A large number of drugs used to treat everything from multiple sclerosis to blood cancers to rheumatoid arthritis may cause a rare but often-fatal condition called progressive multifocal leukoencephalopathy (PML). But a simple genetic test can determine who has a 10-fold higher risk for developing this condition, which means those patients could discuss safer treatment… read on > read on >
Following an approval granted Monday by the U.S. Food and Drug Administration, the U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention on Tuesday signed off on new COVID boosters for Americans. “We have more tools than ever to prevent the worst outcomes from COVID-19,” CDC Director Dr. Mandy Cohen said in an agency news release announcing… read on > read on >
For decades, sick people have been taking essentially worthless over-the-counter cold remedies to clear their stuffy noses, a key advisory panel for the U.S. Food and Drug Administration said Tuesday. The panel voted unanimously that nonprescription oral medications containing phenylephrine — including Sudafed PE, Vicks Sinex and Benadryl Allergy Plus Congestion — don’t do anything… read on > read on >
Many Americans are behind on recommended colon cancer screenings — and their doctors often fail to remind them, a new study suggests. The study, by the American Cancer Society, focused on a nationwide sample of more 5,000 Americans who were overdue for colon cancer screening. All had been to a routine checkup in the past… read on > read on >
Bolstering the notion that a strong body equals a strong mind, new research indicates that the more inactive seniors are, the higher their risk for dementia. The finding stems from a look at the onset of dementia among nearly 50,000 Brits. All were at least 60 years old when information about typical daily activity routines… read on > read on >
It’s possible that the cause of spontaneous, recurring brain hemorrhages can be passed through blood transfusion, researchers say. The likelihood of this happening is very slim, however. Still, “blood transfusions are relatively common, which makes possible negative effects an important public health issue,” said study co-author Gustaf Edgren, a researcher at the Karolinska Institute in… read on > read on >
Certain combinations of bacteria found in dust in children’s day care settings may have an impact on their young lungs. Researchers are trying to understand whether attending day care can affect children’s lung health. Their aim is to lower the risk of asthma. “We find mixtures of different bacteria and other microbes living everywhere —… read on > read on >
Staying up late comes naturally to some folks, whether they’re working or relaxing deep into the night. But being a night owl might come at a cost to one’s health. People who are night owls have a higher risk than early birds of becoming diabetic, a new study has found. “We found that night owls… read on > read on >
Seniors, pick up those knitting needles, some paintbrushes or that favorite novel, because new research suggests that having a hobby is linked to having lower depression in older people. Hobbies might include anything from gardening to playing games, arts and crafts, volunteering, reading or being part of a club, according to the study, which spanned… read on > read on >
When you have COVID-19, when are you most infectious? Researchers are getting closer to an answer, with a new study finding that folks exhale the highest amounts of virus during the first eight days of their illness. Scientists found that patients exhale quite a bit of virus during the first several days — as many… read on > read on >
