Many people with suicidal thoughts are turning to artificial intelligence (AI) chatbots for comfort and advice, and these programs might not be completely up to the challenge, a new study says. Chatbots respond appropriately when asked questions that reflect a very low or very high risk of suicide, providing factual answers or refusing to answer… read on > read on >
The diabetes drug metformin has been a mystery for more than six decades. The most prescribed diabetes med in the world, metformin is very effective in lowering blood sugar levels. But no one knows exactly how it works. But a new study sheds some light on metformin’s magic, potentially opening the door for development of… read on > read on >
A drug commonly prescribed to heart attack survivors may not benefit many of them, a new clinical trial has found. Beta-blockers do not appear to reduce the risk of death, a second heart attack or heart failure in people’s whose hearts weren’t damaged by the life-threatening event, results reveal. The findings are expected to overturn… read on > read on >
Leqembi Iqlik allows for at-home maintenance dosing after initial 18 months of intravenous dosing read on >
CVS and Walgreens are changing where and how they offer COVID-19 vaccines this season as they work to comply with state laws and current U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) guidelines. Both pharmacy chains say vaccine access will now vary by state. CVS announced that it can only offer COVID-19 shots in the… read on > read on >
Disparities in education and access to insurance mean that heart failure hits Black American adults nearly 14 years earlier than it does white Americans, new research shows. Among Black patients, heart failure typically sets in at about 60 years of age, compared to 73.6 on average for white patients. The study, conducted by researchers at… read on > read on >
Expert consensus on the treatment of preschoolers diagnosed with attention deficit hyperactivity disorder (ADHD) is clear: Try behavioral therapies for six months before prescribing medications. However, a new study found this guideline was followed in only 14.1% of U.S. cases involving children ages 3 to 5. “We found that many young children are being prescribed… read on > read on >
Everyone probably knows the phrase “music hath charms to soothe the savage breast,” and new research suggests it may do the same for heart health. A small study found that blood pressure appears to “synchronize” to patterns in music. British researchers say that might help boost the body’s baroreflex sensitivity — its ability to regulate… read on > read on >
As people enjoy the waning days of summer outdoors, a Virginia Tech veterinary expert reminds pet owners about a potentially deadly hazard: Toxic blue-green algae. “Toxic cyanobacteria, commonly known as blue-green algae, can be fatal to pets within minutes of exposure,” said Dr. Alexandra Reddy, a veterinarian at the Virginia-Maryland College of Veterinary Medicine in… read on > read on >
If your social life has been lived out in Zoom calls since the height of the pandemic, Labor Day weekend is prime time for a reboot. Attending live events builds social connections and helps fight loneliness, just-published research affirms. The findings — published online in the journal Social Psychological and Personality Science — explain why… read on > read on >
