Growing numbers of pregnant women are developing gestational diabetes, putting them and their babies at risk for complications later on. Gestational diabetes is a type of diabetes that develops during pregnancy in women who weren’t already diabetic. Between 2011 and 2019, rates of gestational diabetes in the United States jumped 30%, according to a large…  read on >  read on >

A recall of more than a dozen types of Philips breathing machines because of potential cancer risks has millions of Americans struggling to find replacements to deal with sleep disorders, breathing problems and respiratory emergencies. The recall involves certain Respironics BiPAP (bi-level positive air pressure), CPAP (continuous positive air pressure) and ventilator machines made before…  read on >  read on >

Foods rich in vitamin D may help protect younger adults against colon cancer, researchers report. While colon cancer is decreasing overall, cases among younger adults have been on the rise. The trends dovetail with a decline in vitamin D intake from foods such as fish, mushrooms, eggs and milk. There is growing evidence of a…  read on >  read on >

The anesthesia drug ketamine and a related medicine called esketamine appear to be safe for tough-to-treat depression, researchers report. A number of studies have suggested that low doses of ketamine, which is also abused as a club drug under monikers that include “K” and “Special K,” provide rapid antidepressant effects, typically improving mood within 24…  read on >  read on >

Five years after the U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention retooled a guideline for prescribing opioid painkillers, research suggests the change is paying off. With the United States in the grip of an opioid overdose epidemic, the CDC released an evidence-based guideline in 2016 to help doctors treat patients’ pain while balancing the risks…  read on >  read on >

The largest permanent increase in the history of the United States’ food stamp program and changes to its nutrition standards will be announced Monday. Supporters say the changes to the Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program (SNAP) program that benefits 42 million Americans will better reflect how people eat and will help improve nutrition, reduce hunger and…  read on >  read on >