Many people take fish oil to protect their heart, but a new study suggests that prescription versions may raise the risk of a common heart rhythm disorder. At issue are prescription-strength omega-3 fatty acids, which are naturally found in fish oil. The medications are often prescribed to people with very high triglycerides, a type of… read on > read on >
All Food:
Opioids After Dental Work May Be Dangerous
Getting a prescription for an opioid painkiller from your dentist could put you or your family at risk for an overdose, a new study warns. The finding is based on an analysis of data from 8.5 million Americans who had teeth pulled or 119 other types of dental work between 2011 and 2018. All had… read on > read on >
Why C-Section Babies May Be at Higher Risk for a Food Allergy
Could there be a link between having a C-section and your baby’s chances of developing a peanut allergy? Yes, a team of Canadian researchers warns. Their new study found that babies born via cesarean section appear to have relatively low levels of so-called Bacteroides, a specific form of bacteria that is key to the proper… read on > read on >
Few Kids Seeing a Dentist Have COVID-19, Study Finds
Just 2% of young dental patients without COVID-19 symptoms tested positive for the new coronavirus, according to a new study. Kids with COVID-19 are typically asymptomatic but can carry high levels of SARS-CoV-2 and spread it to others, University of Illinois Chicago (UIC) researchers noted. Their study included 921 patients, aged 2 to 18, who… read on > read on >
FDA Poised to Ban Menthol Cigarettes
The U.S. Food and Drug Administration on Thursday proposed a ban on menthol cigarettes, a move that the agency has tried before and one that public health experts and civil rights groups have pushed for years. Menthol cigarettes have been marketed aggressively to Black Americans for decades: About 85% of Black smokers use menthol brands,… read on > read on >
1 in 5 U.S. Pharmacies Blocks Access to Key Opioid Addiction Treatment
The Biden administration has eased guidelines for prescribing a crucial addiction treatment drug, just as a new study reveals one in five U.S. pharmacies refuses to dispense the medication, called buprenorphine. “Buprenorphine is a vital, lifesaving medication for people with opioid use disorder, but improving access has been a problem for a variety of reasons,”… read on > read on >
Race Against Time: Stricken With ALS, She’s Seeking Access to Experimental Drug
Like many proud moms, Lisa Stockman-Mauriello of Summit, N.J., is looking forward to exciting milestones in lives of her three sons over the coming months: One will graduate college, one will enter college, and the third will begin high school. But unlike other moms, it’s not guaranteed that she’ll be there to experience them. Lisa,… read on > read on >
Pandemic May Be Upping Cases of Severe Complication in Kids With Diabetes
A U.S. hospital has seen a surge in the number of kids with a life-threatening complication of type 2 diabetes. The trend at Children’s Hospital Los Angeles highlights how the COVID-19 pandemic may be affecting kids’ health in unexpected ways, according to a new study led by Dr. Lily Chao, interim medical diabetes director. Her… read on > read on >
Should Black Adults Take Vitamin D Supplements to Help Their Hearts?
Vitamin D deficiency among Black people may be a risk factor for heart disease, a new, small study suggests. Black adults are more prone to heart disease than whites, and lack of vitamin D — the so-called sunshine vitamin — might be one reason. People with darker skin make less vitamin D than those with… read on > read on >
New Drug May Be Better Psoriasis Treatment
A breakthrough psoriasis drug is better at treating the itchy and painful skin disease than medicines already on the market, according to results from two clinical trials. There was a “night and day difference” in the results from bimekizumab compared against two established psoriasis drugs, secukinumab (Cosentyx) and adalimumab (Humira), said Dr. Mark Lebwohl, a… read on > read on >