Young women taking the Pill might have an increased risk of asthma attacks, a new study says. Taking the progesterone-only form of the contraceptive pill can increase asthma attacks among women under 35, researchers reported May 7 in ERJ Open Research. There was no similar risk among women taking the combo estrogen/progesterone pill, researchers found.… read on > read on >
Children and young adults formerly covered by Medicaid are losing access to medications needed to control conditions like depression, schizophrenia, ADHD, asthma and epilepsy, a new study says. Young people need to take these meds regularly to get the best results, as interruptions can cause flare-ups of their chronic health problems, researchers said. Interruptions in… read on > read on >
Any parent who has been jolted awake by the squeals of a toddler with an ear infection knows that relief won’t be swift — or sure. Kids often build resistance to the usual days-long antibiotic treatment regimen so the painful infections can come roaring back. But Cornell University researchers report encouraging results from animal tests… read on > read on >
More talk and fewer pills are being employed to help Americans maintain their mental health, a new study says. Psychotherapy is assuming a larger role in mental health care, while medications prescribed without accompanying therapy are becoming less common, according to results published in early May in the American Journal of Psychiatry. “After years of… read on > read on >
Smoking can’t explain why women are more at risk for COPD, a new study says. Women are about 50% more likely than men to develop COPD even though they are less likely to smoke, researchers reported May 8 in the journal BMJ Open Respiratory Research. Smoking tobacco is the main cause of COPD, the umbrella… read on > read on >
Women with common autoimmune inflammatory diseases are more likely than men to die from heart disease, a new study says. Women with rheumatoid arthritis, lupus or systemic sclerosis have a 50% higher heart disease-related death rate than men, researchers reported May 5 in the journal Circulation: Cardiovascular Quality and Outcomes. “Our study highlights the significant… read on > read on >
Removal of the ovaries and fallopian tubes appears to dramatically reduce the risk of death among breast cancer survivors who are genetically prone to cancer, a new study says. Breast cancer survivors carrying BRCA1 and BRCA2 gene variants had a 48% overall lower risk of death after undergoing the surgery, which is known as bilateral… read on > read on >
A new vaccine that combines flu and COVID-19 protection in one shot shows promising results, but the U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) says it wants more data before it can be approved. Moderna researchers reported that the combo shot produced a stronger immune response against COVID-19 and most flu strains than the individual vaccines… read on > read on >
A new drug combo lowers “bad” LDL cholesterol for people whose levels remain high even after taking statins. The new pill pairs a new drug called obicetrapib with an existing one, ezetimibe. In a Phase 3 clinical trial, this combo reduced LDL levels by nearly 49% over about three months, according to Cleveland Clinic researchers. … read on > read on >
Wearing a face mask to protect others from infectious disease continues to be hotly debated in the United States. But what about wearing a face mask to detect chronic kidney disease? A modified surgical face mask containing a specialized breath sensor can accurately detect when someone has kidney disease, according to a new research published… read on > read on >
