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GLP-1 Drugs Ozempic, Wegovy Linked to Rare Blinding Condition
Semaglutide (Ozempic, Wegovy) appears to increase the risk of a rare eye condition that can cause blindness Diabetics prescribed semaglutide were more than four times more likely to be diagnosed with NAION Overweight and obese people were more than seven times more likely WEDNESDAY, July 3, 2024 (HealthDay News) -- Trendy weight-loss drugs appear to increase the risk of a rare and potentially blinding eye condition, a new study warns.
Gratitude May Bring Longer Life
Gratitude appears to help people live longer Senior women who scored high on a gratitude test had a 9% lower risk of early death compared to those who scored lowest Gratitude protected against heart-related death in particular WEDNESDAY, July 3, 2024 (HealthDay News) -- People who are grateful for what they have tend to live longer, a new study reports.
Where COVID Vaccinations Rates Have Been High, Fewer Kids Have Asthma Symptoms
Children with asthma benefit from higher rates of COVID vaccination They have fewer symptoms on average in states with higher vaccination rates Herd immunity or personal vaccination might protect them from asthma symptoms WEDNESDAY, July 3, 2024 (HealthDay News) -- Children with asthma have fewer symptoms in states with high rates of COVID-19 vaccination, a new study says.
Common Benzo Drugs like Valium and Ativan Don’t Increase Dementia Risk, New Study Finds
Benzodiazepine drugs do not increase the risk of dementia, according to a new study. But researchers say they may be associated with an accelerated loss of brain volume. The most common benzos include Valium, Xanax, Halcion, Ativan and Klonopin, which are often prescribed to treat anxiety, insomnia and epilepsy. Researchers analyzed health and pharmacy data from 54-hundred adults, half of whom had used the drugs. They found no significant link between benzodiazepine use and dementia, regardless of the type or amount taken over time.
FDA Bans Food Additive Found in Sports Drinks, Sodas
WEDNESDAY, July 3, 2024 (HealthDay News) -- A regulation allowing the use of brominated vegetable oil in food was revoked Tuesday by the U.S. Food and Drug Administration after the agency concluded the additive was unsafe for human consumption. Brominated vegetable oil (BVO) contains bromine, which is found in fire retardants. Small quantities of BVO have been used legally in some citrus-flavored drinks in the United States to keep the flavor evenly distributed, the FDA explained in a news release announcing the ban, which takes effect Aug. 2. The agency first proposed the ban in November. But BVO was banned in the U.K. in 1970, followed by India in 1990, the E.U. in 2008 and Japan in 2010, according to the Center for Science in the Public Interest. In 1970, the FDA concluded that its use in food was not generally recognized as safe because of toxicity concerns. Following that decision, the agency began regulating BVO as a food additive while also conducting safety studies, Reuters reported. The results of that research prompted the ban.
FDA Warns of 48 Illnesses, One Death Linked to Diamond Shruumz Edibles
WEDNESDAY, July 3, 2024 (HealthDay News) -- The U.S. Food and Drug Administration said Tuesday it is now investigating nearly 50 illnesses and one death that may be linked to eating Diamond Shruumz edibles. Of the 48 people in 24 states who said they got sick after eating the chocolate bars, cones and gummies, one patient has died and 27 have been hospitalized, the FDA noted in an updated health alert. Those who fell ill reported seizures, agitation, abnormal heart rates and loss of consciousness. The latest illness was reported Monday, FDA officials said. Last week, the company that makes the edibles issued a full recall of all its edibles after discovering high levels of a mushroom toxin in the products.
Florida Keys Issues Dengue Fever Alert After Two Cases Reported There
WEDNESDAY, July 3, 2024 (HealthDay News) -- Health officials in the Florida Keys have issued a dengue fever alert after two confirmed cases of the mosquito-borne disease were reported there. In the alert, issued this week by the Monroe County Department of Health, officials said they were taking precautions to curb the spread of dengue fever. Those measures include stepping up door-to-door mosquito inspections; enhancing mosquito surveillance; spraying aerial mosquito treatments as necessary; and driving through neighborhoods and spraying mosquito treatments from trucks as needed. But the threat of dengue fever is not limited to Florida: Just last week, the U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention issued a nationwide advisory about the increased risk of dengue fever infections in the United States. Puerto Rico has been the hardest hit: Of the 2,241 U.S. dengue cases reported so far this year, 1,498 occurred in that U.S. territory in the Caribbean. In March, a public health emergency was declared there after cases of the mosquito-borne illness broke historical records.
When It Comes to Weight Gain, Not All Antidepressants Are the Same
Some antidepressants cause more weight gain than others Bupropion causes the least weight gain Some SSRIs cause more weight gain WEDNESDAY, July 3, 2024 (HealthDay News) -- Weight gain is a common side effect of antidepressants, but some types cause people to pack on pounds more than others, a new study says.
Facial Temperatures Might Help Docs Diagnose Diabetes, Fatty Liver Disease
Facial temperature might be used to detect diseases Diabetes, fatty liver disease and high blood pressure cause different parts of the face to be unusually warm Inflammation likely is driving this, researchers said WEDNESDAY, July 3, 2024 (HealthDay News) -- Screening for chronic illnesses like diabetes or fatty liver disease could one day be as simple as checking the temperature of your nose, eyes or cheeks.
Could Sauna Time Help Curb Weight Gain During Menopause?
Heat therapy helped female mice counteract the effects of menopause They gained less weight and made better use of insulin, which controls blood sugar, researchers report It is not yet clear whether saunas or soaks would do the same for people WEDNESDAY, July 3, 2024 (HealthDay News) — A 30-minute sauna or warm bubble bath every day might help women of a certain age fend off unwanted weight gain.
Why Were Kids Hit Less Hard by COVID? New Study Offers Clues
COVID infections tend to be milder in kids than adults but the reason why has been unclear Now researchers believe the body's immune response to frequent colds and other respiratory ills protects them against severe COVID Still, they say further study is needed WEDNESDAY, July 3, 2024 (HealthDay News) -- Your children's never-ending colds and sniffles may have protected them from the worst effects of COVID-19, new research suggests.
Mediterranean Diet Ups Survival Odds After Cancer
The Mediterranean diet can help cancer survivors live longer Cancer patients following the diet had a 32% lower overall risk of death They also had a 60% lower risk of heart-related death WEDNESDAY, July 3, 2024 (HealthDay News) -- The Mediterranean diet can help cancer survivors maintain their heart health and live longer, a new study says.
Just a Few Surgeries Make Up Most Post-Op Opioid Prescriptions
A handful of common surgeries account for most opioid pain prescriptions Researchers say efforts to ensure safe surgical prescribing should focus on these Many people with opioid use disorder began using the drugs after surgery WEDNESDAY, July 3, 2024 (HealthDay News) -- Opioid addiction often starts with a prescription for post-surgery pain relief, and two new studies identify a handful of procedures that account for large shares of those prescriptions.
FDA Approves New Drug to Treat Alzheimer's
TUESDAY, July 2, 2024 (HealthDay News) -- A new drug to treat Alzheimer's disease was approved by the U.S. Food and Drug Administration on Tuesday. In clinical trials, donanemab (Kisunla) modestly slowed the pace of thinking declines among patients in the early stages of the memory-robbing disease. But it also carried significant safety risks, including swelling and bleeding in the brain. "Kisunla demonstrated very meaningful results for people with early symptomatic Alzheimer's disease, who urgently need effective treatment options. We know these medicines have the greatest potential benefit when people are treated earlier in their disease, and we are working hard in partnership with others to improve detection and diagnosis," Anne White, executive vice president and president of Lilly Neuroscience, said in a company news release announcing the approval. "Each year, more and more people are at risk for this disease, and we are determined to make life better for them." Alzheimer's advocates applauded the approval.
U.S. Government to Pay Moderna $176 Million to Develop mRNA Flu Vaccine
TUESDAY, July 2, 2024 (HealthDay News) -- U.S. health officials announced Tuesday that the federal government will pay Moderna $176 million to speed development of a pandemic flu vaccine based on mRNA technology. Such a vaccine could be used to treat bird flu in people, as concern grows about H5N1 cases spreading in dairy cows across the country, the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services (HHS) noted. “We have successfully taken lessons learned during the COVID-19 pandemic and used them to better prepare for future public health crises. As part of that, we continue to develop new vaccines and other tools to help address influenza and bolster our pandemic response capabilities,” HHS Secretary Xavier Becerra said in a news release announcing the investment. “The Biden-Harris Administration won’t stop until we have everything we need to prepare for pandemics and other public health emergencies that impact the American public.” Moderna already has a bird flu vaccine in early-stage testing that uses the same mRNA technology that allowed a rapid rollout of COVID vaccines, the Associated Press reported.
Supreme Court to Hear Case Challenging FDA's Ban of Flavored Vapes
TUESDAY, July 2, 2024 (HealthDay News) -- In a case that will test the U.S. Food and Drug Administration's authority to approve or reject new vaping products, the U.S. Supreme Court said Tuesday it will weigh whether the agency was legally allowed to ban flavored e-cigarettes. In recent years, the FDA has declined to approve flavored vapes, saying they pose a health risk because they encourage young people to use e-cigarettes. But they remain widely available on the U.S. market. Meanwhile, vaping companies claim the agency got it wrong, arguing that their products can be used to help people stop smoking traditional cigarettes. E-cigarette makers have filed lawsuits around the country challenging the FDA's decisions, NBC News reported.
A Diet Filled with Ultra-Processed Foods May Cut Years Off Your Life
More evidence that a diet filled with ultra-processed foods may cut years off your life. A new study finds people who consume higher amounts of ultra-processed foods are 10% more likely to suffer an early death, particularly from heart disease and diabetes. No association was found between ultra-processed foods and cancer-related deaths. Researchers analyzed dietary and health data from 540,000 adults who were followed for a median of 23 years. They found soft drinks and meats like hot dogs and deli cold cuts were “most strongly associated with mortality risk.”
Tattoo Inks Can Be Contaminated With Bacteria: Study
Though unopened and sealed, tattoo and permanent makeup inks may harbor bacteria, testing shows The bacteria could cause infections, as well as allergic and toxic responses, researchers say They described their new study as the first of its kind TUESDAY, July 2, 2024 (HealthDay News) — Getting inked could make you sick.
Biden Administration Proposes Rule to Tackle Extreme Heat in the Workplace
TUESDAY, July 2, 2024 (HealthDay News) -- As millions of Americans grapple with blistering heat this summer, the Biden Administration on Tuesday proposed a new rule to address excessive heat in the workplace. If the first major federal safety standard of its kind becomes final, the measure would aim to protect an estimated 36 million U.S. workers from injuries related to heat exposure on the job. That includes delivery and construction workers, landscapers and workers in warehouses, factories and kitchens. "From the record-shattering heat wave across the Midwest and Northeast, to devastating flooding in Iowa and Minnesota, to raging wildfires...
Exercise May Prevent the Nerve Damage That Comes With Chemotherapy
Exercise can prevent chemo-related nerve damage Cancer patients who didn’t exercise were twice as likely to have nerve damage as those who did Exercise could be an effective and inexpensive way to manage nerve damage TUESDAY, July 2, 2024 (HealthDay News) -- Simple exercises performed during rounds of chemotherapy can help people avoid nerve damage normally associated with the cancer-killing drugs, a new study suggests.
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