Emergency medicine doctors someday might rely on consultation from artificial intelligence (AI) programs like ChatGPT to help them quickly and accurately diagnose patients’ ailments. A new study found that ChatGPT performed about as well as human doctors in diagnosing patients, when both are given the same set of clinical information. “In the end, they were… read on > read on >
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Heavy Drinking Tied to Dangerous Buildup of Fat Around Heart, Liver
Before pouring another drink, consider this sobering new research: Heavy drinkers can develop fat around the heart, leading to heart failure and other cardiac problems. This so-called pericardial fat is associated with increased risk of heart disease. Researchers also linked heavy drinking to excess fat deposits around the liver and kidneys, which can result in… read on > read on >
Older Americans’ Finances Decline in Years Before Dementia Diagnosis
Perhaps succumbing to fraudsters or facing mounting bills, older Americans begin losing wealth in the years preceding a definitive dementia diagnosis, new research shows. For example, the median household net worth of the seniors in the study dropped by more than half in the eight years before they were diagnosed with dementia, but dipped much… read on > read on >
Kim Kardashian Just Got a Whole-Body MRI Scan. Should You?
Whole-body MRI scans are the latest health fad to be promoted by celebrities, with Kim Kardashian taking to Instagram last month to tout the practice. But doctors are warning that such whole-body scans, while tempting, are pricey and not all that accurate. In fact, the average person is more likely to be unnecessarily harmed by… read on > read on >
ADHD Drug Errors Among Kids Have Quadrupled in 20 Years
Over 3 million American children now take medication for attention-deficit/hyperactivity disorder (ADHD), but new research shows medication errors have spiked nearly 300% in the past two decades for these kids. The increase in ADHD medication errors parallels the increase in ADHD diagnoses, said study co-author Dr. Gary Smith, director of the Center for Injury Research… read on > read on >
Pediatricians’ Group Warns Against Keto Diet for Kids With Diabetes
Low-carb diets may be all the rage, but they’re not for kids with diabetes, according to the American Academy of Pediatrics (AAP). In a new report, the AAP says that low-carbohydrate diets cannot be recommended for children or teenagers with either type 1 or type 2 diabetes. That’s because there’s little evidence they’re helpful, but… read on > read on >
1 in 4 Older, Low-Income Americans Are Uninsured
As people age, health issues tend to mount, but roughly a quarter of low-income adults over 65 have no medical insurance. That’s the age when most Americans become eligible for Medicare, the federal health insurance for seniors. But many of the uninsured seniors are Hispanic Americans who aren’t eligible for that coverage, or lower income… read on > read on >
In Public Spaces, Women Less Likely to Get CPR If Cardiac Arrest Strikes
CPR could save your life if you suffer cardiac arrest in a public place, but you’re less likely to receive it if you’re a woman, a new study finds. The findings were presented Monday at the European Emergency Medicine Congress, in Barcelona. “In an emergency when someone is unconscious and not breathing properly, in addition… read on > read on >
Study Debunks Notion That Antidepressant Might Ease COVID Symptoms
A clinical trial designed to test repurposed medications for their impact on fighting COVID-19 has found no benefit to taking the antidepressant fluvoxamine (Luvox) to ease coronavirus symptoms. The study, led by Duke Clinical Research Institute (DCRI) in partnership with Vanderbilt University, found no symptom improvement in those taking the antidepressant at a dose of… read on > read on >
Doctors Often Wary of Asking Patients About Guns in the Home
It’s an important health topic, but both adult patients and their primary care doctors shy away from discussing firearms and gun safety, a new survey finds. While they may discuss a variety of health risks, firearm safety isn’t often one of them, the study from Michigan Medicine found. Of more than 500 adult patients who… read on > read on >