If you’re one of the 50 million Americans with asthma or allergies, 2024 is another year to redouble efforts to manage them. But how? “It’s not always easy to get allergies and asthma under control,” allergist Dr. Gailen Marshall, president of the American College of Allergy, Asthma and Immunology (ACAAI), said in a tip sheet… read on > read on >
All Health and Wellness:
What Is Dandruff & How Is It Treated?
Dandruff becomes more common in the cold winter months, when the chilly air and dry heat causes a person’s scalp to flake and itch. But while it might be an annoying and unattractive condition, dandruff doesn’t mean you are an unclean person, the American Academy of Dermatology (AAD) says. “It is a common misconception that… read on > read on >
AI May Predict Survival After Heart Surgery
A technology from the 19th century meets one from the 21st to better help doctors predict who’ll survive a heart surgery. Cardiologists from three major U.S. hospitals gathered data from the electrocardiograms (ECGs, invented in 1895) of almost 46,000 patients. They then fed that data into a cutting-edge AI algorithm. AI was 83% correct in… read on > read on >
Your Child Has a Fever: When Is It Time to See a Doctor?
SATURDAY, Dec. 16It’s that time of year when your kids come home with sniffles and sore throats, but when should you worry if they have a fever? To a certain extent, fevers are the body’s natural way of fighting infection, one expert says. “Fever helps the immune system,” explained Dr. Christopher Tolcher, a pediatrician with… read on > read on >
Postpartum Depression Pill Now Available to Women, Drug Maker Says
The first postpartum depression pill approved for use in the United States is now available to women who need it, the drug’s makers announced Thursday. Sold under the name Zurzuvae, the medication can quickly ease severe postpartum depression and help women regain their emotional equilibrium following childbirth. The medication, which is now stocked in specialty… read on > read on >
Too Few Americans Are Getting Vaccinated for Flu, COVID & RSV, CDC Warns
Low vaccination rates for the flu, RSV and COVID-19 are putting Americans at higher risk for severe illness and hospitalization this winter, a new government alert warned Thursday. There is an “urgent need” to boost vaccination rates as the trio of viruses spread through the country, the U.S. Centers of Disease Control and Prevention said.… read on > read on >
Spinal Cord Stimulation Eases Pain, Boosts Function for People With Prosthetic Legs
People who’ve lost a leg due to injury or disease are often plagued by what’s known as phantom limb pain — discomfort arising in the area, despite the absence of the limb. Now, researchers report that people who wear a prosthetic leg after amputation may have that pain eased, as well as improved sensation in… read on > read on >
Suicide Risk May Fluctuate With the Menstrual Cycle
Most women know that their menstrual cycle can affect their mood. Now, new research suggests suicidal thoughts may peak at certain points during the monthly cycle. The finding could have an upside, helping people pinpoint when they might be most vulnerable to suicide, so they can better prevent it. “As clinicians, we feel responsible for… read on > read on >
Doctors Are Excited, Concerned About AI’s Role in Medicine: Poll
American physicians have mixed feelings on the advent of artificial intelligence (AI) into mainstream medical practice, a new survey shows. The survey of nearly 1,100 doctors, conducted by the American Medical Association (AMA) in August, found 41% of physicians saying they were “equally excited and concerned” about AI in the workplace. “Physicians are optimistic about… read on > read on >
‘Long Flu’ Joins ‘Long COVID’ as New Diagnosis
“Long COVID” has become a well-known potential consequence of COVID infection, with symptoms that can last weeks, months or even years. Now it appears that “long flu” is also possible, with some patients developing long-lasting health problems following a severe infection, a new study finds. But before panicking, know that “long flu” isn’t as bad… read on > read on >