Warning letters sent by Medicare officials can prompt a decline in antipsychotic prescriptions for seniors with dementia, a new study finds. Letters sent to heavy prescribers of quetiapine (Seroquel), the most popular antipsychotic in the United States, led to a significant decline in drugs handed out to seniors, researchers reported April 25 in the journal… read on > read on >
The short post-pandemic uptick in U.S. births may be over, with 2023 numbers showing a decline in births. According to provisional data from the U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, just under 3.6 million babies were born in America in 2023, about 76,000 fewer than the year before. It’s also the lowest number of… read on > read on >
As many patients already know, urinary tract infections (UTIs) can recur despite the use of antibiotics. So, it’s welcome news that the U.S. Food and Drug Administration on Wednesday approved Pivya (pivmecillinam) to fight bacterial UTIs. “UTIs are a very common condition impacting women and one of the most frequent reasons for antibiotic use,” Dr.… read on > read on >
School lunches will soon contain less added sugars and salt under new nutrition standards announced by the U.S. Department of Agriculture on Wednesday. “We all share the goal of helping children reach their full potential,” Agriculture Secretary Tom Vilsack said in a news release announcing the changes. “Like teachers, classrooms, books and computers, nutritious school… read on > read on >
As bird flu continues to spread among dairy cows in the United States, the U.S. Department of Agriculture said Wednesday it will start requiring testing of the animals if they are moved across state lines. The “USDA has identified [bird flu] spread between cows within the same herd, spread from cows to poultry, spread between… read on > read on >
Young people researching health topics on TikTok will find an alarming amount of misinformation on the platform, a new study says. About 44% of TikTok videos related to sinusitis contained non-factual information, researchers reported recently in the journal Otolaryngology-Head and Neck Surgery. Further, almost half of the videos came from “non-medical influencers” – content creators… read on > read on >
Emulsifiers — substances that are essential ingredients in processed foods — appear to increase people’s risk of type 2 diabetes, a new study finds. In fact, the more emulsifiers that people eat as part of their food, the higher their risk of type 2 diabetes, researchers reported April 23 in The Lancet Diabetes & Endocrinology… read on > read on >
Prescription opioids taken during pregnancy are not associated with a substantial increase in risk of developmental disorders like ADHD in children, a new study has found. “A slightly increased risk of neuropsychiatric disorders was found, but this should not be considered clinically meaningful” because it was limited to mothers taking more than one opioid, prescribed… read on > read on >
People taking heartburn meds have a higher risk of migraines and other types of severe headaches, a new study warns. All classes of acid-reducing drugs — proton pump inhibitors, H2 blockers, and even antacids — appear to promote an increased risk of migraine and headache, results show. “Given the wide usage of acid-reducing drugs and… read on > read on >
Most ex-cons are unlikely to receive substance use treatment following their release from prison, even though odds are high they are struggling with addiction, a new study finds. National estimates suggest as many as 85% of inmates leave prison with some form of substance abuse problem, researchers said. But only 17% of ex-cons on Medicaid… read on > read on >
