The majority of antibiotic prescriptions for U.S. seniors and Black and Hispanic Americans are inappropriate, a new report reveals. For the study, researchers analyzed federal government data on more than 7 billion outpatient visits to doctors’ offices, hospital clinics and emergency departments nationwide between 2009 and 2016. Nearly 8 million visits (11%) led to antibiotic… read on > read on >
“Time-restricted” eating has become a popular weight-loss tactic, but a new clinical trial finds no benefits in adding it to old-fashioned calorie-cutting. Time-restricted eating is a form of intermittent fasting, in which people limit themselves to eating within a certain time window each day. Outside that window, they swear off everything other than water or… read on > read on >
Obesity is tied to many types of cancer, and new research finds that over the long term it nearly doubles a woman’s risk of endometrial cancer. “This study is an interesting first step into how genetic analyses could be used to uncover exactly how obesity causes cancer, and what can be done to tackle it,”… read on > read on >
Millions of Americans take antidepressants to combat low moods. But a large, new study suggests that these medications over time may do little to improve overall quality of life. “We found the change in health-related quality of life to be comparable or similar between patients that used antidepressant medications and those who did not use… read on > read on >
Twelve companies have been issued warning letters about selling over-the-counter skin lightening products containing hydroquinone, the U.S. Food and Drug Administration announced Tuesday. The products are unapproved drugs that are not recognized as safe and effective, according to the FDA, which has received reports of serious side effects including rashes, facial swelling and skin discoloration… read on > read on >
When people have legal access to marijuana, they’re less likely to take certain prescription drugs, new research suggests. U.S. states where recreational marijuana is legal have seen large drops in the use of prescription drugs for pain, depression, anxiety, sleep, psychosis and seizures, the researchers found. “These results have important implications,” said study co-author Shyam… read on > read on >
COVID-19 is mainly known as a respiratory ailment, but a new study suggests the coronavirus can infect your intestinal tract for weeks and months after you’ve cleared the bug from your lungs. In the study about 1 out of 7 COVID patients continued to shed the virus’ genetic remnants in their feces at least four… read on > read on >
As doctors learn more about COVID-19 infection, they are finding that in rare cases, it appears tied to a disturbing eye condition. Retinal vein occlusion is a blockage of the small veins that carry blood away from the retina, which causes blurred vision. It usually occurs in people suffering from diabetes, atherosclerosis, high blood pressure,… read on > read on >
Disability activist Gem Hubbard regularly shares her insights about life in a wheelchair with more than 75,000 Instagram followers, under the handle @wheelsnoheels_, and her YouTube videos boast more than 3.7 million hits. Hubbard, who hails from the U.K., is “increasingly known internationally for her work in furthering the horizons of people with and without… read on > read on >
