Health & Wellness

Halfpoint Images/Getty Images A new study finds that the COVID-19 vaccine may affect a person’s menstrual cycle. The changes are extremely mild and temporary, especially when compared with the stress COVID-19 can cause on the body. The vaccines also do not affect fertility. A new study finds that COVID-19 vaccines can temporarily and slightly affect a person’s menstrual...

Francine Orr/Los Angeles Times via Getty Images Hospitalizations for people with COVID-19 have reached record highs, with over 145,000 people in hospital beds this week.Some people have shown up to the ER looking for a COVID-19 test since testing has been in short supply. We talked with experts about when to go to the ER for COVID-19 treatment....

JOSEPH PREZIOSO/AFP via Getty Images More than 5.5 million people globally have died from COVID-19.COVID-19 booster shots are now available for people ages 12 and older in the United States.Over 62 percent of the total U.S. population is fully vaccinated. Update on COVID-19 numbers Globally, there have been more than 315 million confirmed COVID-19 cases and more than...

Researchers say episodes of atrial fibrillation can be caused by binge drinking. Fresh Splash/Getty Images Researchers say binge drinking can produce episodes of atrial fibrillation (AFib), even in people who aren’t diagnosed with the condition.They came to their conclusion after examining Bluetooth-enabled Breathalyzers.They said emergency department visits for AFib increased on days when excessive drinking was more common,...

Florida officials want to administer COVID-19 tests only for certain groups of people. Chet Strange/Bloomberg via Getty Images Florida officials have adopted a new policy that encourages COVID-19 “high value” testing only for people who are at higher risk of severe illness from the disease.These groups include people over age 65, pregnant people, and people with certain medical...

Experts say aquatic exercise such as walking underwater can help ease back pain. Getty Images Researchers say water-based exercise can be more beneficial for easing back pain than some traditional physical therapies.They say aquatic exercise, such as walking underwater and using floatation devices, can relieve the strain on certain muscles and strengthen them.Experts say you can begin with...

More Americans are now hospitalized with COVID-19 than at any previous point in the pandemic. The current count—147,062—has doubled since Christmas, and is set to rise even more steeply, all while Omicron takes record numbers of health-care workers off the front lines with breakthrough infections. For hospitals, the math of this surge is simple: Fewer staff and more...

Winter can be rough on your skin. It puts nearly round-the-clock pressure on your outer layer, whether you’re inside or out. The cold air is dry and can contribute to cracking, while the warm air inside offers little relief. So, whether you’re getting outside for some activity or staying settled in by the fire, your skin is exposed...

It’s not uncommon for medications to come with a laundry list of unwanted effects. And if you’re on several medications, you could be experiencing a number of these effects. One potential effect of a slew of medications is impaired balance. For many reasons, certain medications may make it harder to stay sure-footed and increase the risk of a...

Image provided by University of Maryland School of Medicine A heart from a pig was transplanted to a human for the first time. This type of surgery known as xenotransplantation was possible due to gene-editing tools and anti-rejection medication. Currently, 106,632 people are waiting for a lifesaving organ transplant. Of those people, more than 62,000 are active waiting...