It was the ancient Greeks who first divided the 20-foot length of the small intestine into three parts: The duodenum, the jejunum and the ileum. However, the organ may finally be ready for an update: U.S. researchers say the small intestine is actually comprised of five distinct segments, each being responsible for the absorption of… read on > read on >
Ohio resident Erica Hutson was in her 20s when she found out she had high cholesterol through a health check required by insurance. Because she was young and fit, Hutson shrugged off the test result. But Hutson changed her mind about it a decade later, when her father died of coronary artery disease in his… read on > read on >
A company in Ecuador that processed the cinnamon used in flavored applesauce pouches destined for the American market is the likely source of lead contamination in those products, U.S. investigators said. In an update to its investigation into recalled WanaBana, Weis and Schnucks brand cinnamon-flavored applesauce pouches, the U.S. Food and Drug Administration said a… read on > read on >
Two people have died and 23 have been hospitalized in a years-long outbreak of listeria illness that’s finally been traced to one company’s cheeses, yogurts and other dairy products. That’s the message from a U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention alert sent out on Tuesday. All of the dairy products, sold nationwide and marketed… read on > read on >
New guidelines from the American Dental Association (ADA) are cracking down on the use of opioids for tooth pain. The guidelines say that non-steroidal anti-inflammatory drugs (NSAIDs) taken alone or alongside acetaminophen should be the first-line treatment for managing short-term dental pain in teenagers and adults. The available medical evidence indicates that those medications can… read on > read on >
New research suggests healthy lifestyles can help stave off dementia, perhaps by building a resilient ‘cognitive reserve’ in the aging brain. The study was based on the brain autopsies on 586 people who lived to an average age of almost 91. Researchers compared each person’s lifestyle and end-of-life mental skills to their neurological signs of… read on > read on >
The weight-loss drug Zepbound provides more health benefits than dropping pounds and controlling diabetes, a new study shows. It also appears to help people with obesity manage their high blood pressure, results show. Patients taking Zepbound (tirzepatide) experienced a significant reduction in their systolic blood pressure, the top number in a blood pressure reading, according… read on > read on >
A U.S. Food and Drug Administration advisory panel on Friday addressed a continuing issue with pulse oximeters — that they give less accurate readings for folks with darker skin. The devices are designed to measure oxygen levels in the blood, so correct readings are critical, experts say. During its daylong meeting, the FDA’s Anesthesiology and… read on > read on >
Americans pay nearly three times as much for their prescription drugs as residents of other nations do, new research shows. Drug prices in the United States average nearly 2.8 times those seen in 33 other countries, the report from RAND Health Care found. Brand-name drugs are even more expensive, with U.S. prices averaging 4.2 times… read on > read on >
The heavy lead apron dentists drape over you during dental X-rays may soon be a thing of the past. On Thursday, the American Dental Association (ADA) announced that its member dentists can dispense with the aprons, technically called “thyroid collars” because they were used to shield that organ from radiation. “After reviewing nearly 100 articles,… read on > read on >
