News - HealthDigest

Valerie Kalfrin

New Science Suggests Why Some COVID-19 Patients Become Sicker Than Others

Genetics and gender may determine both your risk of contracting COVID-19 and how sick you'll become, according to two new studies researching genes and the body's immune system.

Four people with face masks down dine outside

Valerie Kalfrin

Small Gatherings May Not Be As Safe As You Think During The Pandemic

You've practiced social distancing for months. So, you're safe to let your mask down at a dinner party or a game night with a handful of friends, right?

Katherine Alexis Athanasiou

Emma Roberts Opens Up About How Endometriosis Really Affected Her

Like one of as many as 11 percent of American women between the ages of 15 and 44, Roberts was diagnosed with endometriosis in her late 20s, a condition that went unrecognized during her adolescence despite reporting symptoms to her doctor.

Molly Hurford

The Reason Your Kids Should Be Exercising Instead Of Dieting

New research has shown that rather than focusing on your child's body mass index or diet, it's more important to ensure that they're getting enough activity.

Valerie Kalfrin

The Important Change Med Students Made To Their Version Of The Hippocratic Oath

First-year medical students at the University of Pittsburgh School of Medicine promised to advocate for a more equitable health-care system.

Karen Veazey

How Much Will Pfizer's COVID-19 Vaccine Cost?

As the biotech world moves closer to getting a COVID-19 vaccine approved, details about the specifics of such treatment are coming into focus. One question is — how much the vaccine is going to cost? And do Americans need to budget for it, or will health insurance cover it?

Gabrielle Gayagoy Gonzalez

What You Don't Know About Pfizer

With news of pharmaceutical giant Pfizer and German biotech company BioNTech announcing positive early results from their COVID-19 vaccine trial, many ears pricked up upon hearing the name of the familiar drug maker behind brands such as Advil, Robitussin, Zoloft, and Viagra.

Maria Scinto

This Is What Pfizer's COVID-19 Vaccine Trial Was Really Like

As of the latest press release from drug company Pfizer, we may not be waiting too much longer for a coronavirus vaccine.

Zrinka Peters

What's The Soonest Pfizer's COVID-19 Vaccine Could Be Available?

Pzifer, in collaboration with German biotechnology company BioNTech, has released new information about the development of its coronavirus vaccine. While these results are promising, more work needs to be done. If things are good to go, though, when could it be available?

Karen Veazey

Here's What Has To Happen Before Pfizer's COVID Vaccine Is Approved

For months, the world has been eagerly awaiting news of advancements in the development of a vaccine for COVID-19. One vaccine trial has finally announced some promising results. What has to happen before this COVID-19 vaccine is approved?

Exterior of drug company Pfizer headquarters in NYC

Valerie Kalfrin

The Truth About Pfizer's COVID-19 Vaccine

Pfizer of New York City and BioNTech of Mainz, Germany y released results from a trial of a potential COVID-19 vaccine they've been developing.

Valerie Kalfrin

The Truth About The Illness That Caused Alex Trebek's Death

The death of beloved Jeopardy! host Alex Trebek on Sunday spotlights the aggressiveness of pancreatic cancer, a disease with a poor survival rate — about 10 percent over five years.

Monica Beyer

A Timeline Of Al Roker's Health Problems Explained

Al Roker, the Today weatherman and co-host, has revealed a recent cancer diagnosis. The popular TV personality shared that he will undergo surgery next week. This will not be his first surgery, however — he's been in and out of operating room doors more than a few times over the course of his life.

Valerie Kalfrin

The Real Reason Influenza May Have A Lighter Season This Year

Social distancing and other safeguards to curtail the spread of the coronavirus could have the bonus benefit of clamping down on the spread of the flu, health experts say.

Molly Hurford

The Best Way To Deal With Stress Caused By The Election

Like millions of other Americans, you likely woke up over these last few mornings feeling a certain level of stress as you checked for election results. While you wait, it's important to tame your stress and channel that energy into something more productive than doomscrolling.

Zrinka Peters

What Is Election Stress Disorder?

Do you feel stressed, tired, and overwhelmed when you think about the election? Do you feel the anxious urge to constantly check your news feed? You're not alone. Election-related angst is so prevalent that experts have given it a name: election stress disorder.

woman tasting food from a spoon in the kitchen

Karen Veazey

Study Reveals Possible Reason For Taste Loss In COVID Patients

Early on in the pandemic, doctors noticed a symptom among patients with coronavirus: a loss of taste. Until now, they've been unsure why the virus causes this, but new research indicates that cells in the mouth are a key player in both the loss of taste and the growth and spread of the illness.

Young woman in college classroom wears face mask and checks phone

Valerie Kalfrin

How An App May Be Able To Detect COVID In Asymptomatic People

If scientists are successful, the phrase, 'There's an app for that!' soon could apply to being able to detect the coronavirus, even in people who show no symptoms.

Valerie Kalfrin

Study Reveals Scary Statistic About Grocery Workers And COVID

A new study of grocery workers in Boston, Massachusetts, suggests that grocery store employees are at greater risk of contracting COVID-19. Also, since a majority of those in the study showed no symptoms, these workers could be a significant transmission source of the coronavirus, researchers said.

Jorie Mark

How Video Games Can Benefit Kids In A Surprising Way During The Pandemic

Experts are suggesting we reconsider our notion of the 'lonely gamer,' and instead recognize that there is social value to video games — especially in the face of a pandemic, where social distancing is making it difficult for teens to hang out in the usual ways.

Doctor with stethoscope listens to a woman's pregnant belly

Valerie Kalfrin

Pregnancy-Related Heart Attacks Are On The Rise

More women ages 30 and older are experiencing pregnancy-related heart attacks, especially during the postpartum period, according to new research published in the Journal of the American Heart Association.

Jorie Mark

Why Pessimists Aren't Getting Enough Sleep, According To New Study

'Well, someone woke up on the wrong side of the bed this morning!' We've all heard this before, or remarked it to a grumpy, cereal-bowl-slamming roommate, partner, or other cohabitant. As it turns out, there is an actual link between a sour disposition and lack of sleep.

Valerie Kalfrin

There Is A Gender Gap When It Comes To COVID Safety Precautions. Here's Why

Two studies released this month show that men worldwide are less likely to perceive COVID-19 as a serious health problem and to follow preventative behaviors — something that puts their lives more in jeopardy.

Jorie Mark

Why You Should Wear A Mask Even If You're 6 Feet Away

Wearing a face mask when you're in a crowd is a no-brainer, but what if you're able to distance by 6 feet? Masking is still important even then: Here's why.

Valerie Kalfrin

Study Shines Light On Why People Use CBD

A new study of cannabidiol (or CBD) use among online users shines light on just what conditions send people searching for CBD as a home remedy.

Woman kisses baby drinking from plastic bottle

Karen Veazey

Babies Are Getting An Alarming Amount Of Microplastics From Bottles

When taking care of a baby, you do everything possible to ensure good health.

Gabrielle Gayagoy Gonzalez

If You Have A Peloton Exercise Bike, You'll Want To Read This

If you were ahead of the curve on what The New York Times called the Peloton panic-buying trend, or if you bought one secondhand, it's time to take a good look at your clip-in pedals — they may be subject to a recall.