TUESDAY, Feb. 28, 2023 (HealthDay News) — Twenty percent of folks who are at high risk for heart disease refuse statins that could help prevent it, researchers report. They found that women were about 20% more likely than men to decline statin drugs when they were first recommended and aboutContinue Reading
TUESDAY, Feb. 28, 2023 (HealthDay News) — When Black patients struggle with dementia, they are less likely to receive helpful medications than their white peers, a new study warns. Researchers looked at how often patients received one or more of five classes of medications commonly given to dementia patients livingContinue Reading
MONDAY, Feb. 27, 2023 (HealthDay News) — Public health officials are warning about an increase in drug-resistant strains of the bacteria shigella. About 5% of shigella infections reported to the U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention last year were caused by the drug-resistant XDR strain. That compares to 0%Continue Reading
FRIDAY, Feb. 24, 2023 (HealthDay News) — While many opioid policies in New Jersey have worked to combat misuse of the drugs, one that limited the length of prescriptions did not have its intended effect, new research shows. The legislation capped initial opioid prescriptions for acute pain at just fiveContinue Reading
WEDNESDAY, Feb. 22, 2023 (HealthDay News) – Soon, the federal government will allow states to use Medicaid funds to treat prisoners for drug addiction and mental health services. In an announcement made during a visit to the Camden County Jail in New Jersey on Tuesday, Dr. Rahul Gupta, director ofContinue Reading
TUESDAY, Feb. 21, 2023 (HealthDay News) — Deaths from methamphetamine among Americans increased 50-fold between 1999 and 2021, a chilling new study reports. Most of these deaths also involved heroin or fentanyl, according to researchers. “The staggering increase in methamphetamine-related deaths in the United States is largely now driven byContinue Reading
MONDAY, Feb. 20, 2023 (HealthDay News) — A COVID-19 shot may protect a person from more than the virus alone, new research suggests. Researchers from the Icahn School of Medicine at Mount Sinai in New York City linked vaccination with fewer heart attacks, strokes and other cardiovascular issues among peopleContinue Reading
FRIDAY, Feb. 17, 2023 (HealthDay News) — Natural immunity acquired from a COVID infection provides strong and lasting protection against severe illness if a person becomes reinfected, a new evidence review has concluded. Ten months after a COVID infection, protection against hospitalization and death remains at 89% for Omicron andContinue Reading
FRIDAY, Feb. 17, 2023 (HealthDay News) — Researchers may have found a way for coffee-lovers to cut back without suffering symptoms of caffeine withdrawal like headache, fatigue, bad mood and irritability. It’s a cup of decaf. A new study found that people experienced fewer withdrawal symptoms with the substitute. “AContinue Reading
THURSDAY, Feb. 16, 2023 (HealthDay News) — Older people have vaccines available to prevent severe influenza and COVID-19, but there’s been nothing to protect against the third respiratory virus that contributed to this season’s wretched “triple-demic.” Until now. Two major pharmaceutical companies published clinical trial results this week that paveContinue Reading
THURSDAY, Feb. 16, 2023 (HealthDay News) — American adults who have no health insurance or those who are underinsured will still be able to get free COVID vaccines from Moderna, even after government-purchased supplies run out, the company announced Monday. “Moderna’s COVID-19 vaccines will continue to be available at noContinue Reading
THURSDAY, Feb. 16, 2023 (HealthDay News) — A nasal spray that can reverse an opioid overdose should be sold over-the-counter, two expert panels to the U.S. Food and Drug Administration recommended Wednesday. Research has shown that wider availability of naloxone — brand named Narcan — could save lives as theContinue Reading
WEDNESDAY, Feb. 15, 2023 (HealthDay News) — A COVID infection appears to drive up diabetes risk, new research warns. The good news? Being vaccinated before becoming infected appeared to eliminate any increase in post-infection risk. The finding follows a deep dive into the medical records of roughly 23,700 patients. AtContinue Reading
WEDNESDAY, Feb. 15, 2023 (HealthDay News) — A nasal spray that can reverse an opioid overdose may become available for easier over-the-counter purchase. U.S. Food and Drug Administration advisers are meeting Wednesday to discuss making generic naloxone hydrochloride available without requiring interaction with a pharmacist, CNN reported. Approval could happenContinue Reading