Each year, thousands of Americans head home after a surgery clutching prescription opioids to help ease post-surgical pain. Trouble is, most won’t use all those pills, and that could lead to a lot of misuse and addiction, one study found. And with National Prescription Drug Take Back Day slated for Saturday, it’s time yet again… read on > read on >
Cancer survivors in the throes of loneliness are more likely to die compared to those with companionship, a new study finds. Further, people who are the most lonely are the most likely to die, results show. “Loneliness, the feeling of being isolated, is a prevalent concern among cancer survivors,” said lead researcher Jingxuan Zhao, a… read on > read on >
The emotional turmoil caused by a stolen dog is akin to that of a parent losing a child, a new study finds. The findings support the idea that pets truly become family members to their owners, researchers said. When faced with the theft of a pet, owners tend to feel a similar sense of powerlessness,… read on > read on >
Better heart health can lead to a sharper mind for middle-aged Black women, a new study says. Black women with worse heart health experienced a 10% decrease in their ability to think on their feet over two decades, researchers found. On the other hand, Black women with good heart health showed little decline in their… read on > read on >
Advanced scanning techniques can find hidden inflammation in the brains of multiple sclerosis (MS) patients, a new study shows. This “smoldering” inflammation detected by positron emission tomography (PET) brain scans could help explain why patients continue to decline even though imaging shows no brain changes, researchers reported recently in the journal Clinical Nuclear Medicine. “One… read on > read on >
Most seniors probably view any emergency surgery with a certain level of anxiety. Now, a new study seeks to sort out who might be at highest risk for a complication from such surgeries — and which surgeries are more prone to trouble. Two key factors emerged: How frail any patient over 65 was prior to… read on > read on >
Advanced scanning techniques can find hidden inflammation in the brains of multiple sclerosis (MS) patients, a new study shows. This “smoldering” inflammation detected by positron emission tomography (PET) brain scans could help explain why patients continue to decline even though imaging shows no brain changes, researchers reported recently in the journal Clinical Nuclear Medicine. “One… read on > read on >
Most seniors probably view any emergency surgery with a certain level of anxiety. Now, a new study seeks to sort out who might be at highest risk for a complication from such surgeries — and which surgeries are more prone to trouble. Two key factors emerged: How frail any patient over 65 was prior to… read on > read on >
Clostridioides difficile (C. difficile) is a leading cause of illness and death, especially for frail and hospitalized Americans. Now, a new study suggests that the leading antibiotic used to fight it, vancomycin, may be losing potency against this killer. “It’s an alarming development in the field of C. diff, as there are only two recommended… read on > read on >
As many patients already know, urinary tract infections (UTIs) can recur despite the use of antibiotics. So, it’s welcome news that the U.S. Food and Drug Administration on Wednesday approved Pivya (pivmecillinam) to fight bacterial UTIs. “UTIs are a very common condition impacting women and one of the most frequent reasons for antibiotic use,” Dr.… read on > read on >
As bird flu continues to spread among dairy cows in the United States, the U.S. Department of Agriculture said Wednesday it will start requiring testing of the animals if they are moved across state lines. The “USDA has identified [bird flu] spread between cows within the same herd, spread from cows to poultry, spread between… read on > read on >
Young people researching health topics on TikTok will find an alarming amount of misinformation on the platform, a new study says. About 44% of TikTok videos related to sinusitis contained non-factual information, researchers reported recently in the journal Otolaryngology-Head and Neck Surgery. Further, almost half of the videos came from “non-medical influencers” – content creators… read on > read on >
Emulsifiers — substances that are essential ingredients in processed foods — appear to increase people’s risk of type 2 diabetes, a new study finds. In fact, the more emulsifiers that people eat as part of their food, the higher their risk of type 2 diabetes, researchers reported April 23 in The Lancet Diabetes & Endocrinology… read on > read on >
Prescription opioids taken during pregnancy are not associated with a substantial increase in risk of developmental disorders like ADHD in children, a new study has found. “A slightly increased risk of neuropsychiatric disorders was found, but this should not be considered clinically meaningful” because it was limited to mothers taking more than one opioid, prescribed… read on > read on >
People taking heartburn meds have a higher risk of migraines and other types of severe headaches, a new study warns. All classes of acid-reducing drugs — proton pump inhibitors, H2 blockers, and even antacids — appear to promote an increased risk of migraine and headache, results show. “Given the wide usage of acid-reducing drugs and… read on > read on >
Most ex-cons are unlikely to receive substance use treatment following their release from prison, even though odds are high they are struggling with addiction, a new study finds. National estimates suggest as many as 85% of inmates leave prison with some form of substance abuse problem, researchers said. But only 17% of ex-cons on Medicaid… read on > read on >
