Here’s a lesson many may have already learned over the past weekend: Don’t count on ginseng, probiotics or any other so-called hangover cures. No evidence suggests hangover cures work, according to British scientists who studied nearly two dozen trials of these cure products. Their review was published Dec. 31 in the journal Addiction. “Our study…  read on >  read on >

It’s clear that these last couple of years have been tough for a lot of people. So now that it’s the week when people make New Year’s resolutions, go easy on yourself. If you’d like to make a resolution, start small, the American Psychological Association (APA) suggests. By small, the goal should be one you…  read on >  read on >

By now, most folks know obesity is a leading risk factor for severe COVID-19, but a new study suggests that losing a significant amount of weight can reduce that risk. “The research findings show that patients with obesity who achieved substantial and sustained weight loss with bariatric [weight-loss] surgery prior to a COVID-19 infection reduced…  read on >  read on >

Younger adolescents may soon be eligible for COVID-19 booster vaccines, possibly by early next week. The U.S. Food and Drug Administration is planning on Monday to broaden booster eligibility to include 12- to 15-year-olds, sources told the New York Times. This would be for the Pfizer-BioNTech shot, currently the only COVID-19 vaccine approved for this…  read on >  read on >

Red-meat lovers may raise their risk of heart disease through a chain of events that plays out in the gut, a new study suggests. Many studies over the years have tied diets heavy in red and processed meats to a heightened risk of heart disease and stroke. That type of evidence does not, however, prove…  read on >  read on >

New antiviral pills for COVID-19 recently authorized for emergency use in high-risk people by the U.S. Food and Drug Administration should give doctors an easier means of keeping people out of the hospital. But the initial hype is giving way to reality, as doctors and public health officials grapple with the challenges of getting the…  read on >  read on >

Kid-friendly flavored e-cigarettes are still widely available online and in stores, despite a federal judge’s ruling that should have pulled the products off store shelves by early September, a new report shows. The judge’s ruling follows on U.S. Food and Drug Administration action that is nearly two years old. Citing risks to vulnerable children, the…  read on >  read on >

Ketamine, once most famous as a “club” drug, can rapidly improve hard-to-treat depression and curb suicidal thoughts, a new review confirms. In recent years, ketamine has emerged as something of a wonder drug for some people who do not get better with standard antidepressants. For those patients, who may have tried multiple conventional medications, ketamine…  read on >  read on >