Forms of fear; the season for sneezin’; a better coronavirus vaccine – Morning Medical Update

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Fear in the brain

Fear can be healthy when it helps people avoid danger. But prolonged, generalized fear can lead to debilitating anxiety disorders. Researchers are studying chemical and neural brain reactions that lead to generalized fear, which could in turn create new treatment methods for conditions such as post-traumatic stress disorder. Check out this explanation by Monica M. Bertagnolli, MD, director of the National Institutes of Health.

Spring has sprung

April showers bring May flowers, eventually. The U.S. Food and Drug Administration has this primer on the best medicines to counter the sneezing, itchy eyes and sinus pressure when freshly blooming plants unload pollen into the air. It’s a helpful refresher and the information can be shared with patients.

‘Broad protection’

Vaccines against COVID-19 were a massive innovation, but annually updating boosters is inefficient for scientists, physicians and patients. Researchers said they have developed a new vaccine with broad protection against SARS-CoV-2 variants and members of the SARS Betacoronavirus subfamily. Read more in this study and accompanying news release.