The diabetes and weight-loss drug Ozempic does not appear to harm a developing fetus when taken by pregnant women, a new study reports. Researchers found no elevated risk of birth defects among newborns of women who took medications to control their type 2 diabetes, compared with those who took insulin. During the decade-long study, researchers… read on > read on >
All Food:
Avoiding ‘Wine Teeth’ at Those Holiday Parties
The holidays are all about parties, and parties are all about drinking wine. But if you’re a red wine lover, how do you avoid stained teeth? “When you drink red wine, you’re encountering a triple threat to your teeth’s whiteness: anthocyanins, which are the pigments in grapes that give red wine its rich color; tannins,… read on > read on >
Pounds Return Once Zepbound Users Quit the Weight-Loss Drug: Study
Folks who take the blockbuster weight-loss med tirzepatide (Zepbound) may regain much of the weight they lost soon after discontinuing it, new research shows. A trial funded by Eli Lilly, the injected drug’s maker, found that “in patients with obesity or overweight, withdrawing tirzepatide led to substantial regain of weight.” On the other hand, continuing… read on > read on >
Salmonella Illnesses Tied to Cantaloupes Have Doubled: CDC
FRIDAY, Dec. 8, 2023 (Healthday News) — A salmonella outbreak tied to tainted cantaloupes keeps expanding, with cases doubling since the last tally, U.S. health officials reported Thursday. “Since the last update [on] November 30, 2023, an additional 113 people infected with this outbreak strain of salmonella have been reported from four additional states, resulting in a… read on > read on >
Biden Administration Delays Decision on Menthol Cigarette Ban Amid Pushback
The Biden administration has again delayed enacting a ban on menthol cigarettes following intense lobbying from the tobacco industry. Along with that pressure, other critics of the ban have warned that it might anger Black smokers, who use menthol cigarettes at far higher rates than whites — just as President Biden gears up to run… read on > read on >
Watching Your Cholesterol? Virtual Doctor Visits Work Just as Well
In a win for telemedicine, new research shows that folks fighting high cholesterol benefit just as much from online coaching as they do from in-person visits with a dietitian. “This study reinforces the idea that comparable clinical outcomes can be achieved using the virtual format,” said lead researcher Dr. Shannon Zoulek, a resident physician at… read on > read on >
New Weight-Loss Drug Zepbound Is Now Available, Company Says
The newly approved weight-loss medication known as Zepbound is now available for patients to take, drug maker Eli Lilly announced Tuesday. “Today opens another chapter for adults living with obesity who have been looking for a new treatment option like Zepbound,” Rhonda Pacheco, group vice president of Lilly Diabetes and Obesity, U.S., said in a company news… read on > read on >
As One Spouse’s Blood Pressure Rises, So Does the Other’s: Study
In sickness and in health — and in blood pressure, too? A new international study finds that if your blood pressure rises with time, your spouse’s might, also. “Many people know that high blood pressure is common in middle-aged and older adults, yet we were surprised to find that among many older couples, both husband… read on > read on >
Folks at High Risk of Heart Disease May Gain From Eating Mackerel, Tuna
Folks with a family history of heart disease might benefit from eating more oily fish like salmon, mackerel, herring and sardines, a new study finds. Oily fish contain high levels of omega-3 fatty acids, which cannot be produced by the body and must be obtained from the diet. People’s risk of heart disease increased by… read on > read on >
Teens With Epilepsy Face Higher Odds for Eating Disorders
Teenagers with epilepsy are more likely to have an eating disorder than those not suffering from the brain disease, a new study shows. About 8.4% of children ages 10 to 19 treated at a Boston epilepsy clinic had eating disorders, three times the national average of 2.7% of teens with an eating disorder, researchers found.… read on > read on >