Author: Sophia Elizabeth

Florida Democratic Sen. Shevrin D. “Shev” Jones and Florida Republican Rep. Tom Fabricio said this year’s legislative session wasn’t as divisive as it appeared. Jones, of Miami Gardens, and Fabricio, of Miramar, both represent districts in areas of Miami-Dade and Broward counties. They said there was camaraderie behind the scenes. During This Week In South Florida on Sunday, Jones said he had hoped the support Republicans showed him would have translated into votes. “When you talk about love or support, it’s not ‘I support you,’ but it’s, ‘I support you, period.’ And that was the message that I wanted my…

A fourth dose of the COVID-19 vaccine will be necessary in order to maintain manageable levels of hospitalizations and mild infections, Pfizer CEO Albert Bourla told CBS’ “Face the Nation” on Sunday. Driving the news: While fourth doses are already authorized for some immunocompromised people, NIAID director Anthony Fauci said last month that the possibility of another round of boosters was being “very carefully monitored.” What they’re saying: Bourla said it was possible that COVID-19 boosters could become a yearly occurrence, much like the flu shot. “Variants are coming and Omicron was the first one…but also we know that the duration of the protection doesn’t last very long,”…

“Exercise can help. Exercise takes care of the inflammation that leads to elevated blood glucose and the development and progression of diabetes and clinical depression,” said Candida Rebello, a research scientist at Pennington Biomedical Research Center. A new study suggests a link between exercise and a reduced risk of developing depression and type 2 diabetes caused by inflammation-inducing bouts with long COVID-19.   “We know that Long COVID causes depression, and we know that it can increase blood glucose levels to the point where people develop diabetic ketoacidosis, a potentially life-threatening condition common among people with type 1 diabetes,” Candida Rebello, a…

Much like the intricate relationship between the gut and brain, diet and mental health are inextricably linked — and the connection between them goes both ways: a lack of good dietary choices leads to an increase in mental health issues, and mental health issues in turn lead to poor eating habits. When people learn that I am a psychiatrist, a brain health researcher, and a nutritionist, they often ask me how they should eat to maximize the awesome power of the brain. Based on my work with hundreds of patients, below are the best brain-boosting foods that people aren’t eating enough of. Incorporating…

“Insurers that charge more based on gender cite health risks as the main factor,” a ValuePenguin health and life insurance expert said. A new ValuePenguin analysis of U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics data found single women in the U.S. consistently pay more, both in money and a percentage of their salary, for health insurance. In 2020, single women put an average of 6.8 percent of their annual pretax salary toward their health insurance, while men put an average of 3.9 percent. The data paints a harrowing picture when given the added context of the gender wage gap prevalent across the United States.…

As the omicron coronavirus surge subsides, researchers are keeping an eye on a highly transmissible subvariant known as BA.2. Although it does not appear to have the capacity to drive a large new wave of infections, the variant could potentially slow the current decline of COVID cases and make treatment more difficult. Here’s what we know so far about BA.2. It’s not really new. Scientists first discovered the omicron variant in November, and it quickly became clear that the viral lineage already existed as three genetically distinct varieties. Each branch of omicron had its own set of unique mutations. At…

Just weeks before the Army’s controversial new fitness test was supposed to become official, a complete rethinking of a requirement that can be the difference between promotion and separation for service members, the force won’t commit to moving ahead with the test on time. Troops, who may need entirely different fitness equipment and substantial changes to their training, have been left in limbo, unsure whether the version of the test that was trialed in recent years will take effect or if the service is going to produce a meaningfully different set of standards. “It would be nice to know what this…

The early days of lockdown restrictions had a profound effect on people’s daily lives. Alcohol sales skyrocketed, physical activity dropped off sharply, and “comfort eating” led to weight gain, too. So, what’s happened since March of 2020? After two years of pandemic life, many of these effects persist. The strategies we used to adapt and cope have cemented into habits for many of us. And this is not a surprise to scientists who study behavior change. “We know when a shock arises and forces a change in our behavior for an extended period of time, there tend to be carryover…

The Department of Justice (DOJ) has uncovered a vast array of alleged fraudulent and criminal activities tied to more than $8 billion in federal COVID-19 aid, the agency announced Thursday. In response, the agency said it was immediately appointing a new director tasked specifically with coronavirus fraud enforcement. Kevin Chambers, who joined the agency as an associate deputy attorney general, “plans to focus on large-scale criminal enterprises and foreign actors who sought to profit at the expense of the American people,” the DOJ said. The move follows President Biden’s State of the Union pledge to go after “the criminals who stole billions in relief money…

China is fighting its biggest Covid-19 outbreak since the early days of the pandemic, with discontent spreading on social media after one university cluster left students reportedly without access to bathrooms or drinking water. The country reported 1,100 new locally-transmitted cases on Thursday — which, though nowhere near the level seen in other nations, is considered high by China’s standards. It marked the highest daily total since the virus emerged in Wuhan in 2020, prompting alarm among local and national leaders. Throughout the pandemic, China has adhered to a strict zero-Covid policy that aims to stamp out all outbreaks and…