Yes, we’re sick of masking and distancing, too, but have you noticed that your family and friends have experienced fewer colds and flu this year? Our behavior has changed, and it’s not just anecdotal evidence.
A recent study led by researchers from Vanderbilt University Medical Center found that the number of kids hospitalized for respiratory illnesses is down 62% across 44 children’s hospitals.
Flu among adults has dropped dramatically too. U.S. adult flu deaths this season will be measured in the hundreds instead of thousands.
Also, experts say, it has become a social faux pas to send anyone to school or work with a fever, so that is likely contributing to a reduced spread of illness, too.
Will it last? Sustained culture shift is hard but health care workers at least seem more inclined to wear masks than ever before.
Nothing is more frustrating than trying really hard to concentrate on a task and repeatedly getting distracted. Our friends at NPR’s Life Kit have some fresh advice for how to help you focus, including for one thing ... stop trying so hard!
Dr. Srini Pillay, a psychiatrist and the author of Tinker Dabble Doodle Try: Unlock the Power of the Unfocused Mind, suggests finding ways to purposely let your mind wander, in order to refresh your ability to focus and unlock creativity.
Try scheduling some breaks in your day that allow your mind to travel into the default mode network. This is the place where our minds find innovation and often make better decisions than the focused mind, Pillay says.
Also -- basic but effective -- turn off your devices for a set amount of time during the day, or consider a digital sabbath to give yourself a break from the constant multitasking required to answer emails, texts, and the temptation to game away the hours. It may allow you to reflect on what’s important.
Millions of people with compromised immune systems -- such as those living with cancer or people being treated for conditions like rheumatoid arthritis or lupus -- are at high risk of complications if they contract COVID-19. But because of their conditions, they have a lot of questions about how the vaccine might affect them, as well.
NPR health correspondent Maria Godoy talked with infectious disease experts who say all indications are that the vaccines are safe and effective for this population, and recommend that everyone get it.
However, the immune-compromised should coordinate vaccine timing with their doctors to figure out when their bodies may best be able to mount an effective immune response.
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