Could a simple letter prompt doctors to prescribe opioids more safely? Yes, claims new research that found reminding doctors to check a prescription database before doling out opioids increased their engagement with the program, having the potential to create more informed prescribing. The study enrolled clinicians in Minnesota who prescribed opioids with benzodiazepines or gabapentinoids,… read on > read on >
Children with autism often have difficulty grasping the emotional cues in other people’s voices, and now researchers may have zeroed in on the reason why. In a study of 43 kids with and without autism, researchers were able to trace such difficulties to a particular brain area — one involved in social communication. Experts said… read on > read on >
Older women who don’t stick to a set sleep and wake schedule may be more likely to struggle with feelings of depression and anxiety — even if they get a normal amount of zzzs. What’s more, a postmenopausal woman who goes to bed very early and wakes up very early (an “early bird”) or goes… read on > read on >
People who use medical marijuana to treat their chronic pain tend to cut their use of opioids and other painkillers, but the trend may also have a downside, a new survey shows. Folks treating chronic pain with cannabis reduced by more than 50%, on average, their use of prescription opioids, other prescription painkillers and even… read on > read on >
Following the deaths of 15 infants, families are advised to immediately stop using all models of Kids2 Rocking Sleepers, according to a second recall notice. Four of those 15 babies died after the first recall notice, the U.S. Consumer Product Safety Commission (CPSC) reported. The company is recalling 694,000 Rocking Sleepers. Parents can contact the… read on > read on >
MONDAY, Jan. 9, 2023 (American Heart Association News) — Quinton Aaron knows the power of a success story featuring a talented young man and a mother figure who helps him beat the odds. Those elements helped make the 2009 film “The Blind Side,” which he starred in alongside Sandra Bullock, a blockbuster. That film was… read on > read on >
U.S. stroke deaths have dramatically declined in the past several decades. But, researchers caution, their new study also found the potential for a resurgence. “After nearly four decades of declining stroke-related mortality, the risk appears to be increasing in the United States. Our research underscores the need for novel strategies to combat this alarming trend,”… read on > read on >
Military service members who conceal their suicidal thoughts are also more likely to store their guns unsafely, a new study reveals. “These findings highlight a real problem with our suicide prevention system,” said Michael Anestis, lead author of the study and executive director of the New Jersey Gun Violence Research Center at Rutgers University in… read on > read on >
For the first time in a decade, the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency has proposed strengthening standards on fine soot in the air, a known contributor to serious health issues. Under the new proposal, standards for fine particulate pollution, known as PM 2.5, would change from a level of 12 micrograms per cubic meter to a… read on > read on >
A new way of allocating donor lungs that eliminates geographical restrictions could save more lives, new research suggests. In early 2023, the current U.S. system, which looks for compatible candidates within a fixed radius, will be replaced by the Composite Allocation Score. The new score will prioritize a candidate’s medical needs. “The importance of removing… read on > read on >
