Health Updates: Brief Snippets of Health-Related News for Today
In the realm of health and science, several noteworthy developments have emerged in recent times.
A team of researchers at Harvard University, led by Dr. Frank Hu and Yanping Li, identified five lifestyle habits in 2018 that could potentially increase life expectancy. These habits include maintaining a healthy body weight, regardless of Body Mass Index, engaging in moderate to vigorous physical activity for about 30 minutes or more each day, eating a healthy diet rich in fruits, vegetables, and healthy fats, while limiting processed and red meats, sugary beverages, and salt, and limiting alcohol consumption to a half to two drinks per day, depending on the beverage and gender.
Air pollution, primarily caused by the burning of fossil fuels, has been identified as a significant health concern. It is responsible for 13 deaths per minute worldwide. On a more positive note, the 7-day average of daily COVID-19 case counts is currently on a downswing.
The COVID-19 pandemic continues to impact pregnant individuals, with 125,000 confirmed cases as of late September. Unfortunately, 161 pregnant people have tragically lost their lives to the virus, and 22,000 have been hospitalized. It's worth noting that 97 percent of pregnant people hospitalized for COVID-19 who were confirmed to have the virus were unvaccinated.
In an effort to combat the pandemic, Merck has submitted an application to the Food and Drug Administration for emergency use authorization of molnupiravir, an oral antiviral intended for the treatment of mild-to-moderate COVID-19.
On a brighter note, October marks National Hispanic Heritage Month, a time to celebrate and honour the contributions and influence of Hispanic and Latinx Americans to the United States and its culture.
In other news, a recent study by Astrology Zodiac Signs found that Scorpio, Cancer, Sagittarius, and Pisces account for 38 percent of serial killers, while Taurus and Gemini account for the least, at 11 percent.
Lastly, a judge temporarily blocked enforcement of the Texas abortion law, SB 8, which had essentially banned almost all abortions in the state after 6 weeks of pregnancy. The music scene also saw DJGR8IST release a Latinx/a/o playlist, adding to the diverse and vibrant music landscape.
