Weight loss drugs may reduce risk of suicidal thoughts in adolescents — plus more medical headlines

For Monday, Oct. 14, WGN’s Dina Bair has the latest on new medical information, including:

Weight loss drugs may reduce risk of suicidal thoughts in adolescents

A new analysis reveals the impact on young, overweight patients.

According to the Journal of the American Medical Association, the risk of suicidal thoughts or attempts went down when adolescents with obesity took GLP-1 receptors like Ozempic and Rybelsus compared to young people who practiced lifestyle modifications to address their weight.

Doctors say the potential life-saving impact of the weight loss drugs is something that deserves further study.

Children taken by ambulance get faster attention than those who are driven

When a child is injured and needs immediate medical care, parents might want to call an ambulance rather than drive to the emergency room.

Severely injured pediatric patients who are brought to the ER by their parents are not seen as quickly as those who arrive via ambulance.

A study presented to the European Emergency Medicine Congress reveals the important signs of trauma parents should alert doctors about if they bring a child to the hospital.

Head swelling, abdominal bruising, and thigh swelling represent potentially major traumas requiring immediate action.

Children brought in by parents are seen on average 58 to 168 minutes later.

Social media may make adults think they have undiagnosed ADHD

Adults having difficulty concentrating are increasingly concerned they may have undiagnosed attention deficit hyperactivity disorder.

More and more adults are seeking medication and care for ADHD and medical professionals say it may be due to social media.

Ohio State University Wexner Medical Center doctors say trending videos have prompted 25 percent of adults to fear they have a disorder typically diagnosed due to attentional problems in childhood.

However, doctors say the nonscientific information circulating on social media is concerning since many are self-diagnosing and incorrectly treating what they believe is ADHD.

Anxiety, depression and ADHD can all present with similar symptoms.

The best advice: talk with your doctor.

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