One of the more popular resolution is to quit drinking for the first month of the year, otherwise known as Dry January.  

It started as a social media movement that has exploded in popularity. Dry January is meant to encourage people to rethink their relationship with alcohol, take a break from it and become aware of their drinking habits.

The month-long feat to be sober has health benefits, according to Dr. Elspeth Ritchie, chair of Psychiatry at MedStar Washington Hospital Center. 

“It's going to depend on the person, but there's really no downside unless you're heavily addicted, in which case you should consult a medical professional so you'll feel better about yourself.

Ritchie said it could also help with weight loss.

"You'll likely have more of a spring in your step and you'll know that you can do it,” she said.

Ritchie said there are challenges, though, for some people partaking in Dry January.

“One [has] the ability to stop drinking. That can be harder than you think, especially if it's built into your social life or into a habit," she said. "Another challenge can be difficult to get into sleep. Often when people stop drinking, it becomes tough for them to fall asleep."

Dry January can be dangerous for some who give up booze, particularly heavy drinkers who can experience withdrawal. Symptoms include tremors in the hand, shakes and sweating.

"The best thing to do is to talk to your physician or other medical professional If you're going to do it and are worried that you might have withdrawal. You might be able to get some medications to help with withdrawal. There's also medications that help with craving, and that might be right for you as well,” Ritchie said.

The number of people going to the doctor with symptoms of respiratory illness — whether it be the flu, COVID, RSV, or none of the above — also continues to trend upward. Now, according to the CDC, 21 states and New York City are experiencing "very high" levels of sickness.

Comparing the latest data to just one week prior (slideshow below) shows the situation worsening in the northern half of the country. Now, only one U.S. state, Minnesota, remains in the "minimal" category.

The majority of states are seeing "high" or "very high" levels of sickness. (See more using the CDC's interactive map here.)

Even as the CDC's map grows increasingly grim, the agency predicts we haven't yet reached this season's peak. Since the early 1980s, the most commonly observed peak of flu season has come in February.

It's not just the flu going around. Hospital admissions for COVID have jumped 20% in the last week, and more people are testing positive for RSV, the CDC reports.

To create the maps above, the CDC compares current data from health care providers to what’s normal for that area outside of flu season. The data is based on the number of people reporting to a health care facility with flu symptoms — fever, plus a cough or sore throat. It is not based on lab-confirmed influenza cases.

That means the data could be including cases that turn out to be other respiratory illnesses, like COVID or RSV, but the cases could also be underreported, if people are staying home and fighting the sickness on their own.

Though we don't have exact numbers, the CDC estimates there have been at least 10 million illnesses, 110,000 hospitalizations and 6,500 deaths so far this flu season. Twenty-seven children have also died.

For 30 days, users of ClassPass will receive credits to use toward palates, yoga, boxing and gym visits on your own, according to their website.

Promoted as a "credit-based membership" granting access to "gyms, salons and spas," ClassPass terms and conditions indicate consumers can get 43 credits to use in one month for free, (an $89 value) but consumers are limited to a studio or gym visit just once; no double-dipping allowed.

ClassPass' online locator lists many courses and gyms in the metro Washington region.

A recent Forbes survey found that on average, New Year resolutions last just shy of 4 months.

Rather than feeling burn-out from one workout, ClassPass could offer a shakeup in your regiment by using available credits for different workouts.

Other local fitness discounts to start the year include Montgomery County's free fitness passes for residents to access gyms, game rooms and community recreation centers.

Fairfax County says consumers can receive 15% off annual memberships for their rec centers, tracks, classes and more; a discount that lasts through January 31.

The approval marks a major shift in U.S. drug policy, and comes despite fierce opposition from the pharmaceutical industry, which is likely to sue. The FDA has also raised safety concerns about importing drugs from outside the U.S. because it can’t guarantee their safety.

Individuals are allowed to buy from Canadian pharmacies, but states have long sought to purchase cheaper drugs directly from Canadian wholesalers.

Prescription drugs are cheaper in Canada, as in most other countries, because the government can directly negotiate the price with drug companies. 

The approval marks a political victory for both President Joe Biden and Florida Gov. Ron DeSantis, a Republican presidential candidate. Both Biden and DeSantis have been prioritizing lowering drug prices. 

The Trump administration in 2020 issued rules allowing states to apply for drug importation, and Florida was the first to apply. A 2021 executive order from Biden gave the policy new momentum and directed federal agencies to work with states on importation plans. 

But FDA inaction led DeSantis to sue the agency, accusing the FDA of “reckless delay” in approving the request. 

According to Florida, the state will begin by providing prescription drugs in a small number of drug classes, including medications to help individuals who have chronic health conditions such as asthma, COPD, diabetes, HIV/AIDS and mental illness. 

Only state programs such as Medicaid, the prison system and facilities run by the Department of Children & Families would get the imported drugs.

The industry trade group Pharmaceutical Research and Manufacturers of America (PhRMA) and two other groups sued the Trump administration in 2020 over the importation effort, but the lawsuit was dismissed by a federal judge last year.

In a statement Friday, the group said it was "considering all options" for preventing the policy from happening.

“We are deeply concerned with the FDA’s reckless decision to approve Florida’s state importation plan. Ensuring patients have access to needed medicines is critical, but the importation of unapproved medicines, whether from Canada or elsewhere in the world, poses a serious danger to public health. Politicians need to stop getting between Americans and their health care," PhRMA President and CEO Stephen J. Ubl said.

"PhRMA is considering all options for preventing this policy from harming patients."

According to the latest information from the agency, the FDA Adverse Event Reporting System (FAERS) received reports of patients experiencing alopecia, aspiration and suicidal ideation while taking glucagon-like peptide-1 (GLP-1) receptor agonists.

The agency is "evaluating the need for regulatory action."

GLP-1 receptor agonists like Ozepmic, Mounjaro, Wegovy and Zepbound work by mimicking the hormone known as GLP-1. This hormone stimulates insulin secretion and can also reduce appetite. While initially approved for treating diabetes, these drugs have become well-known for their use in weight loss.

Semaglutide — marketed under the names Ozempic, Rybelsus and Wegovy — is perhaps the best known drug within this class.

Novo Nordisk, the exclusive patent holder of semaglutide, notes gastrointestinal issues like nausea, diarrhea and constipation are the most common side effects. According to the medication guide for Ozempic, other side effects can include pancreatitis, kidney failure, low blood sugar and changes in vision.

Hair loss, depression and aspirating are not counted among the potential side effects.

When reached for comment, Novo Nordisk said it was aware of the FDA's evaluation of these reported side effects. Six of its products in total including Saxenda, Victoza and Xultophy were listed as potentially having these side effects.

The company noted that inclusion on the FAERS list does not definitively mean the drug has the risk it's being evaluated for.

"The known risks associated with use of those medicines are reflected in their current FDA-approved product labeling. Novo Nordisk stands behind the safety and efficacy of all of our GLP-1RA medicines when they are used as indicated and when they are taken under the care of a licensed healthcare professional," the company stated.

New data released Friday shows 13 states, plus New York City, have "very high" levels of respiratory illness. Another 18 states and Washington, D.C. are classified as "high."

The map below shows the severity of respiratory illness in every state as of Dec. 23. The darker the shade of red, the higher the spread of sickness is.

Seven states are shaded in purple to indicate they are in the highest tier tracked by the CDC, level 13: Alabama, Georgia, Louisiana, Mississippi, New Mexico, South Carolina and Tennessee. Just three weeks ago, no states or jurisdictions were in that category. (See more from the CDC's interactive map here.)

Two states, Alaska and North Dakota, did not report sufficient data to the CDC last week.

The CDC determines each state’s level of flu activity by comparing the current data from health care providers to what’s normal for that area outside of flu season.

The data is based on the number of people reporting to a health care facility with flu symptoms – fever, plus a cough or sore throat. It is not based on lab-confirmed influenza cases.

That means it could be including cases that turn out to be other respiratory illnesses, like COVID or RSV, but it also could be underreporting cases where people are staying home and fighting the sickness on their own.

The three major viral illnesses listed above – COVID, RSV and influenza – have lots of overlapping symptoms, which can make it hard to know what you have without a test. (We compare the symptoms here to help you narrow it down.)

The flu, which is especially dangerous for the elderly, immunocompromised people and young children, has killed an estimated 4,500 so far this season. Twenty of those deaths were children.

The Associated Press contributed to this report.

The report -- which covers the week ending on Saturday, Dec. 23 -- labeled Virginia as having a "Very High" influenza-like illness (ILI) activity level.

According to the Virginia Department of Health (VDH), emergency department and urgent care visits for flu-like illnesses in Virginia made up 6.9% of total visits during the week ending on Dec. 23. For young children and school-aged children that percentage was even higher at 14.7% and 13.2% of all visits.

During the week ending on Dec. 23, Virginia received 2,646 positive confirmatory lab reports. So far over the 2023-24 flu season, there have been 7,636 reported infections with one influenza-associated pediatric death.

Seven of the total 26 influenza outbreaks during the 2023-24 flu season occurred on the week of Dec. 23.

We asked Dr. Sindhu Aderson at Northwestern Medicine to run through some of the most common symptoms and treatments for each virus and bacteria, to break down the differences.

With strep, the most common signs are sore throat and fevers, but not often a cough, Aderson said.

When it comes to flu, you're more likely to see body aches. With COVID, one distinguishing symptom Aderson sees is fatigue, and occasionally loss of taste and/or smell.

With RSV, you'll often hear wheezing and coughing as the main symptom. However, coughing is reported with all three of the viral illnesses (COVID, RSV and flu). It's less common with strep, which is caused by a bacteria, Aderson said.

Trouble breathing is most common with COVID and RSV, but it can also be seen with patients with the flu, especially for people who are immunocompromised or elderly.

Fevers are possible across the board.

To easily compare symptoms between the four sicknesses, we created a chart you can use here.

Hear more from the interview with Dr. Aderson using the audio player below.

Those wishing for a definitive diagnosis can use a COVID test at home, or get tested for flu, RSV and strep at a doctor’s office.

"All of these illnesses and viruses tend to have a lot of shared symptoms," Aderson said. "It's difficult to tell, really narrow it down, unless we do that testing."

Understanding what you have is important because the correct diagnosis can help doctors determine the correct treatment. There are antiviral medications available for both flu and COVID that, when taken early on, can keep things from getting worse.

The child was from the state's Eastern region. Officials did not give the child's exact age but said they were between the ages of five and 12 years old.

The VDH said to follow these tips for flu prevention:

• Everyone six months and older should receive a yearly flu vaccine while consulting their healthcare provider as needed.
• Practice good preventive health with hand hygiene (washing your hands regularly with soap and water or using an alcohol-based hand sanitizer), respiratory etiquette (coughing and sneezing into a tissue or the inside of your elbow rather than your open hand) and staying home when you feel sick.
• If you do become sick with the flu, seek healthcare early in your illness if necessary. Antivirals prescribed by a healthcare provider are a treatment option for some patients and can help prevent serious flu complications.

As the weather gets colder in Virginia, flu cases are expected to rise, especially among young and school-aged children.

Click here to find out where you can get a flu vaccine or contact your local health department. For questions or more information, call (804) 864-8141.

Plans must cover up to $1,500 in the devices at least once every two years.

Dr. Pinky Khatri of Family Hearing Services in Chantilly said that sometimes families delay getting hearing aids for children because of the price tag.

"We’ve seen some parents kind of wait because they’re not able to afford something for their children," she said. "We see kids struggle... whether it's [through] language development or through school."

Often, hearing deficits in children lead to issues with speech development. Deficits also translate to academic struggles, Khatri said.

"When you don’t hear, you kind of start withdrawing and isolating and that affects the child’s social development too," she said. "If you’re not able to hear their teacher, especially if it’s a group discussion, with all that noise and different conversations, it’s hard to focus and understand what the teacher is saying."

She said that many children who are treated with hearing aids often develop typical speech, indistinguishable from their peers. She said that expanding access to the aids speaks to their importance.

"The sooner you start, then we see how well their language is still up to match with their peers we hear parents saying they’re doing so much better in school," said Khatri.

According to Forbes, the average cost of a hearing aid in the U.S. is $2,000.

Senate Bill 1003 is one of several new laws taking effect in the Commonwealth in the New Year.