People with inflammatory arthritis run a substantially increased risk for mood disorders like depression and anxiety. But these mental health concerns aren’t being adequately addressed by doctors, a new study suggests. Arthritis patients are about as likely to receive either medication or therapy for a mood disorder as people without arthritis, despite their increased risk…  read on >  read on >

Lupus can do irreversible harm to a person’s organs, damaging the lungs, kidneys, heart, liver and other vital organs through inflammation. But a newer lupus drug appears to protect patients from much of this organ damage, a new study suggests. Anifrolumab (brand name Saphnelo) reduced the risk of long-term organ damage progression by about 60%…  read on >  read on >

High school athletes often hit the field improperly fueled for the competition ahead, because they haven’t been taught important basics of nutrition, a new study says. In surveys, teen athletes revealed a dramatic lack of knowledge about nutrition facts that could help them compete harder and recover better, researchers reported recently in the journal Nutrition.…  read on >  read on >

From Mariah Carey and Jimi Hendrix to Michael Jackson, Ella Fitzgerald and Bing Crosby, a select group of famous musicians past and present have had have perfect pitch.  Now, a new study suggests that you can, too — with proper training. Absolute or perfect pitch is the ability to identify or re-create musical notes by hearing them without any reference or cues. …  read on >  read on >

Millions of Americans have sought help for gambling addiction in the wake of a 2018 U.S. Supreme Court decision that allowed states to legalize sports betting. That’s among the key findings in a new study published Feb. 17 in JAMA Internal Medicine.  “Sportsbooks have expanded from a single state to 38 states, with hundreds of billions…  read on >  read on >

Nearly 50 million Americans live in counties with no local gastroenterologist. Gastroenterologists diagnose and treat disorders affecting the GI tract — from gallstones and gastric reflux to colon cancer. A team led by Dr. Xiaohan Ying of Weill Cornell Medicine in New York City analyzed federal data to determine where gastroenterologists work.  Ying’s team recently…  read on >  read on >

Flu season is in full swing, making it more important than ever to take steps to protect yourself and your loved ones. Dr. Priya Soni, a pediatric infectious disease specialist at Cedars-Sinai Guerin Children’s Health Center in Los Angeles, shares what to expect this season and how to stay healthy. What type of flu activity…  read on >  read on >

In the first 18 months after the U.S. Supreme Court overturned Roe v. Wade, most states with abortion bans saw a rise in infant deaths, new research reveals. Two studies, published Feb. 13 in JAMA, show that states that enforced complete or near-total abortion bans after six weeks of pregnancy saw a 6% overall rise…  read on >  read on >

There appears to be limited evidence supporting the use of epidural steroid injections for certain types of chronic lower back pain, new guidance from the American Academy of Neurology (AAN) finds.  Epidural steroid injections are treatments in which a steroid or corticosteroid medication is injected into the spine.  In a systematic review published Feb. 12…  read on >  read on >