Health

CDC endorses COVID booster for millions of older Americans

CDC endorses COVID booster for millions of older Americans

By LAURAN NEERGAARD and MIKE STOBBE, Associated Press Troy Warren for CNT #Health #COVID-19 Walensky adds 1 recommendation that was rejected by panel The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention on Thursday endorsed booster shots for millions of older or otherwise-vulnerable Americans, opening a major new phase in the U.S. vaccination drive against COVID-19. CDC Director Dr. Rochelle Walensky signed off on a series of recommendations from a panel of advisers late Thursday. The advisers said boosters should be offered to people 65 and older, nursing home residents and those ages 50 to 64 who have risky underlying health problems. The…
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Pfizer says COVID-19 vaccine works in kids ages 5 to 11

Pfizer says COVID-19 vaccine works in kids ages 5 to 11

By LAURAN NEERGAARD, Associated Press Troy Warren for CNT #COVID-19 #Health Pfizer said Monday its COVID-19 vaccine works for children ages 5 to 11 and that it will seek U.S. authorization for this age group soon — a key step toward beginning vaccinations for youngsters. The vaccine made by Pfizer and its German partner BioNTech already is available for anyone 12 and older. But with kids now back in school and the extra-contagious delta variant causing a huge jump in pediatric infections, many parents are anxiously awaiting vaccinations for their younger children. For elementary school-aged kids, Pfizer tested a much lower…
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UPDATE: FDA advisory panel rejects widespread Pfizer booster shots

UPDATE: FDA advisory panel rejects widespread Pfizer booster shots

By MATTHEW PERRONE and LAURAN NEERGAARD, Associated Press Troy Warren for CNT #COVID-19 #Health Panel endorses shots for those 65 and older or who have high risk of severe disease WASHINGTON — An influential federal advisory panel has overwhelmingly rejected a plan to give Pfizer booster shots against COVID-19 to most Americans, but it endorsed the extra shots for those who are 65 and older or run a high risk of severe disease. The twin votes Friday represented a heavy blow to the Biden administration’s sweeping effort to shore up nearly all Americans’ protection amid the spread of the highly contagious…
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Middle-age adults don’t have to take 10,000 steps for health benefits

Middle-age adults don’t have to take 10,000 steps for health benefits

By Kiersten Willis, The Atlanta Journal-Constitution Troy Warren for CNT #Health It turns out you don’t have to walk 10,000 steps a day It’s often said that you should take 10,000 steps a day. But it turns out doing so doesn’t make that much of a difference compared to lower numbers of steps. Research published in the journal JAMA Network Open earlier this month shows that walking over 10,000 steps a day did not reduce premature death risk in middle-aged adults. Walking more quickly also showed these results. Instead, the biggest benefits seemed to kick in when participants walked 7,000 steps each day.…
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COVID-19 variants mu, delta and what to know about mutations

COVID-19 variants mu, delta and what to know about mutations

By Deb Balzer, Mayo Clinic News Network Troy Warren for CNT #COVID-19 #Health There are 3 classifications given to variants based on how they spread, their symptoms and treatments A new COVID-19 variant called B.1621, or mu by the World Health Organization, is being monitored by scientists. While this variant is making news, it is not the dominant strain in the United States or elsewhere, said Dr. John O’Horo, a Mayo Clinic infectious diseases physician. “The delta variant is really the predominant strain everywhere at this point. And while it is important that scientists and public health officials keep an eye…
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If you can’t do the sitting-rising test, you may need more exercise

If you can’t do the sitting-rising test, you may need more exercise

By Kiersten Willis, The Atlanta Journal-Constitution Troy Warren for CNT #Health How do you measure physical fitness? According to J. Flowers Health Institute, it can include squats or bench presses to assess muscular health. Or it could mean performing walking or step aerobics to measure cardio heath. But Eat This, Not That reported that if you’re over 50, failure to perform another test could indicate you need to exercise more. Researchers described the test in the peer-reviewedEuropean Journal of Cardiovascular Prevention. The sitting-rising test involves being able to sit down on the floor and stand up from it. The study saw 2,002 adults ages…
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Study shows older adult city dwellers live longer

Study shows older adult city dwellers live longer

By Kiersten Willis, The Atlanta Journal-Constitution Troy Warren for CNT #Health But the deep South is one of the exceptions When you’re thinking of retirement, a rural oasis may be at the top of your list of places to live. But a new study shows why you may want to stick to city life. Researchers from the Massachusetts Institute of Technology and Stanford University analyzed Medicare data that compared older adults who moved long distances. Results showed that longevity is affected by where they chose to live. Metro areas were put into the 10th or 90th percentile based on how they…
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Why every nurse should practice mindfulness (and how)

Why every nurse should practice mindfulness (and how)

By Shari Perkins Troy Warren for CNT #Health ‘It’s really common that the nurses … get disconnected from their own body’s experiences’ It’s easy to get caught up in our day-to-day tasks and lose track of our physical and mental states. At times, everyone experiences the feeling of having completed a task without fully noticing that we even started. In the nursing profession, with all of its procedures and endless responsibilities, it can be easy to slip into autopilotwhile working long shifts. “It’s really common that the nurses are so busy and so preoccupied that they get disconnected from their own body’s…
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TIP: Why making a decision is harder than making a choice

TIP: Why making a decision is harder than making a choice

By Judi Light Hopson, Emma H. Hopson and Ted Hagen, Tribune News Service Troy Warren for CNT #Health They might be easier, but making good choices is important, too Do you know the difference between making a choice and making a decision? They sound almost identical in meaning, but there is a huge difference. A decision takes an investment of time and energy, maybe a risk of some type, and real determination. A choice is much simpler. You might, for example, decide to enter a new career field. You’ll take needed classes or gain certification. The payoff is you may get…
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How Mother Nature can help reduce your anxiety

How Mother Nature can help reduce your anxiety

Troy Warren for CNT #Health Getting outside for walks and viewing the scenery can boost your mental health Are you feeling trapped by the pandemic? Are you limited in what you can do? Most of us are tired of staring at our laptops and cellphones. We want a safe environment, especially since the delta variant of the coronavirus makes matters more complex. But we also need a change. Getting outside for walks and viewing the scenery can boost your mental health. For example, make it a daily habit to walk around the block a couple of times. Or go for…
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