Taking prescription opioid painkillers or a common class of antibiotics during pregnancy doesn’t increase the risk of major birth defects, according to two new studies. Both are often prescribed to pregnant women. Some studies have linked them with certain birth defects, but findings have been inconsistent. These new studies — published Feb. 10 in the… read on > read on >
An inner-ear implant may help people with a debilitating balance disorder get steady on their feet again, an early study suggests. The study involved eight patients with bilateral vestibular hypofunction (BVH). The disorder arises from a problem in the balance system of both inner ears, leading to chronic dizziness and instability when standing or walking.… read on > read on >
A new weight-loss drug is almost twice as effective as current medications, clinical trial results show, and experts say it could revolutionize the treatment of obesity. Overweight and obese people lost an average 15% of their body weight using a weekly injectable 2.4 milligram dose of semaglutide (Ozempic), a new report reveals. What’s more, one-third… read on > read on >
WEDNESDAY, Feb. 10, 2021 (American Heart Association News) — Keeping track of your heart rate is probably a good thing. Obsessing about it probably isn’t. That’s one drawback of the increasing popularity of wearable devices that constantly monitor heart rates, said Dr. Tracy Stevens, a cardiologist at Saint Luke’s Mid America Heart Institute in Kansas… read on > read on >
Spina bifida is a diagnosis no parents-to-be want to hear as they await their child’s birth, and the idea of performing surgery on a baby while it is still in the womb can be terrifying. But new research shows that performing the delicate procedure before the baby is born, and not after, is worth it.… read on > read on >
As the United States enters a critical phase of its national coronavirus vaccination campaign, a new poll shows that two-thirds of Americans are frustrated with how hard it is to get immunized against COVID-19. The Gallup Poll, released Wednesday morning, comes as health officials across the country are desperately juggling precious vaccine doses so they… read on > read on >
Obesity is the culprit in up to half of new diabetes cases among Americans each year, a new study estimates. Researchers found that over nearly two decades, obesity contributed to anywhere from 30% to 53% of new type 2 diabetes diagnoses among middle-aged and older Americans. That higher percentage was seen in recent years, as… read on > read on >
If you have cancer and you’re trying to exercise to boost your health, new research suggests you don’t have to knock yourself out during your workout. Light exercise is just as beneficial as more demanding workouts for cancer patients, the researchers found. Previous research has shown that physical activity can improve cancer patients’ physical and… read on > read on >
Among the many dangers the coronavirus pandemic has brought, parents really need to be on the lookout for one in particular: an increased risk of suicide among vulnerable teens. “We’ve seen an upsurge in really bad suicide attempts,” and the pandemic is likely behind that increase, said Dr. Taranjeet Jolly, an adult and pediatric psychiatrist… read on > read on >
Could it be that a strange-looking creature known as a pangolin was the conduit by which the new coronavirus jumped to humans and prompted an international pandemic? New research suggests the theory is a plausible one. Pangolins are sold for food in live-animal “wet markets” in China — facilities that have long been suspected of… read on > read on >
