New research provides further proof that helmets are essential for young users of all-terrain vehicles (ATVs) and dirt bikes. Wearing a helmet significantly reduces their risk of moderate or severe head injuries in crashes, and also lowers their risk of death, the study found. “For neurosurgeons treating pediatric trauma patients, these findings are not at… read on > read on >
More kids swallowed small magnets and batteries in 2020 compared to previous years — a worrisome surge that dovetailed with pandemic stay-at-home orders. An analysis of data from more than 100 U.S. hospitals found that the number of kids 17 and younger who were treated for swallowing foreign objects remained about the same from 2017… read on > read on >
Most people shouldn’t bother taking daily low-dose aspirin to reduce their risk of a first heart attack or stroke, the nation’s leading panel of preventive medicine experts announced Tuesday. The U.S. Preventive Services Task Force (USPSTF) issued a draft recommendation that essentially backs off its previous advice urging many folks to consider taking low-dose aspirin… read on > read on >
After knee replacement surgery, many patients experience a level of pain that has them reaching for prescription opioid painkillers. Now new research suggests that using acupuncture during the operation may help reduce that pain without raising the risk of addiction. “The opioid epidemic has been in the news and on our minds for years and… read on > read on >
TUESDAY, Oct. 12, 2021 Just over a decade ago, the passage of the Affordable Care Act (ACA, or Obamacare) made many common cancer screenings free. But a pair of new studies caution that when those free tests turn up signs of trouble, important follow-up tests may be too pricey for some patients. The bigger concern:… read on > read on >
Patients who undergo surgery for certain types of cancer may have better short-term survival if they receive a particular anti-nausea drug, a preliminary study suggests. Among more than 74,000 patients who had cancer surgery, researchers found that those who received the drug — called dexamethasone — were less likely to die in the next 90… read on > read on >
TUESDAY, Oct. 12, 2021 (American Heart Association News) — A medical school lecture taught Dr. Samuel Kung a vital lesson: He needed to see a cardiologist. As a toddler, Kung had Kawasaki disease, an illness of unknown cause that tends to strike young children. He doesn’t remember being sick, just the years of follow-up that… read on > read on >
TUESDAY, Oct. 12, 2021 (American Heart Association News) — The pandemic has highlighted societal inequities that leave historically disenfranchised communities more at risk for COVID-19 exposure. But recent studies suggest the disparities more severely impact Hispanic people who only speak Spanish, especially when it comes to unemployment and food insecurity. “This is about structural racism… read on > read on >
Merck & Co. announced Monday that it had submitted an application with the U.S. Food and Drug Administration for emergency use approval of the first antiviral pill targeted to COVID-19. Experts say authorization of molnupiravir, at this time only for use inhigh-risk Americans, could be a major advance in the struggle against COVID-19 because a… read on > read on >
Golf carts aren’t just for golfing anymore: They also abound in retirement communities, on farms, and at sporting and other events. But the downside of that newfound popularity may be that an increasing number of children and adolescents are injured from the carts each year, a new study suggests. A research team from the Children’s… read on > read on >
