Iron deficiency isn’t being effectively treated in the United States, with low iron levels persisting for years in most patients, a new study finds. Almost 3 of 5 (58%) patients with iron deficiency still had low iron levels three years after their diagnosis, researchers found. Further, it took nearly two years to resolve iron deficiencies… read on > read on >
All Food:
Why Back to School Should Include a Dental Checkup
As kids head back to school this fall, there is probably one item many parents haven’t thought to put on the to-do list: dental checkups. But they should make sure their children’s teeth are in good shape, said Dr. Natasha Flake, president of the American Association of Endodontists. First, remember that kids grow, and so… read on > read on >
FDA Moves to Further Reduce Salt Levels in Food
Emboldened by success in its initial efforts to cut dietary salt intake by Americans, the U.S. Food and Drug Administration on Thursday announced Phase II of the endeavor. U.S. Dietary Guidelines recommend that a person consume no more than 2,300 milligrams (mg) of sodium per day, the equivalent of about one teaspoon of salt. Excess… read on > read on >
New Deals Will Cut Medicare Costs for Expensive Drugs
The Biden administration said Thursday that it has signed deals with drug companies that will lower the prices on 10 of the most popular and expensive drugs used by American seniors. Taxpayers should save $6 billion because of the new prices, while seniors using Medicare could save roughly $1.5 billion on their medications, the U.S.… read on > read on >
US Still Last for Life Expectancy Among English-Speaking Countries
Americans continue to rank dead last in life expectancy among English-speaking countries, a new study finds. People in the United States more often fall prey at younger ages to accidental deaths, homicides and chronic diseases, researchers reported Aug. 13 in the BMJ Open journal. On the other hand, Australians had the longest life expectancy of… read on > read on >
Getting Fats From Plants Vs. Animals Boosts Your Life Span
A study of more than 400,000 people tracked for up to 24 years finds that those who got their dietary fat from plants versus animals had significantly lower odds of dying during the study period. Plant-based fats’ benefit included a reduced odds for deaths due to heart disease, the research showed. Conversely, the study “provides… read on > read on >
FDA Says No to MDMA as Therapy for PTSD
Advocates for the use of the psychedelic drug MDMA (midomafetamine) to treat mental health conditions were delivered a setback on Friday after the U.S. Food and Drug Administration declined to approve it as treatment for post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD). There is insufficient evidence that MDMA — currently illegal and also known as Ecstasy or molly… read on > read on >
TikTok Craze ‘Extra Hard’ Gum Won’t Chisel Your Jawline. It Might Even Hurt You
“Extra-hard” chewing gum is being touted on social media as a means of developing a chiseled jawline. This sort of gum is promoted as a gym for “facial fitness,” toning and tightening the muscles around the jaw. But experts say there’s little evidence to back these claims. “These products have very limited scientific research,” said… read on > read on >
How Common Drugs, Lotions Can Worsen Sunlight’s Harm to Your Skin
Most folks know that a good sunscreen can guard against the sun’s harmful rays, but many might not realize that some medications and creams can undo some of that protection. “There are multiple reasons we should be mindful of excessive sun exposure aside from skin cancer, although that’s certainly important,” said Dr. Kaveh Nezafati, an… read on > read on >
TikTok Videos Glamorize Eating Disorders and Harm Women’s Body Image
Women exposed to TikTok videos that make eating disorders look cool and glamorous tend to have worse body image, a new study finds. These videos include what researchers call “pro-anorexia” clips, as well as other videos focused on weight loss. “Our study showed that less than 10 minutes of exposure to implicit and explicit pro-anorexia… read on > read on >