Drugs and Medications News
- Expelled From High School, Alister Martin Became a Harvard Doc
February 13, 2023 — It’s not often that a high school brawl with gang members sets you down a path to becoming a Harvard-trained doctor. But that’s exactly how Alister Martin’s life unfolded.
- Updated Booster Dramatically Reduces Risk of COVID Death: Study
February 13, 2023 — A new CDC study shows that people who got the updated bivalent COVID-19 booster by the end of last year were 14 times less likely to die from the disease than people who were never vaccinated, and three times less likely to die from the disease than those who got only the original vaccines.
- Exercise Training Reduces Liver Fat, Even Without Weight Loss
February 13, 2023 — Exercise training can lead to a significant reduction in liver fat for patients with nonalcoholic fatty liver disease (NAFLD), which is a leading cause of liver disease worldwide, according to a new study published in the American Journal of Gastroenterology.
- Children’s BMI Dropped After School Meals Became Healthier
February 13, 2023 — The body mass index of school children dropped after the Health, Hunger-Free Kids Act of 2010 improved nutrition standards for school breakfasts, lunches, and snacks, a new study says.
- Air Pollution Linked to Depression in Older Adults: Study
February 13, 2023 — Researchers from Harvard and Emory Universities have found a link between long-term exposure to air pollution and being diagnosed with depression after age 64.
- New Report Says Suicide Rates Rising Among Young Black People
February 12, 2023 — The rising national suicide rate is being driven by increases among younger people and among people of color, according to a new report. Significant increases in suicide occurred among Native American, Black and Hispanic people, with a startling rise among young Black people.
- Statewide Mask Mandate for Hospitals Expires in New York
February 11, 2023 — The New York Department of Health has announced that face masks will no longer be required in hospitals and other health care facilities in New York state regardless of a person’s COVID-19 vaccination status.
- You Have Cancer. Who in Your Life Do You Tell, and When?
February 10, 2023 — Are you considering having 'the talk?' Disclosing one's cancer status while dating or at work is a personal choice.
- U.S. to Test Vaccine in Poultry as Bird Flu Deaths Rise
February 10, 2023 — Every state has found bird flu in wild birds and 47 states have found it in poultry flocks, including 18 states in the last 30 days, the USDA said.
- Norovirus Cases Are on the Upswing, CDC Says
February 10, 2023 — There were 225 norovirus outbreaks reported to the CDC between Aug. 1, 2022, and Jan. 8, 2023, compared to 172 outbreaks during the same period the previous season, according to CDC data.
- Consider Fallopian Tube Removal to Avoid Ovarian Cancer
February 10, 2023 — The new advice replaces the decades old focus on symptom awareness and early detection of ovarian cancer through screening.
- Phase III Trial Reports Promising Results for New COVID Treatment
February 9, 2023 — Results from a phase III trial of a new COVID-19 treatment showed it reduced the risk of hospitalization or long ER visits by half.
- Vibrating Pill Can Help Treat Constipation
February 9, 2023 — A new vibrating pill shown to help relieve constipation is now available.
- AI Meets Embryos: The Future of IVF
February 9, 2023 — Conceiving a child in the next five to 10 years might look like something out of a science fiction movie.
- IBD and Eating: New Website Offers 'Gut Friendly' Recipes
February 9, 2023 — People can search for specific recipes based on their needs, filter meals by dietary exclusions, ingredients, and allergens, or create a 7-day meal plan. The site also features meals according to multiple diets.
- Scientists Create 'Vagina on a Chip': What to Know
February 9, 2023 — A microfluidic chip designed to mimic the vagina's microbiome is likely to drive vital new treatments in the long-neglected field of women's reproductive health.
- Algorithm Can Spot Signs of Autism in Babies, Study Says
February 9, 2023 — Autism can be detected in children almost from birth using an algorithm to review their health records, a study from Duke University says.
- Most Former NFL Players in Boston University Study Had CTE
February 8, 2023 — The brains of nearly all NFL players studied showed signs of the impact-induced brain disease chronic traumatic encephalopathy (CTE), researchers at Boston University announced.
- Student Mental Health Week Focuses on Rates of Stress, Anxiety
February 8, 2023 — A recent study showed that nearly one-third of students worldwide said their mental health has worsened since returning to campus following the COVID-19 lockdowns.
- Genetics Can Drive Gout in Families, but Lifestyle Can Worsen Pain
February 8, 2023 — Gout in people who have a brother, father, sister, or mother with the condition, a form of arthritis that often causes sudden, severe pain in the joints, is mostly driven by genetic makeup but can worsen significantly if they also drink heavily or carry excess weight.
- Consistent Blood Pressure Monitoring Called For During Pregnancy
February 8, 2023 — Doctors should screen for hypertensive disorders of pregnancy, which can cause serious and fatal complications for both the mother and baby, according to a new recommendation from the U.S. Preventive Services Task Force.
- No New COVID-19 Variants Emerged in China, Analysis Says
February 8, 2023 — No new COVID-19 variants emerged in China’s recent surge of infections when the country ended its zero-COVID policy, according to an analysis published in The Lancet.
- 18% of U.S. Adults Use Sleep Aids, Report Says
February 8, 2023 — Almost 1 in 5 American adults regularly use prescription or over-the-counter medicine to help them sleep, a new government report says.
- Marriage May Help Keep Your Blood Sugar on Target
February 7, 2023 — A study finds that blood sugar levels improved slightly as people transitioned into marriages or domestic partnerships and worsened slightly when they left those relationships.
- IVF-Conceived Children Show Strong Developmental Performance
February 7, 2023 — Some previous researchers linked conception via IVF to an increased risk of congenital abnormalities, autism spectrum disorder, developmental delay, and intellectual disability.
- Healthy Lifestyle Linked to Lower Risk of Long COVID
February 7, 2023 — People with healthy lifestyles may be less likely to have prolonged COVID-19 symptoms, a new study suggests.
- Playing Golf May Be Good for Your Heart
February 7, 2023 — A new study says playing 18 holes is just as good, and maybe better, as brisk walking for cardiovascular health in older adults.
- Black, Hispanic Dialysis Patients Have Higher Infection Rates
February 7, 2023 — Black and Hispanic people on dialysis have higher rates of staph bloodstream infections than White people, with Hispanic patients having a 40% higher risk of staph bloodstream infections, a report released by the CDC said.
- Nearly 40% of U.S. Households Affected by 'Tripledemic'
February 7, 2023 — In about 40% of U.S. households during the holiday season, at least one person got sick with one of the trifecta of respiratory illnesses referred to as the tripledemic, a new survey shows.
- The Truth Behind Viral Videos Linking COVID Vaccine to Spasms, Shakes
February 7, 2023 — Vaccine hesitation is once again flying as videos depicting movement disorders go viral.
- More Time Outdoors May Mean Less Need for Medications
February 6, 2023 — Urban dwellers who frequently visit green spaces, such as parks and community gardens, have a lower use of some commonly prescribed medications.
- Childhood Cancer Survivor Now Works to Help Others Like Her
February 6, 2023 — A cancer survivor as a child, Maggie Rogers now works with the American Cancer Society to help others like her.
- Hundreds of Prepared Food Products Recalled Over Listeria Concerns
February 6, 2023 — Dozens of brands of prepared foods are being recalled due to possible contamination with the dangerous bacteria listeria. The products were sold at a wide variety of locations, including retail stores, on trains, and in vending machines.
- We Don't Lose Our Keys (or Other Things) as Much as We Think
February 6, 2023 — People in a study recalled the positions of dozens of objects with good if not perfect accuracy, a finding that expands our understanding of spatial and temporal memory.
- Pill for Postpartum Depression Submitted for FDA Review
February 6, 2023 — A pill that could change the way postpartum depression is treated has been submitted to the U.S. Food and Drug Administration for priority review, pharmaceutical companies Sage Therapeutics and Biogen announced.
- USDA Proposes New Sugar, Salt Limits in School Meals
February 5, 2023 — Added sugars in school meals would need to be less than 10% of calories per meal by 2027. Reductions in sodium would be phased in. Salt in school breakfasts would need to be cut by 10% in 2025 and another 10% in 2027. Sodium in lunches would need to be cut 10% in 2025, 2027, and 2029.
- California Drops School Vaccination Requirements
February 4, 2023 — California says it will no longer require schoolchildren to be vaccinated in order to attend in-person classes.
- Warmer Temperatures Could Be Helping Dangerous Fungi Spread
February 4, 2023 — Scientific evidence suggests “dangerous fungal infections are on the rise.” As temperatures have risen, some fungi are adapting to higher heat, including within people, the newspaper wrote.
- Weight Loss Drug Will Be Easier to Find in Stores Soon, Manufacturer Says
February 4, 2023 — Drug maker Novo Nordisk says it is increasing production of Wegovy, a weight loss drug, which has been hard to find in stores.
- Community Gardening Could Boost Your Lifestyle and Your Health
February 3, 2023 — A recent study shows that people who picked up community gardening were able to improve their physical and mental health. Is it time to change our approach, and expand the path to finding a healthy lifestyle that's right for you?
- Three Wild Technologies About to Change Health Care
February 3, 2023 — If you thought AI was remarkable, just wait until you see these.
- ChatGPT's AI Could Help Catch Alzheimer's Early
February 3, 2023 — The AI everyone's talking about identified Alzheimer's 80% of the time by analyzing people's speech.
- 57% of People in CDC Survey Support Ban on All Tobacco Sales
February 3, 2023 — Even among smokers, there was some support for the bans. About a third of smokers supported the menthol ban and more than a quarter backed a total tobacco ban, the survey found.
- Now Trending on Social Media: Bad Birth Control Info
February 3, 2023 — YouTubers are ditching the pill and pushing more “natural” contraception methods, putting impressionable young women at risk of unintended pregnancy.
- Avian H5N1 Flu Outbreak Now Spreading to Mammals
February 3, 2023 — The U.S. Department of Agriculture and its counterpart in the United Kingdom say the bird flu has been detected in mammals such as raccoons, foxes, bears, skunks, and even a cat in France.
- Positive Test No Longer Required To Get COVID Antivirals
February 2, 2023 — People no longer need a positive COVID-19 test to be prescribed the antiviral medications Paxlovid or Lagevrio.
- A Healthy Lifestyle Might Delay Memory Decline in Older Adults
February 2, 2023 — A new study suggests that following a healthy lifestyle is linked to slower memory decline in older adults, even in people with the apolipoprotein E4 (APOE4) gene—one of the strongest known risk factors for Alzheimer’s disease and related dementias.
- The Future of At-Home Testing: Flu, RSV Rapid Tests Are Coming
February 2, 2023 — The FDA says it is confident that at-home rapid tests like those for COVID-19 are forthcoming for flu and RSV.
- COVID Emergency Orders Ending: What’s Next?
February 1, 2023 — The Biden administration announced Monday that it will be ending the twin emergency declarations of COVID-19, marking the switch from COVID-19 “pandemic” to “endemic” status. Here's what to know.
- Inflammation and Immunity Troubles Top Long COVID Suspect List
February 1, 2023 — Nonstop inflammation and immune problems top the list of potential causes of long COVID, but doctors say it’s growing clear that more than one factor is to blame for the wide swath of often debilitating symptoms that could last months or even years.