Since early in the pandemic, women have reported experiencing changes in their menstruation after they got COVID-19 or were vaccinated against it. Their cycles had gotten longer, some said. Their bleeding was heavier. Research has backed up those anecdotal reports, showing COVID-19 vaccination having a temporary but noticeable impact on women’s periods and their accompanying…
Author: Chia-Yi Hou
What we know about the Ohio measles outbreak
A measles outbreak in Ohio is raising concerns about the spread of the disease and how a decline in vaccination rates among children might be leading to additional outbreaks. Eighty-five cases have been reported in Ohio as of Friday, mainly in Columbus and other parts of Franklin County, according to Columbus Public Health. Most of…
Half of Gen Z workers feel burnout at least once a week: survey
Story at a glance Half of Gen Z professionals feel burnout at least weekly, according to a new survey. In the survey from The Mary Christie Institute, more than 1,000 recent college graduates between 22 and 28 years old were asked about their mental health and working life. Half of the participants also said they…
Four ways to make mental health a priority in the new year
If you or someone you know is struggling or in crisis, help is available. Call or text 988 or chat 988lifeline.org. For many people, the start of a new year can signify a new beginning or a new commitment to improving their lives. But it also comes at a time of year when feelings of…
How to mentally prepare for holiday gatherings
Story at a glance End-of-year holiday festivities bring with them numerous sources of stress and anxiety. For the last few years, more typical family conflict and scrutiny have come with a side of pandemic fears — and this holiday season, with COVID-19, respiratory syncytial virus (RSV) and the flu all circulating, is no different. Psychiatrist…
Long COVID rehab program produces ‘impressive’ results
Story at a glance A rehabilitation program for long COVID symptoms in the United Kingdom shows “impressive” results, according to a new paper in the Journal of Medical Virology. Participants had fewer episodes of exhaustion after six weeks in the program and their ability to be active and quality of life showed “moderate improvement.” The…
Educators and parents express concerns about school mental health services in new national poll
Story at a glance Educators and parents surveyed in a new national poll focused on school mental health services expressed concern that the U.S. is in the midst of a growing youth mental health crisis — and that schools may not be prepared to deal with it. Ninety percent of school administrators and 60 percent…
Heat exhaustion up 53 percent from 2016 to 2021
Story at a glance The percentage of patients diagnosed with heat stress, heat exhaustion or heatstroke was consistently higher in 2021 compared to 2016, according to a new report published by FAIR Health. This finding may be especially important in the context of rising average temperatures and increased extreme heat events due to climate change. …
Screen time linked to OCD in youth: study
Story at a glance Screen time among teens doubled during the pandemic and was associated with poorer mental health and greater stress. Screen time has also been associated with binge eating and disruptive behavior disorders. A new study finds an association between certain types of screen time and a higher risk for obsessive compulsive disorder. …
Heart disease diagnosis and treatment need to consider how aging affects body: American Heart Association
Story at a glance As bodies age, heart muscles and arteries may change in ways that could increase risk for heart disease. For that reason, age needs to be taken into consideration in the diagnosis and treatment of heart disease, the American Heart Association said in a scientific statement published Monday in Circulation in which…