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SUNDAY, Oct. 25, 2020 (HealthDay News) -- Halloween is risky enough this year with the coronavirus pandemic, so don't risk your vision as well by wearing costume contact lenses, the American Academy of Ophthalmology (AAO) says. Costume contact lens packaging that claims "one-size-fits-all" or "no need to see an eye doctor" is false, the academy said. Poorly fitted contact lenses can scrape the cornea (the outer layer of the eye), making the eye more vulnerable to bacteria and viruses that can cause infections. People who buy contacts without a prescription have a 16-fold increased risk of developing an eye infection, research shows. "As we follow new precautions to keep our families safe in this abnormal year, it's important not to forget about the normal hazards that can occur...

SATURDAY, Oct. 24, 2020 (HealthDay News) -- The United States broke a bleak record on Friday, logging the highest daily number of new coronavirus cases since the pandemic began. The tally of over 80,000 new infections eclipses the previous record of 76,533 new cases set on July 17, during a surge in cases across the Sun Belt, the Washington Post reported. The country could soon be facing its worst stretch of the pandemic, with some hospitals in the West and Midwest already overwhelmed and death counts beginning to rise, the Post reported. This latest spike in cases is far more widespread than the waves that hit America in the spring and summer. The geographic spread of this latest surge makes it more dangerous, with experts warning it could lead to dire shortages of medical staff...

SATURDAY, Oct. 24, 2020 (HealthDay News) -- Sexual assault is common in America, with an attack occurring every 73 seconds. But having supportive care at the emergency department and afterwards can help heal the trauma, Penn State doctors say. One in five women is raped during their lifetime, yet only 25% report it, according to the National Sexual Violence Resource Center. The closer the relationship is between the victim and the offender, the more likely it won't be reported, says the U.S. Department of Justice. Even when attackers aren't known, more than half the victims do not report their assaults. "It's a very traumatic event," said Debbie Medley, an assistant nurse manager in the emergency department at Penn State Health Medical Center. "It takes quite a bit of emotional...

FRIDAY, Oct. 23, 2020 (HealthDay News) -- A culture of toughness and resilience is encouraged among elite college rowers, but it can keep them from reporting injuries, a new study finds. There's an overall myth among athletes that admitting pain is a sign of weakness and failure, the researchers said. Irish and Australian rowers in this study felt compromised by lower back pain, which is common in the sport, the study authors said. But many felt that the sporting culture didn't allow them to be open and honest about their pain for fear of exclusion. Also, many felt they had to keep competing and training even when in pain. This might have increased the risk of poor outcomes from their pain, and poor emotional and mental experiences they had, according to the report. Rowers who...