A new study finds that Americans over 50 are interested in cutting back on prescription medications, dovetailing with a movement toward “deprescribing.” About 67% said they would seek their doctor’s advice before dropping a pill, according to Michigan Medicine’s National Poll on Healthy Aging. Yet more than one-third of older adults said they had quit… read on > read on >
Kids who were infected with respiratory syncytial virus, better known as RSV, in their first year may be at greater risk for asthma, according to researchers. Their new study looked at the effects of RSV infections of different severities on childhood asthma risk. “For 60 years investigators have repeatedly identified the link between severe RSV… read on > read on >
Patients hospitalized with pneumonia typically stay on IV antibiotics until they’re stable, after about three days, but a new study suggests a different option. Researchers report that more patients who have community-acquired pneumonia could switch sooner to oral antibiotics. Antibiotics given as pills were also linked with earlier release from the hospital. They were not… read on > read on >
Skin conditions may be the first sign that a person has a rheumatic disease that will also affect the joints, muscles or ligaments. It’s essential to know what to look for, said Dr. Kathryn Dao, an associate professor of internal medicine in the Division of Rheumatic Diseases at UT Southwestern in Dallas. “Skin lesions can… read on > read on >
People with cerebral palsy are more likely to be prescribed opioids to manage pain, making them vulnerable to the ongoing opioid crisis in the United States, according to a new study. While pain is common among patients with cerebral palsy, opioids may not be as helpful for them because their pain is complex, researchers say.… read on > read on >
Heard of gonorrhea? Most likely. What about gonococcal arthritis? Maybe not. Most folks are familiar with what is gonorrhea, but few may know about gonococcal arthritis, a rare side effect of this sexually transmitted disease (STD). Unfortunately, gonorrhea cases are on the rise, according to the U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, especially among… read on > read on >
Imagine getting your tooth extracted and a bacterial infection develops afterwards that travels down to your heart. Known as infective endocarditis, or bacterial endocarditis, it happens more often than you might think and it can be life-threatening. Penn Medicine defines infective endocarditis as inflammation of the lining of the heart chambers and valves. Typically, it… read on > read on >
Your dentist has delivered the bad news: You need wisdom teeth removal surgery, a procedure that no one looks forward to having. Curious about what to expect during and after the operation? Experts offer some advice on why these “third molars” should be removed, what happens during surgery and recovery, and the best foods to… read on > read on >
Do you know the warning signs of oral cancer? Some oral cancer symptoms are common and easily identifiable. Other symptoms are surprising, and you might miss them. First, what is oral cancer? According to the American Dental Association, the term “oral cancer” encompasses throat, mouth, tongue and jaw cancer. The American Cancer Society estimates there… read on > read on >
Comedian Richard Lewis is the latest celebrity to reveal that he has been diagnosed with the central nervous system disorder Parkinson’s disease. Lewis, 75, said in a video shared on Twitter Sunday that he’d had a series of health complications over the past 3 ½ years. When he noticed he had “started walking a little… read on > read on >
