Liver disease is usually associated with alcoholism or hepatitis, but obesity and diabetes are becoming an even more dire threat for potentially fatal liver damage, a new study reveals. In fact, advanced fatty liver disease increases a person’s risk of death by nearly sevenfold, according to a new report. But it’s a silent killer —… read on > read on >
You’ve probably heard that getting better sleep can be good for your waistline. The same appears to be true for your baby. Newborns who get more sleep and wake up less during the night are less likely to become overweight in infancy, according to a just-published study. “While an association between insufficient sleep and weight… read on > read on >
Serving more dairy products to nursing home residents could be a simple way to reduce their risk of falls and fractures, a new study suggests. Many consume low levels of calcium and protein, which can result in weak bones that increase the likelihood of falls and fractures. Dairy products such as milk, yogurt and cheese… read on > read on >
The Pfizer-BioNTech vaccine booster restored close to full protection against COVID-19 in a late-stage trial involving 10,000 people, the company announced Thursday. They said the booster was 95.6% effective and that they plan to submit the latest data to the U.S. Food and Drug Administration and regulators in other nations. “These results provide further evidence… read on > read on >
It’s a drug that’s been supported by some conservative media figures, but taking ivermectin to treat or prevent COVID-19 might land you in the hospital, a new study warns. Interest in the drug surged last summer as the highly contagious Delta variant took over the United States. But instead of protecting against the virus, the… read on > read on >
Though most U.S. dentists say non-opioid painkillers effectively manage dental pain, nearly half still prescribe potentially addictive opioid painkillers, a new survey reveals. In all, 84% of the 269 respondents said NSAID-acetaminophen combos are as effective as opioids or even more so, but 43% also said they regularly prescribe opioid medications. The findings were published… read on > read on >
Onions from Mexico have been linked to a salmonella outbreak that’s sickened 652 people in 37 states, federal health officials said Wednesday. So far, there have been 129 hospitalizations, but no deaths. Investigators have traced one source of the outbreak to whole red, white and yellow onions that were imported from Chihuahua, Mexico, and distributed… read on > read on >
Obese people have a tougher time fighting COVID-19, even if they have a milder form of the virus, a new study finds. Researchers looked at more than 500 patients who tested positive for COVID but didn’t require hospitalization. Teens and adults who were overweight or obese had more symptoms, including cough and shortness of breath,… read on > read on >
The White House on Wednesday unveiled a national plan to roll out coronavirus vaccines for 5- to 11-year-olds that is designed to make getting shots as easy and comfortable as possible for both kids and their parents. Rather than mass vaccination sites, the Biden administration plans to have pediatric COVID shots delivered in settings that… read on > read on >
Affordable over-the-counter hearing aids could soon bring relief to millions of Americans suffering from hearing loss, under a landmark proposal announced Tuesday by the U.S. Food and Drug Administration. The proposal would create a category of hearing aids that could be sold directly to consumers, without either a medical exam or a fitting by an… read on > read on >
