Planning for a safe summer camp experience requires some extra steps if your child has asthma or allergies. An allergy expert noted that it’s a huge concern for parents. “Most kids heading off to summer camp for the first time wonder how they’ll cope sleeping in a cabin with 10 other kids, if they’ll make… read on > read on >
All Food:
For Seniors on Antidepressants, Adding a Drug May Work Better Than Switching
Many older adults with depression don’t respond to their first antidepressant, so doctors will switch them to another one to see if that does the trick. Now, new research suggests that the best strategy for these folks may instead be to add the antipsychotic drug Abilify (aripiprazole) to the original antidepressant. “This is good news… read on > read on >
Mammogram Centers Must Notify Patients of Breast Density, FDA Says
New U.S. federal regulations will require mammography facilities to tell women if they have dense breasts, a description of how the tissue looks on the X-ray. It can be more difficult to detect cancer in dense breast tissue on a mammogram. Having dense breasts is also a risk factor for developing breast cancer. The U.S.… read on > read on >
More Than 3 Million ‘Calico Critters’ Toys Recalled After Choking Deaths to 2 Kids
Calico Critters animal figures and sets that were sold with bottle and pacifier accessories are being recalled due to a choking hazard. Epoch Everlasting Play has recalled more than 3.2 million of the toys, the U.S. Consumer Product Safety Commission (CPSC) announced. The Pine Brook, N.J.-based company recalled the flocked animal figures and accessories after… read on > read on >
Pharmacies, Hospitals Facing Shortage of Asthma Drug Albuterol
Ongoing shortages of a medication that hospitals and emergency rooms rely upon to treat breathing problems are likely to worsen in coming days and weeks, experts warn. That’s because one of the two major U.S. suppliers of liquid albuterol, Akorn Pharmaceuticals, abruptly laid off its entire workforce and closed plants in New Jersey, New York… read on > read on >
Two Healthy Diets May Reduce Brain ‘Plaques’ Tied to Alzheimer’s Risk
Elderly adults who eat plenty of leafy green vegetables, fish and other healthy fare may take years off their “brain age,” a new study suggests. Researchers found that seniors with either of two healthy eating patterns — the Mediterranean and MIND diets — showed fewer brain “plaques,” abnormal protein clumps that are a hallmark of… read on > read on >
Diabetes Rates Keep Rising Among Young Americans
Troubling new research finds that rates of type 1 and type 2 diabetes are continuing to increase in children and young adults. Asian or Pacific Islander, Black and Hispanic children had higher rates, the study found. “Our research suggests a growing population of young adults with diabetes who are at risk of developing complications from… read on > read on >
FDA-Mandated Tweak to Common Rx Painkillers May Have Saved Lives
Acetaminophen, a popular over-the-counter medication for millions struggling with pain and fever, can also be found in prescription painkillers that combine acetaminophen and an opioid into one pill. The problem? The U.S. Food and Drug Administration has long known that high dosages of acetaminophen (Tylenol) can harm the liver. So, in 2011 the FDA set… read on > read on >
Preterm Birth Drug Pulled From Market Over Lack of Effectiveness
Pregnant women will no longer have any drug to prevent preterm birth after the maker of the only available treatment announced Tuesday that it will withdraw its product, Makena, from the market. Covis Pharma Group’s decision follows a U.S. Food and Drug Administration advisory panel vote last October that concluded the drug does not actually… read on > read on >
What an Expert Says About Taking Magnesium for Sleep
When people struggle to fall asleep, it’s no surprise they seek solutions. Options can range from prescription medications to sleep therapy, good habits and an abundance of supplements. Taking magnesium for sleep is something some say has real benefits, but does it really? It’s not entirely certain, but the mineral serves a variety of other… read on > read on >