Desperate for a treatment against COVID-19, some Americans have reached for an anti-parasitic drug aimed at animals, with serious consequences, the U.S. Food and Drug Administration warns. “Never use medications intended for animals on yourself. Ivermectin preparations for animals are very different from those approved for humans,” the FDA cautioned in a statement. The agency… read on > read on >
If a nice hot cup of tea sounds good to you, there’s even more reason to enjoy one now. Scientists have gained new insight into how tea helps lower blood pressure, perhaps pointing the way to new types of blood pressure medications. The researchers found that certain compounds in both black and green tea help… read on > read on >
School-based dental care cut cavities in half among thousands of elementary students, a new study says. “The widespread implementation of oral health programs in schools could increase the reach of traditional dental practices and improve children’s oral health — all while reducing health disparities and the cost of care,” said senior author Dr. Richard Niederman.… read on > read on >
Yet another study confirms what doctors have long known: Being obese greatly raises the odds that if you contract COVID-19, your case could be a severe one. The study, from researchers at the U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, supports calls for obese Americans to move to the head of the line for protective… read on > read on >
Lockdowns have you stressed? The American Dental Association (ADA) reports that more people are grinding their teeth as they try to cope with the pressures of the pandemic. An ADA Health Policy Institute survey of dentists found that 70% of respondents said they’ve seen an increase in the number of patients with teeth grinding and… read on > read on >
You might decide your frizzy locks aren’t so bad after all, given a new warning from the U.S. Food and Drug Administration that most hair straightening/smoothing products release formaldehyde gas, a human carcinogen. Being exposed to formaldehyde for longer periods of time and at higher concentrations increases the health risks, according to the FDA. Formaldehyde… read on > read on >
Opioids and arthritic knees are a costly mix, new research claims. “These data offer new evidence of the magnitude of the societal burden generated by opioid use and misuse, and could be used to educate health care providers and health policy decision makers on the best alternatives to opiate use,” said lead investigator Elena Losina.… read on > read on >
Toddlers whose mothers took certain epilepsy drugs during pregnancy are unlikely to have development delays, researchers say. The study may help clear up lingering doubts about use of the drugs by moms-to-be. Controlling seizures is crucial, of course. “Having a seizure during pregnancy may not only harm the mother but possibly the baby as well,… read on > read on >
Even after suffering a stroke, many Hispanic Americans still have uncontrolled diabetes, high blood pressure or other conditions that raise their risk of a repeat one, a new study finds. The study involved 404 Hispanic adults with a history of stroke or “mini-stroke,” which is a brief reduction in blood flow to the brain that… read on > read on >
A common herb that makes your favorite feline high may hold the key to a mosquito-free summer in your backyard. Researchers say catnip is as effective as synthetic insect repellents, including DEET, and they report why this common member of the mint family drives bugs positively buggy. The active ingredient in catnip — nepetalactone —… read on > read on >
