The winter months are notorious for bringing sickness. Influenza (flu) season begins in October and peaks between December and February. Colds are also more common during the season. Further adding to the mix of potential wintertime illnesses, COVID-19 and respiratory syncytial virus (or RSV) are swiftly circulating in the United States.

Virtual primary care—primary health care services delivered online or via phone—has increased in popularity as telemedicine has become more prominent. When the COVID-19 pandemic hit, telemedicine allowed more people to access health care services remotely. Now, virtual primary care is an increasingly preferred means to receive health care without going to a physical doctor’s office.

According to Microsoft research, nearly half of employees have reported that they are burnt out at work. The World Health Organization defines burnout as a syndrome resulting from workplace stress that has not been adequately managed. Everyday life is hectic enough without the added stress of the holidays.

The U.S. surgeon general released a new framework outlining how the workplace can promote the health and well-being of employees. It’s vital that employers take time to invest in the mental health and well-being of their employees.

The North Atlantic hurricane season—which lasts from June 1 to Nov. 30 annually—featured 14 named storms, eight of which reached hurricane strength, in 2022. While this year’s hurricane season produced fewer storms than originally predicted, it was still the third most expensive hurricane season to date.

The U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics (BLS) recently released its October Job Openings and Labor Turnover Summary. The month’s reported number of job openings decreased by 353,000 to 10.3 million as the Federal Reserve (Fed) increased interest rates in an effort to cool the labor market. October’s number of job openings is down 760,000 compared with a year ago, resulting in 1.7 job openings for each unemployed worker.

On Nov. 22, 2022, the Biden administration announced it would extend the repayment freeze on federal student loans while its debt relief plan remains blocked in the courts. The loan payment pause is now extended until after June or when the administration is able to move forward with its plan. Federal student loan payments were scheduled to resume in January.

According to recent data compiled by online personal finance website ValuePenguin, U.S. workers making $26.22—the national average hourly earnings—must work 504 hours to cover a typical out-of-pocket hospital stay. The data revealed that the average hospital stay is 4.6 days, and it costs patients without insurance an average of $2,873 per day for inpatient and outpatient treatment.

Modern vehicle technology has transformed in the past several years as autonomous driving, vehicle electrification and car connectivity features have become more common. While these digital innovations in the automotive industry have added significant customer value, they have also exposed vehicles to cybercriminals attempting to gain access to critical in-vehicle electronic units and data.

The U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) has announced an outbreak of listeria in six states linked to contaminated deli meat and cheese. A total of 16 people have been infected, and 13 have been hospitalized. One fatality was reported in Maryland, along with a lost pregnancy. There are currently six states being affected, including New York, Illinois, Maryland, Massachusetts, California and New Jersey.

According to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC), respiratory syncytial virus (RSV) is a common respiratory virus that usually causes mild, cold-like symptoms. For many, RSV is recoverable within a week, but RSV can be serious for some. Infants and older adults are at the highest risk for RSV complications.

Recently, the Bureau of Labor Statistics (BLS) reported that the consumer price index (CPI) eased to a 7.7% year-over-year increase in October 2022. This is down from an 8.2% increase in September. In addition, the CPI for all urban consumers rose by 0.4% from the same period last year, matching the increase in the previous two months.

On Nov. 10, 2022, a U.S. District Court for the Northern District of Texas judge struck down President Joe Biden’s student loan forgiveness program, declaring the program a “complete usurpation” of congressional authority by the executive branch. The U.S. Department of Justice immediately appealed the decision to the 5th U.S. Circuit Court of Appeals.

Ahead of this winter season, experts warn of a threat of a “tripledemic” that would affect children around the nation. Hospitals nationwide are under threat of severe respiratory syncytial virus (RSV), influenza (flu) and COVID-19. In the last couple of years, both the flu and COVID-19 have been prominent in the United States, but with the addition of RSV this year, there are new risks when catching any of these illnesses.

Influenza (flu) hospitalizations have significantly risen across the United States in recent weeks. According to data from the U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC), hospitalizations have reached levels that are generally not seen until later in the flu season, around December.

Exercise is a great way to combat stress, maintain a healthy weight and boost your energy. But attempting to do too much too quickly can cause injuries. To keep your workouts injury-free, be sure to add warming up, cooling down and stretching to your exercise routine.

The U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics (BLS) reported in its quarterly Employment Cost Index (ECI) that wages and salaries for private sector employees increased 5.2% for the year ending in September, up from a 4.6% increase the year prior. In the first quarter of 2022, the private sector wage and salary increase had been 5% and 5.7% in the second quarter. Experts view this report as evidence that U.S. wage growth is slowing.

The U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics (BLS) recently released its September Job Openings and Labor Turnover Summary. The month’s reported number of job openings increased by 437,000 to 10.7 million, surpassing what economists had forecasted. The September report follows several months of record-high job openings and quit rates.

The National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA) released its early estimates of traffic fatalities for the first half of 2022. The report found that an estimated 20,175 people have died in motor vehicle traffic crashes, the highest number of deaths during the first half of the year since 2006. This number is also up a marginal 0.5% from the 20,070 projected fatalities for the first half of 2021.

The U.S. Preventive Services Task Force (Task Force) recommends that adults under the age of 65 get regularly screened for anxiety. The draft recommendation applies to adults 19 and older who don’t have a diagnosed mental health disorder. It’s meant to help primary care clinicians identify early signs of anxiety, which can go undetected for years.