Pulse oximeters — those tiny devices that measure blood oxygen levels with a quick clip to your finger — may soon get a major upgrade to ensure they work just as well for people of all skin tones. The U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) released draft guidelines on Jan. 6 proposing that manufacturers conduct… read on > read on >
Fluoride exposure appears to slightly decrease IQ scores in children, a new federal meta-analysis has concluded — but not at the low levels recommended for U.S. drinking water. Fluoride in drinking water was associated with reduced IQ scores at levels of less than 4 milligrams per liter, but not at less than 1.5 mg/L, according… read on > read on >
A Louisiana resident has died after being hospitalized with bird flu in December of last year, marking the first known U.S. death from the virus. The patient who, “was over the age of 65 and was reported to have underlying medical conditions,” state health officials announced in a statement, tested positive for the virus and… read on > read on >
It’s long been a mystery why folks need a flu vaccine every year, even though immunizations they got in childhood continue to protect them from measles and mumps. Researchers now think they know why vaccine effectiveness varies — and they’ve even come up with a blood test to check a vaccine’s durability. “Our study defines… read on > read on >
Worried about the risky sex you had last night? Using a common antibiotic following sex can dramatically reduce a person’s risk of some sexually transmitted infections (STIs), a new study says. Taking doxycycline within 72 hours after sex reduced risk of chlamydia by 79%, syphilis by 80%, and gonorrhea by 12%, results published in JAMA… read on > read on >
Kids with autism who speak more than one language tend to have fewer symptoms from their disorder. Being multilingual not only enhances their general cognitive abilities, but also helps them better control their daily thoughts and actions, researchers reported in a study published recently in the journal Autism Research. These results should alleviate worries some… read on > read on >
Patients have more access to their own medical test results than ever before, thanks to legislation requiring results be released as soon as they’re available. But that’s not necessarily a good thing, a new study warns. Many patients are reading test results in their electronic medical record before their doctor has had a chance to… read on > read on >
More and more adults are stuck in the middle of their families, caring not only for their children but also for aging parents and other older family members. The mental and physical health of these “sandwich carers” is more likely to deteriorate over time, a new study published in the journal Public Health says. “These… read on > read on >
Rates of whooping cough in the U.S. continue to climb, according to data from the US Centers for Disease Control (CDC). Over 32,000 cases reported have been reported as of mid-December — about six times more than there were at this time last year, and more than there have been since 2014, according to CNN.… read on > read on >
A norovirus outbreak aboard the P&O Cruises’ Arcadia ship last fall left dozens of passengers confined to their cabins and is now linked to the death of a 77-year-old British passenger. Alan Forster, a retired teacher from Paignton, England, fell sick with norovirus two weeks into the month-long voyage with his wife, and later died… read on > read on >
