Month: September 2020

As the final countdown is on for schools to reopen across the Commonwealth, some health experts are raising a question about the state's new flu shot mandate. All students are required to get a flu shot by the end of the year -- unless they apply for an exemption. The goal, the state says, is to not only minimize the risk of hospitals being overwhelmed by flu cases and COVID-19 -- but to keep schools open. Some doctors tell The Herald in order for the strategy to work, the rule should also be mandated for teachers. They point out similar requirements are already in place in other fields -- like for those who work in hospitals. The Department of Public Health said state law allows the agency to require shots for students, but not for others. "There are vaccination recommendations for ...

So what can we do? You’d be surprised how many people are unaware that they’re clenching and grinding. Even patients who come into the office complaining of pain and sensitivity are often incredulous when I point it out. “Oh, no. I don’t grind my teeth,” is a refrain I hear over and over again, despite the fact that I’m often watching them do it. Awareness is key. Are your teeth currently touching? Even as you read this article? If so, that’s a sure sign that you’re doing some damage — your teeth shouldn’t actually touch throughout the day at all unless you’re actively eating and chewing your food. Instead, your jaw should be relaxed, with a bit of space between the teeth when the lips are closed. Be mindful, and try to stop yourself from grinding when you catch yourself doing it. If you...

"Literally the easiest thing I will do today," said Gov. Whitmer, who called the press conference to underscore preparations for this coming flu season. "Preventing the flu will help us save lives and preserve the health care resources we need to continue fighting Covid-19," she said. "It's more important than ever." Getting a flu shot is a safe, inexpensive way to stay healthy. But in a typical year, less than half of Americans get the vaccination (just 45% last year). Rates in the United Kingdom are comparable, where just 44.9% of registered patients ages 6 months to 64 years old got a flu vaccination from 2018 to 2019. In the European Union, which committed in 2009 to vaccinate at least 75% of residents ages 65 and older, only 45% of people in that group received vaccines in 2018. Wi...

Coronavirus tests: which one should you take? New coronavirus tests are being developed every day. The Trump administration just ordered 150 million rapid antigen tests from Abbott Laboratories, but how do they stack up against other tests like the Polymerase chain reaction (PCR) test? Top infectious disease doctors from Harvard and Johns Hopkins break down the differences between the two tests to determine which diagnostic tool might be better at curbing transmission rates. Patients hospitalized with a severe coronavirus infection still had lung damage and breathing problems weeks after leaving the hospital, according to a report on Sunday. Researchers in Austria released the preliminary results from a study that tracked 86 coronavirus patients after their release from a hospita...