Health

By Elizabeth Cohen and Danielle Herman, CNN The US Centers for Disease Control and Prevention plans to send a clear message to pharmacies on a conference call this week: Stop turning away immune-compromised people when they come seeking fourth doses of Covid-19 vaccines. Although fourth doses are not currently recommended for the vast majority of

By Sandee LaMotte, CNN Many of the water-resistant and stain-proof home furnishings and apparel we purchase may contain toxic “forever” chemicals, called PFAS, that are linked to numerous health concerns, including liver and heart damage, immune disorders, cancer and hormone disruption, a new report found. Independent laboratories commissioned by Toxic-Free Future, an environmental and health

By David G. Allan, CNN Library Shelfie Day — proof that there is now a day of celebration for everything — is the fourth Wednesday of January. It’s a lovely reminder of the heroic civic role libraries play in our lives, related to the massive impact books in general have on our lives. Whenever I

By Amanda Sealy, CNN Pfizer and BioNTech have begun a clinical trial for their Omicron-specific Covid-19 vaccine candidate, they announced in a news release on Tuesday. The study will evaluate the vaccine for safety, tolerability and the level of immune response, as both a primary series and a booster dose, in up to 1,420 healthy

By Jacqueline Howard, CNN The rollout of free N95 masks for the public began this week across the United States, with some pharmacies already handing out the masks and others expecting to do so in the coming days. The program is part of the Biden administration’s effort to distribute 400 million free N95 masks from

By Sandee LaMotte, CNN First it was Mr. Big, the character from “Sex in the City,” dying in Carrie Bradshaw’s arms from a heart attack after a 45-minute ride on his Peloton. Then it was Mike “Wags” Wagner, the drug-abusing, sadistic right hand of Axe Capital’s Bobby Axelrod in the Showtime series “Billions,” who too

By Jessica DuLong, CNN Whether it’s caring for kids, parents, coworkers or our community, many people feel utterly tapped out because of all the extra caretaking thrust upon us as the pandemic has upended daily life over these past two years. Putting someone else’s needs first, yet again, can feel like the worst way to

By Madeline Holcombe, CNN Could you find 10 minutes in your day to increase your physical activity? It might be lifesaving, according to a new study. More than 110,000 US deaths could be prevented each year if adults over 40 added 10 minutes of daily moderate to vigorous physical activity to their normal routines, according

By Melanie Radzicki McManus, CNN This winter is pummeling many people’s workout goals. As the highly contagious Omicron coronavirus variant continues its rapid spread around the globe, indoor exercising in public gyms is often less appealing or accessible. Yet recent storms and plunging temperatures may make outdoor workouts seem daunting, or even dangerous. Experts say,

By Casey Barber, CNN If the post-holiday slump is hitting a little harder for you in 2022, you’re not the only one. It’s cold and icy across the country, and many of us feel like staying indoors until spring. It’s times like these when we all need comfort, and a hearty bowl of chili will

By Steve Contorno, CNN Federal regulators are considering limiting the authorization of certain monoclonal antibody treatments that have not proved effective against the Omicron variant of the coronavirus, a source familiar with the decision-making told CNN. The US Food and Drug Administration could decide in the coming days to take steps to curb the use

By Sandee LaMotte, CNN For many people, social drinking is a celebrated pastime. At least it was in the good old days — you know, before we began living Covid’s nightmare version of Bill Murray’s “Groundhog Day.” During the pandemic’s repetitive grind, enjoying an occasional glass of wine with the girls has been replaced by

By Christina Maxouris, CNN During what has been another devastating surge of Covid-19 across the country, there is good news: Some states are starting to see infection numbers and hospitalizations drop. But it is not the case everywhere. As cases seem to begin plateauing, Covid-19 hospitalizations in the Northeast are down by about 11% after

By Jen Christensen, CNN Picture a not-too-distant future when you can book that summer trip to Italy or you don’t have to remember to take off your mask for graduation photos. After the past 25 months, forgetting the pandemic for even a little while may sound like a fantasy — after all, the coronavirus has

By Sandee LaMotte, CNN More than 333,000 silicone pacifiers available for purchase on Amazon have been voluntarily recalled by the distributor due to reports that the nipple can detach and cause a chocking hazard for infants. “The base of the silicone nipple has a fine slit that can cause the nipple to detach from the

By Matt Villano, CNN Birthdays are usually joyous occasions for Bonnie Wiener-Bambara, with daylong parties that involve pampering, dinner and friends. When she turned 47 on January 10, however, the festivities were practically nonexistent. There was good reason for the change in plans: The college professor in Patchogue, New York, has a 13-month-old daughter. Because

By John Bonifield and Elizabeth Cohen, CNN Three large new studies from the US Centers for Disease Control and Prevention highlight the importance of getting a booster shot to provide the best protection against the Omicron coronavirus variant. This is the first real-life data to examine the effect of boosters against Omicron, which now accounts

By Madeline Holcombe, CNN “I think therefore I am,” mind over matter, the little engine that thought he could — our philosophers, language and literature all point to the power of perspective. Psychologists say this common wisdom is right: What you expect from yourself and the world make a big impact on the results of

When COVID-19 broke out in the United States, one of the first corners of life that was upended was grocery shopping: The aisles stood bare as the public stocked up, and then people turned to online shopping to stay safe in their homes.

In a bold move, the World Health Federation released a policy brief Thursday saying that no amount of alcohol is good for the heart.

By Sandee LaMotte and Jen Christensen, CNN In a bold move, the World Heart Federation released a policy brief Thursday saying that no amount of alcohol is good for the heart. “At the World Heart Federation, we decided that it was imperative that we speak up about alcohol and the damages to health, as well

By Katia Hetter, CNN The US Centers for Disease Control and Prevention issued new guidance last week that urges Americans to wear the highest quality mask they can wear consistently and that fits well. Specifically, they classify the masks by level of protection. “Loosely woven cloth products provide the least protection, layered finely woven products

By Madeline Holcombe, CNN When Covid-19 broke out in the United States, one of the first corners of life that was upended was grocery shopping: The aisles stood bare as the public stocked up, and then people turned to online shopping to stay safe in their homes. But the transition online hasn’t been seamless, according

By Sandee LaMotte, CNN Remember those classic stoner dudes — Cheech and Chong, anyone? — spending their days in a weed-drenched room (or car), capable of little besides finding that next great high? If you don’t, that’s not surprising. As more and more states move to legalize marijuana, the stereotypical mind-numbing effects of weed have