Wider use of prescription generic drugs could save Medicare nearly $2 billion a year, researchers say. The new analysis of Medicare Part D prescription drug claims for 2017 used a random 20% of beneficiaries, 224 drugs with one or more generic substitutes and at least 1,000 claims. Medicare Part D accounts for roughly one-third of… read on > read on >
Could endless hours spent scrolling through social media and watching TV trigger binge eating in preteens? Apparently so, new research suggests. “Children may be more prone to overeating while distracted in front of screens. They may also be exposed to more food advertisements on television,” said study author Dr. Jason Nagata. He is an assistant… read on > read on >
The U.S. Food and Drug Administration has approved the emergency use of Johnson & Johnson’s single-shot coronavirus vaccine, adding a third weapon to the arsenal the United States is building to battle the pandemic. The overall effectiveness of the J&J vaccine in protecting recipients against any case of COVID-19 (66%) is not as high as… read on > read on >
People taking statin drugs often complain of muscle aches, but a new study finds the medications are unlikely to be the culprit. The results come from a trial involving patients who had quit taking their statins, or were considering quitting, due to muscle pain. The researchers found that those aches were just as likely to… read on > read on >
If you’ve gone to the doctor for a urinary tract infection (UTI), chances are that you’ve been given the wrong antibiotic or a longer-than-necessary treatment plan. That’s even more likely if you live in a rural area, researchers say. A new study of private insurance claims data found that 47% of women were prescribed antibiotics… read on > read on >
Five servings. That is all the fruits and vegetables you need to eat every day to live longer, new research suggests. Scientists analyzed data from more than 2 million people in the United States and dozens of other countries and found that eating about five servings of fruits and vegetables a day was associated with… read on > read on >
For millions of Americans, sneezing, coughing, runny noses, itchy eyes and congestion are sure signs that spring is on the way. The American College of Allergy, Asthma and Immunology (ACAAI) has advice for coping with these classic hay fever symptoms. It recently published a guideline for health care providers caring for patients with these dreaded… read on > read on >
Helping your brain stay sharp with age may be as simple as changing up the food on your plate at dinnertime, a new study suggests. The study focused on the healthy “Mediterranean” diet, a regimen reliant on olive oil, beans, nuts, fruits, vegetables and whole grains, with chicken and fish largely replacing red meat. Dairy… read on > read on >
Dental hygienists have a low rate of COVID-19, even though their jobs are considered high-risk, a new study says. The U.S. Occupational Safety and Health Administration (OSHA) declared hygienists at high risk for COVID-19, so researchers decided to investigate. They analyzed survey data collected in October from nearly 4,800 dental hygienists in all 50 states… read on > read on >
If you want to protect yourself against dementia, heart disease and cancer, you might want to get your protein from nuts instead of juicy red steaks. New research shows that older women who ate the most plant protein were 21% less likely to suffer a dementia-related death and 12% less likely to die from heart… read on > read on >
