An increasing number of Americans are languishing in ERs for hours or even days, waiting for a hospital bed to open for them, a new study says. More than 25% of ER patients who require admission for hospital treatment wind up “boarded” – biding four or more hours in spare rooms or busy hallways until… read on > read on >
Nearly 9 out of 10 adults who land in an ER haven’t been fully vaccinated, a new study says. People who came to an emergency department for treatment of minor injuries or illnesses were often unaware of the vaccines available to them, researchers reported Aug. 7 in the Morbidity and Mortality Weekly Report, a publication… read on > read on >
A newly refined test can help detect which people with abnormal heart rhythms need treatment for an increased risk of stroke, researchers report. Adding blood tests to an existing risk calculator can help doctors suss out which patients with atrial fibrillation would most benefit from blood thinners, according to findings published Aug. 6 in the… read on > read on >
A newly approved implant appears to slow vision loss from a rare and previously untreatable eye disease, researchers report. The eye implant, called ENCELTO, gradually releases proteins that protect light-sensing nerve cells against macular telangiectasia (MacTel) type 2, researchers recently reported in the journal NEJM Evidence. The capsule-sized implant slowed the progression of MacTel in… read on > read on >
Move follows RFK Jr.’s abrupt dismissal of the entire ACIP in June, alleging it was too aligned with manufacturers read on >
Tiny amounts of lithium — a natural metal — may help protect the brain from Alzheimer’s and signs of aging, new research shows. Scientists at Harvard Medical School and Rush University found that when mice were fed a low-lithium diet, their brains developed more inflammation and signs of aging accelerated. The findings were published Wednesday… read on > read on >
Health officials in China are reporting more than 8,000 cases of chikungunya, a virus spread by mosquitoes that can cause fever and painful joints. The outbreak is centered in Foshan, a city in the southeastern province of Guangdong with nearly 10 million people. Hong Kong, Macao and Hunan province — more than 400 miles north… read on > read on >
A new weight loss pill made by Eli Lilly helped people lose a significant amount of weight in a recent study. Taken at the highest dose, orforglipron helped patients lose an average 27.3 pounds, or 12.4% of their body weight, over 72 weeks. Eli Lilly says it plans to apply for U.S. Food and Drug… read on > read on >
“Sticks and stones may break my bones, but words will never hurt me.” This old saying is just plain wrong, a new study argues. Verbal abuse inflicted in childhood can harm a person’s future mental health as much as physical abuse, researchers reported Aug. 5 in the journal BMJ Open. Verbal abuse increased by 64%… read on > read on >
More than 1 in 10 Americans have used a GLP-1 drug for weight loss, a new survey by the RAND research group reveals. About 12% say they’ve tried GLP-1 drugs, like Ozempic, Wegovy or Zepbound, with rates of use highest among people ages 50 to 64, survey results show. “Of all demographic groups, women between… read on > read on >
