaccines in the United States, some states are turning their focus to the underserved and vulnerable communities that have not yet been eligible for protection. Though the country’s vaccination rate is not at President Joe Biden’s hoped-for level of 1.5 million shots per day, the US

“It’s a black hole.” That’s how one reader described the process of trying to sign her elderly parents up to receive the Covid-19 vaccine. In the past year, this virus has changed everyone’s life. Death, in an instant, became a constant worry for many. Schools closed and parents looked for ways to explain this new

The United States has seen progress on several fronts against Covid-19 this week — including the opening of new mass inoculation sites and a third vaccine maker seeking authorization. While health experts are concerned that more-transmissible coronavirus variants could worsen spread of the disease — and in some cases put up a measure of resistance

President Joe Biden’s team is promising new guidance on school reopenings next week. But even as more Covid-19 vaccine shots go into arms two and half weeks into his administration, there is growing impatience and frustration among parents about the biggest question looming over their lives: when their children can get back in the classroom.