Most prescriptions for the medication gabapentin are for unapproved uses — and many patients end up taking it along with drugs that create potentially dangerous interactions. That’s the conclusion of a new study that looked at “off-label” use of gabapentin. In the United States, the drug is officially approved for treating certain seizures and some… read on > read on >
As American families sit down to celebrate Thanksgiving, a majority of parents say they want to raise grateful kids but they don’t think they’re succeeding. Four out of five respondents to a new nationwide poll said children aren’t as thankful as they should be, and half worry that they overindulge their own kids. Two in… read on > read on >
Hospitalized COVID-19 patients who take medications that suppress the immune system don’t have a higher risk of severe COVID-19 than those with normal immune systems, a new study finds. Early in the pandemic, it was feared that people taking immunosuppressive drugs were at increased risk of severe COVID-19 due to their weakened immune systems. The… read on > read on >
Tight blood pressure control — not too high and not too low — during surgery for spinal cord injuries may improve patients’ outcomes, a new study suggests. “Damage to neurons in spinal cord injuries leads to dysregulation of blood pressure, which in turn limits the supply of blood and oxygen to stressed spinal cord tissue,… read on > read on >
About 4 in 10 stroke survivors who were smokers still puff away after their stroke, which puts them at increased risk for another stroke or heart disease, a new study shows. “If you told a stroke neurologist that 40% of their patients don’t have their blood pressure controlled or weren’t taking their aspirin or their… read on > read on >
Though airborne exposure causes most cases of COVID-19, the virus lurks on objects near the beds of infected nursing home patients, according to a new study. “Coronavirus is ubiquitous and persistent in the rooms of nursing home residents with COVID-19, and highlight the ongoing importance of rigorous cleaning and protection of staff and visitors,” first… read on > read on >
If you buy or get items such as furniture or TVs during the holidays, be sure to get anti-tip-over kits for them to protect your children, the U.S. Consumer Product Safety Commission (CPSC) says. From 2017 through 2019, an average of 11,100 U.S. children were treated each year in hospital emergency rooms for injuries from… read on > read on >
If you pee a little when you laugh, dance, exercise or sneeze, you may have stress urinary incontinence. While this can be annoying, it can be treated — and even some small lifestyle changes can make a big difference, according to the Urology Care Foundation, the official foundation of the American Urological Association. It might… read on > read on >
President Joe Biden underwent a routine colonoscopy on Friday, and briefly transferred power to Vice President Kamala Harris while he was sedated for the procedure, the White House said. The colonoscopy was part of Biden’s first routine physical exam as president, and took place at Walter Reed National Military Center. “As was the case when… read on > read on >
Can your weight before pregnancy determine your baby’s chances of developing asthma or allergies? Yes, claims a study that looked at that question, as well as whether weight gain during pregnancy might have an impact. “We did find that there was a link between the mother’s weight before pregnancy, entering pregnancy, with the development of… read on > read on >
