Higher amounts of the artificial sweetener xylitol might raise the risk of heart attack and stroke, a new study warns. Xylitol is a zero-calorie sugar alcohol commonly used in sugar-free candy, chewing gum, baked goods and toothpastes, researchers said. But high blood levels of the sweetener is associated with an increased risk of suffering a… read on > read on >
One in six patients serviced by a major California health care system said they used marijuana regularly, with many citing health reasons for doing so, a new study finds. In most cases, doctors may not know that weed is part of a patient’s daily life. “Patients may not tell their primary care providers about their… read on > read on >
America’s poison control centers are increasingly fielding calls on cases of deliberate or accidental poisonings that end in disability or death, a new report finds. Researchers at the University of Virginia Health System reviewed more than 33.7 million poison exposures reported to the 55 poison centers in the United States between 2007 and the end… read on > read on >
Common drugs used to control cholesterol, blood sugar and high blood pressure might also lower a person’s risk of stroke, a new study finds. The researchers evaluated the risk of brain aneurysms that cause bleeding strokes in patients. For the study, they looked at the medical records for nearly 4,900 patients who had a bleeding… read on > read on >
Despite recent concerns that taking Ozempic, Wegovy or other GLP-1 medications might be unsafe before a surgery, a new review has uncovered no such danger. The issue arose because weight-loss drugs slow gastric emptying. The thought was that food might linger in the stomach so patients might be at higher risk of aspirating food particles… read on > read on >
One of the biggest obstacles to treating brain cancer is getting tumor-killing drugs past the blood-brain barrier that normally protects the brain from foreign invaders. Now, new research shows that ultrasound waves emitted from a device implanted in a cancer patient’s skull could be the key to getting chemotherapy and immunotherapy drugs into the brain.… read on > read on >
Drug-resistant fungal infections are appearing in the United States, resulting in highly contagious and tough-to-treat cases of ringworm, also known as jock itch or athlete’s foot, experts warn in a pair of reports. The two fungi reported are among a group that cause skin rashes of the face, limbs, groin and feet, researchers said. Unfortunately,… read on > read on >
Doctors already warn folks off salt due to its heart risks, but new research suggests sodium isn’t helping your skin either. Researchers found that as daily salt intake rose, so did the odds for the skin disorder eczema, also known as atopic dermatitis. “Restriction of dietary sodium intake may be a cost-effective and low-risk intervention… read on > read on >
A U.S. Food and Drug Administration advisory panel on Tuesday voted against recommending the psychedelic MDMA for the treatment of post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD). In a 10-1 vote, the panel determined the evidence amassed so far fails to show the controversial drug’s benefits outweigh its risks, the Associated Press reported. During the meeting, panel members… read on > read on >
A woman who was the second person to ever receive a kidney from a genetically modified pig has had the transplanted organ removed due to complications linked to a heart pump she is using, her doctors said. Lisa Pisano, 54, remains hospitalized and has been transferred back to kidney dialysis after having the transplanted organ… read on > read on >
