Study finds covid-19 vaccine reduces risk of severe illness
A study published in June in “JAMA Network Open,” a leading peer-reviewed medical journal, found the covid-19 vaccine reduced the risk of emergency department visits and hospitalizations among healthy adults by about half last winter. Researchers analyzed data from a CDC-funded surveillance network to compare data on adults, who sought medical care for covid-like symptoms and compared outcomes between those who received the updated 2025-2026 vaccine and those who had not.
Got your tetanus booster yet?
Tetanus cases are on the rise, according to the Centers for Disease Control (CDC). Most people relate the illness to the idea of stepping on a rusty nail and getting lockjaw but there are many more ways a person can get infected. “Any wound that is contaminated with dirt is at risk of introducing tetanus bacteria into the body,” said Paul Offit, director of the Vaccine Education Center in a Wall Street Journal article.
These include any kind of puncture wound, burns, sores, insect bites or smaller breaks in the skin. Most people alive today have never known anyone with tetanus since the introduction of a vaccine in 1924 – at that time, there were 500 to 600 cases annually while in 2025, there were 38 cases in unvaccinated people.
Adults should get a booster shot every ten years as protection from childhood tetanus shots wanes and the C. tetani bacterium will always be present in the environment.
A cavity doesn’t always need filling
Standards of care in dentistry are evolving. Today, one of the biggest trends is minimally invasive dentistry, which limits drilling when possible.
In a New York Times article, dentists and dentistry professors share that there are a lot of preventive interventions that can halt and reverse a cavity. (https://www.nytimes.com/2026/05/04/well/cavity-filling-second-opinion.html) If acid has worn through the outside enamel but hasn’t gotten to the next layer of tooth (the dentin), then it’s a judgement call whether to intervene. Better brushing and flossing plus cutting back on sweets or coffee can stop the damage. Prescription-strength fluoride toothpaste and mouthwash can also halt and reverse early tooth decay. Fluoride varnishes and dental sealants are also an option. There are even newer products that can rebuild a tooth.
Dentists have also developed alternatives to root canals over the decades. A deep cavity close to a tooth’s nerve can be sealed off.
If going to a new dentist, you’re advised to ask about their philosophy or approach before starting treatment. Get a second opinion if you aren’t in immediate pain. Understand that if you have immaculate home care, your dentist may be willing to hold off drilling. If you have a mouthful of fillings and crowns, and have dry mouth, that will influence a dentist’s prognosis.
The power of self-compassion
In his book, “The Mindful Path to Self-Compassion, Harvard psychologist Christopher Germer suggests a variety of ways to bring self-compassion into your life. Here are a few:
- Comfort your body. Eat something healthy. Lie down and rest your body. Massage your own neck, feet or hands. Take a walk. Anything you can do to improve how you feel physically gives you a dose of self-compassion.
- Write a letter to yourself. Describe a situation that caused you to feel pain. Don’t blame anyone but acknowledge your feelings.
- Give yourself encouragement. If something bad or painful happens to you, think of what you would say to a good friend in the same situation. Direct these compassionate responses toward yourself.
- Practice mindfulness – the nonjudgemental observation of your own thoughts, feelings, and actions, without trying to suppress or deny them. When you look in the mirror and don’t like what you see, accept the bad with the good with a compassionate attitude.
A regular dose of art and creativity is healthy
According to a New York Times article, research suggests that experiencing art and creativity, even for a few minutes a day, has tangible effects on our mental and physical health. Daisy Fancourt, a professor of psychobiology and epidemiology at University College London, has been studying the effect of the arts on people’s health for 15 years.
This can include not only crafting but also the performing arts such as dance and ballet, visual arts such as painting, and the literary arts, like reading novels or poems. Culinary arts such as baking count and so do going to cultural spaces like museums. Here are some ideas, and you don’t have to be good at any of them or spend a lot of money to enjoy them:
- All the museums in Athens are free, including the Georgia Museum of Art, the Lyndon House, the Winterville Cultural Arts Center, and the Oconee Cultural Arts Foundation.
- There are many free or low-cost choral performances throughout the year at local churches; local plays at the Athens Community Theatre or local high schools, and various small music venues.
- Meet friends for lunch and have an “informal book club” discussion.
- Read a poem at night – reading aloud is even more fun.
- Stream recordings; check out art books from the library; try a new dance move or a new recipe.
Doing these types of creative endeavors can help slow cognitive decline, reduce the risk of heart disease and increase well-being as we age.
Manage your weight and keep your brain healthy longer
Being overweight may lead to accelerated cognitive decline, according to new research from the University of Georgia. The new study found higher body mass index over time led to more rapid declines in cognitive functions, memory and executive functioning than what is typically seen in aging adults. The researchers relied on data from a nationally representative study that followed more than 8,200 people over the age of 50 for 24 years. For every unit increase in BMI, there was a more rapid decline in brain health. The effect was most pronounced in adults over 65.
It’s not all bad news. The researchers found if people manage their weight, they could significantly lower their rate of cognitive decline in just two years.
Low-cost medical supplies and equipment
The new nonprofit, Silver Lace, Inc., connects people in need with medical supplies that support daily living. Such items as walkers, wheelchairs, hygiene and safety items are available at little or no cost; however, a $20 one-time yearly registration fee is required before or at first pick up.
There’s no insurance paperwork or red tape. A simple registration process is required to become a recipient. Contact the organization at 706-363-8453; visit silverlaceinc.org, or email audra@silverlaceinc.org.
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Donations of mobility aids, hygiene products and daily living equipment are welcome.
