Health

By Deidre McPhillips, CNN When the Delta variant was dominant in the United States, both vaccination and prior infection helped protect against Covid-19, but vaccination was the safest way to be protected, according to a study published Wednesday by the US Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. The data included in the study was collected

By Casey Barber, CNN When you’re snacking for dinner, popcorn can’t be beat. It’s an ideal “main course” because it’s more filling than other snack foods and doesn’t rely on a fryer for flavor. It also can be made from scratch in minutes with no special equipment other than a large pot, and you can

By Sandee LaMotte, CNN The eyes may offer a “window into the soul,” as poets say, but they also have a lot to say about your health. Dry eyes can be a sign of rheumatoid arthritis. High levels of cholesterol can cause a white, gray or blue ring to form around the colored part of

By Ed Lavandera and Chris Boyette, CNN Oklahoma City hospitals are short of staff and overwhelmed, with no ICU or inpatient beds available as the Omicron variant causes a surge of Covid-19 patients, according to an open letter from leaders of the city’s four major health care systems. “Our emergency departments are overflowing. Our caregivers

By Catherine E. Shoichet, CNN Kadesha Adelakun bought toys from “Encanto” before she even had a chance to see the movie. She knew characters from a multiracial Afro-Latino family would be an important addition to her office in Kennesaw, Georgia, where she holds play therapy sessions and makes a point of finding toys that reflect

By Travis Caldwell and Holly Yan, CNN It’s still too early to predict whether Omicron’s rapid spread will help push coronavirus from the pandemic phase to a more manageable endemic phase — but “I would hope that that’s the case,” Dr. Anthony Fauci said Monday. A disease that is endemic has a constant presence in

By Travis Caldwell and Holly Yan, CNN Areas that were among the first to get hit hard by the Omicron variant are starting to see their Covid-19 numbers level off or even improve. But that’s not the case for much of the country, US Surgeon General Dr. Vivek Murthy said. “There are parts of the

By Kristen Rogers, Parija Kavilanz and Amanda Sealy, CNN The US Centers for Disease Control and Prevention has changed its mask guidelines to recommend that people “wear the most protective mask you can that fits well and that you will wear consistently.” The agency describes well-fitting respirators approved by the National Institute of Occupational Safety

By Katherine Dillinger and John Bonifield, CNN The US Centers for Disease Control and Prevention updated its mask information for the American public on Friday, including clarifying that certain types of masks and respirators offer more protection from the coronavirus than others and offering tips on what consumers should look for when shopping for them.

By Kristen Rogers, CNN As wintry weather whips across the United States, one challenge may be staying warm if you can’t afford or are cutting back on indoor heating. Staying warm is necessary “for a variety of health reasons” in addition to comfort, said Dr. Georges Benjamin, the executive director of the American Public Health

By Travis Caldwell, CNN As Covid-19 hospitalizations reach new highs, more states and health care systems are cutting back services that aren’t urgent and relying on National Guard personnel to fill staffing gaps as infected health care employees miss work to recover and patient demand grows. While officials have started to call out very early

By Deidre McPhillips, CNN The Omicron surge has driven Covid-19 cases and hospitalizations to record highs in the United States. This week, however, officials have started to call out very early signs that the wave is peaking — or at least plateauing — in parts of the Northeast. But case rates are still higher in

By Katia Hetter, CNN These days, it’s much easier to contract the coronavirus as the highly contagious Omicron variant spreads worldwide. As people face this current reality, it’s important to note that the US Centers for Disease Control and Prevention also recently changed its guidelines around isolation and quarantine. Many have questions about what to

By Travis Caldwell and Jason Hanna, CNN As a record number of Americans are infected with Covid-19, largely due to the rapidly spreading Omicron variant, some states’ health care systems are beset with nearly full intensive care units. Nineteen states have less than 15% remaining capacity in their ICUs. Four of them have less than

By Megan Marples, CNN If you’ve ever considered donating blood, now is the time to take action. Blood donations are absolutely critical right now as the United States faces the worst blood shortage in over a decade, according to the American Red Cross website. Know your blood type? Type O-positive, Type O-negative and platelets are