From the WebMD Archives June 18, 2020 -- Americans' happiness levels are the lowest point in almost 50 years, according by the National Opinion Research Center at the University of Chicago.Based on its General Social Survey data, 14% of American adults reported being “very happy” in 2020. This is an all-time low since the study first started in 1972. The poll is conducted every other year.The previous low was in 2010, when 29% said they were “very happy.” In 2018, which was the last time the survey was taken, 31% said they were “very happy.”“In the midst of the coronavirus outbreak, the...…From the WebMD Archives June 18, 2020 -- Americans' happiness levels are the lowest point in almost 50 years, according by the National Opinion Research Center at the University of Chicago.Based on its General Social Survey data, 14% of American adults reported being “very happy” in 2020. This is an all-time low since the study first started in 1972. The poll is conducted every other year.The previous low was in 2010, when 29% said they were “very happy.” In 2018, which was the last time the survey was taken, 31% said they were “very happy.”“In the midst of the coronavirus outbreak, the...WW…

Remember when you could walk into any store and buy as many antibacterial wipes as you wanted? Those were the days.has made us all obsess over disinfecting our living spaces, and antibacterial wipes – if you can find any – offer a convenient way to do this. At least, that’s true if you use them correctly.If you don’t use them the right way, then you’re not actually killing any germs, which can give you a false sense of security about how germ-free your environment really is.Antibacterial wipes are soaked with chemicals that destroy almost any type of germ (including the virus that causes...…Remember when you could walk into any store and buy as many antibacterial wipes as you wanted? Those were the days.has made us all obsess over disinfecting our living spaces, and antibacterial wipes – if you can find any – offer a convenient way to do this. At least, that’s true if you use them correctly.If you don’t use them the right way, then you’re not actually killing any germs, which can give you a false sense of security about how germ-free your environment really is.Antibacterial wipes are soaked with chemicals that destroy almost any type of germ (including the virus that causes...WW…

The COVID-19 virus can spread via direct contact, airborne transmission, or through droplets. There have also been a few reported cases potentially spread through surfaces. But the risk of this is very low. The chance of COVID-19 surface transmission is less than 1 in 10,000.While updated guidelines say that surface transmission is unlikely, people are still applying disinfection protocols to sanitize surfaces in homes. Some people refer to the act of overcleaning as “hygiene theater.” This term suggests that certain sanitation practices exist more as a “show” to ease people’s minds instead...…The COVID-19 virus can spread via direct contact, airborne transmission, or through droplets. There have also been a few reported cases potentially spread through surfaces. But the risk of this is very low. The chance of COVID-19 surface transmission is less than 1 in 10,000.While updated guidelines say that surface transmission is unlikely, people are still applying disinfection protocols to sanitize surfaces in homes. Some people refer to the act of overcleaning as “hygiene theater.” This term suggests that certain sanitation practices exist more as a “show” to ease people’s minds instead...WW…

From the WebMD Archives April 14, 2020 - The novel coronavirus can travel 13 feet through the air and be carried around on people’s shoes, according to  from the CDC.The airborne distance is more than twice the recommended social distancing guidelines to stay 6 feet away from others. The new research, published in the agency’s Emerging Infectious Diseases journal, may help to explain how the virus is being spread.The study team tested air and surface samples at Huoshenshan Hospital in Wuhan, China, to detect the distribution of the coronavirus that causes the disease known as...…From the WebMD Archives April 14, 2020 - The novel coronavirus can travel 13 feet through the air and be carried around on people’s shoes, according to  from the CDC.The airborne distance is more than twice the recommended social distancing guidelines to stay 6 feet away from others. The new research, published in the agency’s Emerging Infectious Diseases journal, may help to explain how the virus is being spread.The study team tested air and surface samples at Huoshenshan Hospital in Wuhan, China, to detect the distribution of the coronavirus that causes the disease known as...WW…

There's a lot riding on your spinal column. It's your body's main structural support. It needs to keep you stable enough to stand upright but flexible enough for movement. So it's no surprise that many people have back problems from time to time.The hurt can stem from , ligaments, and tendons, or from herniated disks, , and other problems in your upper, middle, and lower back. Sometimes you feel the effects right away. But in many cases, back problems develop over time.We often bring on our back problems through bad habits, such as:The is actually a stack of 24 bones called vertebrae. A...…There's a lot riding on your spinal column. It's your body's main structural support. It needs to keep you stable enough to stand upright but flexible enough for movement. So it's no surprise that many people have back problems from time to time.The hurt can stem from , ligaments, and tendons, or from herniated disks, , and other problems in your upper, middle, and lower back. Sometimes you feel the effects right away. But in many cases, back problems develop over time.We often bring on our back problems through bad habits, such as:The is actually a stack of 24 bones called vertebrae. A...WW…

From the WebMD Archives This story was updated Oct. 27, 2020 with new studies on vitamin D and COVID-19.May 18, 2020 -- Could having a healthy blood level of help you avoid the intensive care unit and death if you become infected with COVID-19?More research suggests that the “sunshine vitamin” may play a role in how severe your case may be.While the studies don’t prove cause and effect, “these studies support the notion that vitamin D might be protective against COVID complications," says Vadim Backman, PhD, a professor of biomedical engineering and medicine at Northwestern University,...…From the WebMD Archives This story was updated Oct. 27, 2020 with new studies on vitamin D and COVID-19.May 18, 2020 -- Could having a healthy blood level of help you avoid the intensive care unit and death if you become infected with COVID-19?More research suggests that the “sunshine vitamin” may play a role in how severe your case may be.While the studies don’t prove cause and effect, “these studies support the notion that vitamin D might be protective against COVID complications," says Vadim Backman, PhD, a professor of biomedical engineering and medicine at Northwestern University,...WW…

MENU Docosanol is used to treat "cold sores/fever blisters" (herpes labialis). It can speed up healing of the sores and decrease symptoms (such as tingling, pain, burning, itching). It works by blocking the virus that causes the cold sores (herpes simplex) from entering the healthy skin cells and growing in number. This medication does not cure herpes and does not prevent passing the infection to someone else. It does not prevent a future occurrence.Do not use this medication to treat canker sores (sores found commonly in the mouth), shingles, or genital herpes.Follow all directions on the...…MENU Docosanol is used to treat "cold sores/fever blisters" (herpes labialis). It can speed up healing of the sores and decrease symptoms (such as tingling, pain, burning, itching). It works by blocking the virus that causes the cold sores (herpes simplex) from entering the healthy skin cells and growing in number. This medication does not cure herpes and does not prevent passing the infection to someone else. It does not prevent a future occurrence.Do not use this medication to treat canker sores (sores found commonly in the mouth), shingles, or genital herpes.Follow all directions on the...WW…

Most health experts recommend that you eat a balanced, healthy diet to maintain or to lose weight. But exactly what is a healthy diet?It should include:Dieting or not, everyone needs a mix of those nutrients, ideally from foods. A good general rule is to use MyPlate, which makes it easy to envision just how much of each food type to include in your meal.Fill half your plate with fruits and vegetables. Split the other half between whole grains and lean protein. Stick to your calorie “budget,” because when you're working on losing weight, you need to burn more calories than you eat or drink....…Most health experts recommend that you eat a balanced, healthy diet to maintain or to lose weight. But exactly what is a healthy diet?It should include:Dieting or not, everyone needs a mix of those nutrients, ideally from foods. A good general rule is to use MyPlate, which makes it easy to envision just how much of each food type to include in your meal.Fill half your plate with fruits and vegetables. Split the other half between whole grains and lean protein. Stick to your calorie “budget,” because when you're working on losing weight, you need to burn more calories than you eat or drink....WW…

TENS, or transcutaneous electrical nerve stimulation, is a back pain treatment that uses low voltage electric current to relieve pain.TENS is typically done with a TENS unit, a small battery-operated device. The device can be hooked to a belt and is connected to two electrodes. The electrodes carry an electric current from the TENS machine to the skin.There is little research to support how -- or even if -- TENS really works. Its use dates back to the 1960s with the introduction of the gate control theory of pain. According to the theory, stimulating nerves closes a "gate" mechanism in the...…TENS, or transcutaneous electrical nerve stimulation, is a back pain treatment that uses low voltage electric current to relieve pain.TENS is typically done with a TENS unit, a small battery-operated device. The device can be hooked to a belt and is connected to two electrodes. The electrodes carry an electric current from the TENS machine to the skin.There is little research to support how -- or even if -- TENS really works. Its use dates back to the 1960s with the introduction of the gate control theory of pain. According to the theory, stimulating nerves closes a "gate" mechanism in the...WW…

From the WebMD Archives Aug. 12, 2020 -- We are in a war against COVID-19, and this fall could be one of the worst from a public health standpoint that the U.S. has ever faced, says CDC Director Robert Redfield, MD.The surging , paired with season, could create the “worst fall” that “we’ve ever had,” he said during an interview on “Coronavirus in Context,” a video series hosted by John Whyte, MD, WebMD’s chief medical officer.Redfield also said the agency’s efforts to understand the virus were hampered by a lack of cooperation from China.  He reached out to China CDC Director George...…From the WebMD Archives Aug. 12, 2020 -- We are in a war against COVID-19, and this fall could be one of the worst from a public health standpoint that the U.S. has ever faced, says CDC Director Robert Redfield, MD.The surging , paired with season, could create the “worst fall” that “we’ve ever had,” he said during an interview on “Coronavirus in Context,” a video series hosted by John Whyte, MD, WebMD’s chief medical officer.Redfield also said the agency’s efforts to understand the virus were hampered by a lack of cooperation from China.  He reached out to China CDC Director George...WW…