Latest news with #CentersForDiseaseControl
Yahoo
3 days ago
- Health
- Yahoo
Kennedy's new US vaccine panel to discuss measles shot for children
(Reuters) -A new panel of U.S. vaccine advisers appointed by Health Secretary Robert F. Kennedy Jr. will vote on flu shots that contain a mercury-based preservative called thimerosal and discuss recommendations for measles shot at an upcoming meeting. The advisers to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention will also vote on who should receive the shots for respiratory syncytial virus and influenza at the meeting scheduled for June 25 and 26, according to a draft agenda posted on CDC's website. Experts will discuss proposed recommendations whether a shot to prevent measles, mumps, rubella, and varicella (MMRV) should be given to children under 5 years of age. The agenda did not specify who will be presenting on MMRV or thimerasol at the meeting. Thimerosal has been used for decades in the United States in vials for medicines and vaccines that containing more than one dose, according to CDC.
CNET
3 days ago
- Health
- CNET
Follow the 10-3-2-1-0 Sleep Rule and Kick Those Sleepless Nights to the Curb
If you're tossing and turning at night and not getting enough sleep, you aren't alone. According to the US Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, more than a third of American adults don't get enough sleep. It happens to all of us but bad sleep is more serious than you might realize. It's associated with the development of chronic conditions such as high blood pressure, heart disease, diabetes and stroke. Thankfully, you aren't doomed to live with poor sleep. Focusing on your habits around bedtime can go a long way toward achieving better sleep. The 10-3-2-1-0 is a presleep routine that helps your mind and body wind down, prepare for sleep and ensure high-quality rest. What is the 10-3-2-1-0 sleep hack?Most adults require a good six to nine hours of quality sleep each night. The 10-3-2-1-0 is a presleep routine that helps you relax and signals your body and mind that it's time to wind down. Here is everything you need to know. 10 hours before bed: no more caffeine Caffeine is the most commonly consumed psychoactive substance in the world. Caffeine consumption should ideally end 10 hours before bed because it can disrupt your sleep-wake cycle when consumed closer to bedtime. The half-life of a single dose of caffeine is about three to seven hours, so your body takes a minimum of 10 hours to eliminate caffeine from your bloodstream. This is a good general rule but 10 hours may be too rigid for some as sensitivity to caffeine varies. Along with coffee, caffeine may also be present in other drinks, such as sports drinks, soda, energy drinks, some teas and chocolate. Certain medications may also contain caffeine. You must read the labels of medications or drinks you're consuming, to avoid caffeine consumption around your bedtime. 3 hours before bed: no more food or alcohol Although consumption of alcohol before bed may seem to be relaxing, it is a common disruptor of sleep. It leads to decreased sleep quality and causes frequent overnight awakenings, which ultimately makes you feel tired throughout the next day. It may also be beneficial to avoid consuming certain foods three hours before bed, as they can lead to heartburn (acid reflux) and disrupt sleep. A few such foods include fried, spicy and high-fat foods. You may also want to avoid foods high in added sugars such as candies, cookies and desserts because they can also lead to poor sleep quality. 2 hours before bed: no more work You may want to end all work-related activities two hours before bed to ensure you get good quality sleep. Relaxing your mind will help you prepare for sleep. You can practice meditation, muscle relaxation and journaling to calm your mind after work. This helps to create a buffer time zone between your work and sleep time, allowing your brain to slow down and promoting a better quality of sleep. 1 hour before bed: no more screens It's suggested to avoid using smartphones, televisions, computers, tablets or other devices at least one hour before bed in your actual bed. Blue light before bed is not generally recommended but it is not as disruptive as we once thought. Sleep experts still urge you to avoid using screens in your bed before trying to go to sleep. If your bed is the one place you scroll on your phone or watch TV the most, the body will associate your bed as a place to be awake, making it harder to fall asleep at night. Hit snooze 0 times in the morning Hitting the snooze button may disrupt your sleep cycle, making you feel more tired. It's often better to get up with one alarm. The sleep between the alarms is often fragmented and low quality, which may decrease your overall alertness and motivation throughout the day. Along with making you tired, snoozing alarms can also make you late for your daily activities. Additionally, getting up with the first alarm, even if it feels difficult initially, can help reinforce a consistent sleep-wake pattern. Other sleep hygiene tipsA few common tips that will help to maintain your sleep hygiene and ensure good quality sleep every night include: Keep electronics out of the bedroom: Keeping electronics out of your bedroom will ensure you are not getting exposed to blue light from them, which can disrupt your sleep-wake cycle. Keeping electronics out of your bedroom will ensure you are not getting exposed to blue light from them, which can disrupt your sleep-wake cycle. Create a routine: Creating a sleep routine prepares your body and mind for sleep. It signals to your body that it is time to sleep, ensuring timely and good-quality sleep. Creating a sleep routine prepares your body and mind for sleep. It signals to your body that it is time to sleep, ensuring timely and good-quality sleep. Avoid late-night exercise: Although exercise is good for your health, doing it one to two hours before bed can disrupt your sleep. Rigorous exercise close to your bedtime can increase your heart rate, adrenaline levels and body temperature, thereby making it difficult for you to fall asleep. Try gentle stretching or yoga poses, instead. Although exercise is good for your health, doing it one to two hours before bed can disrupt your sleep. Rigorous exercise close to your bedtime can increase your heart rate, adrenaline levels and body temperature, thereby making it difficult for you to fall asleep. Try gentle stretching or yoga poses, instead. Keep mid-day naps to 30 minutes or less: Keeping your naps to 15 to 20 minutes or less can keep you energetic throughout the day. However, longer naps can interfere with your normal sleep time and make you feel lethargic and disoriented. Keeping your naps to 15 to 20 minutes or less can keep you energetic throughout the day. However, longer naps can interfere with your normal sleep time and make you feel lethargic and disoriented. Make your bedroom dark: Making your bedroom dark ensures high-quality sleep. Even low light can increase your risk of nighttime awakenings and disrupt your sleep cycle. Making your bedroom dark ensures high-quality sleep. Even low light can increase your risk of nighttime awakenings and disrupt your sleep cycle. Don't watch TV or scroll on your phone in bed: Scrolling your phone or watching TV in bed can associate your bed as a place to be awake. Try to only use your bed for sleep. Scrolling your phone or watching TV in bed can associate your bed as a place to be awake. Try to only use your bed for sleep. Wind your mind down before bed: Winding your mind before bed ensures your mind is calm and your body is preparing to fall asleep. This, in turn, ensures you get high-quality sleep and do not experience any awakenings. Does the 10-3-2-1-0 hack really work? Yrabota/Getty Images Better sleep means a better quality of life along with better mood, improved productivity and reduced stress. Instead of tossing and turning in your bed, try the 10-3-2-1-0 sleep routine. Many have reported that this routine is effective in preparing their body for sleep. Although getting used to any routine is difficult, focus on gradual, sustainable changes rather than a perfect routine to reduce stress and anxiety about sleep. Hopefully, this advice will help you unwind and make falling asleep and getting good quality sleep easier.
CBS News
13-06-2025
- Health
- CBS News
First batch of West Nile-positive mosquitoes found in Chicago, health officials say
The Chicago Department of Public Health announced on Friday that the first batch of mosquitoes that tested positive for the West Nile virus were found in the city. This comes after other batches tested positive for the virus in Glenview and in McHenry and DuPage counties. The Illinois Department of Public Health confirmed the first positive batch in the state on May 13. However, no human cases have been reported in Illinois so far this year. What is West Nile virus? How to prevent it. West Nile virus is spread to people from infected mosquitoes, most commonly in the summer. Eight out of 10 people infected do not develop symptoms, according to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. The public is advised to do their best to protect themselves from mosquito bites, including using an EPA-registered insect repellent, wearing loose-fitting clothing, and, if possible, avoiding peak mosquito feeding times, typically around dusk and dawn. "As the weather gets warmer, all Chicago residents are encouraged to Fight the Bite and protect themselves against mosquito bites so they can remain safe and healthy this summer," CDPH Commissioner Dr. Olusimbo Ige said. It is also encouraged to check often overlooked places that may contain water, such as bird baths, water pails, and flower pots. What are the symptoms of West Nile virus? While most people infected with the virus do not feel sick, about one in five will develop a fever and flu-like symptoms. Other symptoms include body aches, vomiting, diarrhea, or rash. Severe illness can occur in about one in 150 people and is most likely to occur in people over age 55 or with weakened immune systems. The department said there are no specific medications to treat the virus in people. The best way to prevent getting sick is to prevent mosquito bites.
Washington Post
05-06-2025
- General
- Washington Post
Safe travel, cold plunges and hot flashes: The week in Well+Being
You are reading our weekly Well+Being newsletter. Sign up here to get it delivered to your inbox every Thursday. If your summer travel plans start with a trip to the airport, you might be a bit concerned about one infectious disease that's making a comeback: measles. Although it was officially eliminated 25 years ago, the United States is now experiencing a pretty big outbreak. The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention told The Washington Post this week that there have been 62 known cases of people with measles who traveled on commercial airlines, and at least one person who caught the infection presumably from someone seated nearby.
The Independent
04-06-2025
- General
- The Independent
Will norovirus surge early again this year? Here's what scientists say
Will the upcoming norovirus season be just as early and active as the past year? While the answer may be anyone's guess right now, federal health officials recently warned that the dominant strain of the contagious virus — the leading cause of vomiting, diarrhea, and foodborne illness in the U.S. — has changed between the 2022-2023 and 2024-2025 seasons. 'GII.17 has caused 75 percent of all norovirus outbreaks during the 2024–25 season so far, thereby replacing GII.4 as the predominant norovirus outbreak strain in the United States,' Centers for Disease Control researchers wrote in an article published this month by the agency's Emerging Infectious Diseases journal. This past season also started at the earlier date of October, as opposed to December. GII.17 also drove a record wave of outbreaks. But, what all of this might mean going forward needs further research. 'Additional sequence analysis of complete GII.17 genomes and identification of cross-protective neutralizing antibodies of GII.17 compared with GII.4 viruses could help clarify whether GII.17 viruses will persist. Continued surveillance is needed to determine if this genotype remains the dominant genotype, as well as whether the norovirus season continues to start earlier than previous years,' they wrote. A spokesperson for the agency told CBS News that there are 'currently insufficient historic data to predict whether norovirus GII.17 will remain the dominant genotype and lead to an earlier onset of the norovirus season later this year.' They pointed to a surge of GII.17 strains in Asia and Europe in 2014 that was followed by no reports of a change to seasonality, and noted that there has been no clear evidence to prove that GII.17's emergence was the cause of a change to the norovirus season last year. Still, this past season reached the worst levels in a decade. There were 91 suspected or confirmed outbreaks during the first week of December, which Yale Medicine said exceeded the number of outbreaks during the same week in any year since 2012. The majority were the GII.7 strain. In years when there is a new strain of the virus, there can be 50 percent more norovirus illness. Cases continued to tick up months into this year. By May 7, there were 2,571 outbreaks. During the same time last year, there were only 1,358. 'The total number of outbreaks reported during the 2024 to 2025 seasonal year is above the range reported during the same period during the 2012 to 2020 and 2021 to 2024 seasonal years,' the CDC said. But, cases in the previous season were lower than normal. Typically, there are about 2,500 reported norovirus outbreaks in the U.S. each year. Cases have fallen markedly since January, and are now at low levels. While the outbreaks occur throughout the year, they are the most common from November to April as people head indoors and it's easier to spread norovirus through infected particles. Anyone who consumes raw shellfish is also at risk of contracting it. Infection can be deadly largely among adults aged 65 and up, but anyone can get sick. Children younger than 5 years old and people with weakened immune systems are more likely to develop severe infections. There are 900 deaths on average each year and between 19 and 21 million illnesses. There's no specific treatment for norovirus, but most people recover with a period of up to three days. 'The norovirus can spread so quickly, but also, as we already talked about, norovirus can be very — it's usually very fast. So yeah, if people are taking care of themselves, we leave them alone,' explained Dr. Joanna Bisgrove, a family physician at Rush University Medical Center. 'But if it keeps going, we're like, maybe this isn't norovirus, and we need to do other things.'
