First U.S. Over-the-Counter Birth Control Pill Will Be Available Soon

Why It Matters The medication, called Opill, which was approved for over-the-counter sale by the Food and Drug Administration last year, will be the most effective birth control method available without a prescription, research shows — more effective than condoms, spermicides and other nonprescription methods. Reproductive health experts said that its availability could be especially…

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Apparently Healthy, but Diagnosed With Alzheimer’s?

Determining whether someone has Alzheimer’s disease usually requires an extended diagnostic process. A doctor takes a patient’s medical history, discusses symptoms, administers verbal and visual cognitive tests. The patient may undergo a PET scan, an M.R.I. or a spinal tap — tests that detect the presence of two proteins in the brain, amyloid plaques and…

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More Screen Time Means Less Parent-Child Talk, Study Finds

According to new research, “technoference” is real. Toddlers who are exposed to more screen time have fewer conversations with their parents or caregivers by an array of measures. They say less, hear less and have fewer back-and-forth exchanges with adults compared with children who spend less time in front of screens. Those findings, published on…

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C.D.C. Shortens Isolation Period for People With Covid

Americans with Covid or other respiratory infections need not isolate for five days before returning to work or school, the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention said on Friday, a striking sign of changing attitudes toward the coronavirus. People with respiratory illnesses may resume daily activities if they have been fever-free for at least 24…

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How to Support Someone Grieving the Loss of a Pet

On “The Daily Show” this week, the host Jon Stewart broke down as he announced the death of his beloved, three-legged brindle pit bull, Dipper — a raw, touching segment that exemplified the deep grief many pet owners feel. When an animal dies, owners lose companionship, affection and “just plain unconditional love — and we…

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