In February 2020, the federal Food and Drug Administration (FDA) cautioned consumers to be on the lookout for scammers taking advantage of fears surrounding COVID-19. Now, in March, the FDA and the Federal Trade Commission (FTC) and FDA have jointly issued warning letters to seven sellers of unapproved and misbranded products, claiming they can treat… Continue reading Federal Agencies Warn of Scam COVID-19 “Treatments”
Author: Jane Farrell
New Coronavirus Stays for Hours on Surfaces
The virus that causes coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) is stable for several hours to days in aerosols and on surfaces, according to a new study from National Institutes of Health, CDC, UCLA and Princeton University scientists in The New England Journal of Medicine. The scientists found that severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus 2 (SARS-CoV-2) was… Continue reading New Coronavirus Stays for Hours on Surfaces
Scientists Testing Possible COVID-19 Vaccine
A Phase 1 clinical trial evaluating an investigational vaccine designed to protect against coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) has begun at Kaiser Permanente Washington Health Research Institute (KPWHRI) in Seattle, according to the National Institutes of Health (NIH). The National Institute of Allergy and Infectious Diseases (NIAID), part of the National Institutes of Health, is funding… Continue reading Scientists Testing Possible COVID-19 Vaccine
Parking Lot Safety for Kids
A study from the University of Alabama at Birmingham shows an alarming need for adult supervision in parking lots, with 67 percent of children observed not having supervision at some point between the vehicle’s parking and the child’s entering the building. “Children are unpredictable,” said David Schwebel, Ph.D., associate dean for research in the UAB… Continue reading Parking Lot Safety for Kids
A 5-Step Coronavirus Survival Plan for Seniors
As the coronavirus continues to spread across the globe, and now is becoming more widespread by the day in the United States, it is critical that the most vulnerable population being impacted understands how to be better prepared. Seniors have been the hardest hit by the coronavirus with the tragic death of eight residents in… Continue reading A 5-Step Coronavirus Survival Plan for Seniors
Osteoarthritis: What You Must Know
Osteoarthritis is the most common form of arthritis among older people, and it is one of the most frequent causes of physical disability among older adults. According to the National Institute on Aging (NIA), the disease affects both men and women. Before age 45, osteoarthritis is more common in men than in women. After age… Continue reading Osteoarthritis: What You Must Know
Progress Reported toward Earlier Diagnosis of Alzheimer’s
Researchers report an advance in the development of a blood test that could help detect Alzheimer’s disease in people who are showing signs of dementia. The new approach could be less invasive and less costly than current brain imaging and spinal fluid tests. The blood test detects the abnormal accumulation of a form of tau… Continue reading Progress Reported toward Earlier Diagnosis of Alzheimer’s
More Steps Per Day Linked to Significant Reductions in Diabetes and High Blood Pressure
Middle-aged people who walked the most steps-per-day over an average of 9 years had a 43% lower risk of diabetes and a 31% lower risk of high blood pressure, compared to those with the fewest steps, according to preliminary research presented at the American Heart Association’s Epidemiology and Prevention | Lifestyle and Cardiometabolic Health Scientific… Continue reading More Steps Per Day Linked to Significant Reductions in Diabetes and High Blood Pressure
Irregular Sleep Patterns Linked to Heart Disease
Older adults with irregular sleep patterns — meaning they have no regular bedtime and wake-up schedule, or they get different amounts of sleep each night — are nearly twice as likely to develop cardiovascular disease as those with more regular sleep patterns, according to a new study funded in part by the National Heart, Lung,… Continue reading Irregular Sleep Patterns Linked to Heart Disease
What You Should Know about Products Containing CBD
Products containing the drug cannabidiol (CBD) seems to be available almost everywhere, and marketed as a variety of products including drugs, food, dietary supplements, cosmetics, and animal health products. But other than one prescription drug product to treat two rare, severe forms of epilepsy, the U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) has not approved any… Continue reading What You Should Know about Products Containing CBD
Stress and Gray Hair
The belief that acute stress can turn hair gray is a popular one, but until now it hasn’t been scientifically proven. But findings that appeared in the publication Nature indicate that the belief may be more than a myth. The study, which used mice as models, was funded in part by the National Institutes of… Continue reading Stress and Gray Hair
Battling the Overdose Crisis
Whether it’s due to opioids, alcohol poisoning or the overconsumption of another drug, there’s a public-health crisis involving overdoses. People of all ages, from all backgrounds, are unintentionally dying from overdoses due to addiction as well as misuse or abuse of substances like opioids and alcohol. In 2017, more than 190 million prescriptions were written… Continue reading Battling the Overdose Crisis
Peanut Allergy: A New Medication for Children
The U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) has approved the first drug to treat peanut allergy in children. The remedy, Palforzia, mitigates allergic reactions, including anaphylaxis, that may occur with accidental exposure to peanuts. According to an FDA news release, treatment with Palforzia may begin in individuals ages 4 through 17 years with a confirmed… Continue reading Peanut Allergy: A New Medication for Children
How to Stop Workout Acne
Working out can cause excessive sweating, as well as a buildup of oil, dirt, and bacteria on your skin — all of which can lead to acne. However, you don’t have to quit exercising in order to see clearer skin. The key is to maintain proper hygiene before, during, and after your workouts. Here’s what… Continue reading How to Stop Workout Acne
Hepatitis C and Heart Transplants
One-year survival was similar for adults with severe heart failure who received a heart transplant from a donor with hepatitis C compared to those who received hearts from donors who did not have hepatitis C, according to new research. The results of the study were published in the Journal of the American Heart Association, the… Continue reading Hepatitis C and Heart Transplants
Patients with Newly Diagnosed Musculoskeletal Pain Are Prescribed Opioids More Often than Recommended
During their first physician visit, patients experiencing newly diagnosed chronic musculoskeletal pain are prescribed opioids more often than physical therapy, counseling, and other nonpharmacologic approaches, according to new research. The study, published in the Journal of Pain, included authors from the National Center for Complementary and Integrative Health (NCCIH), part of the National Institutes of… Continue reading Patients with Newly Diagnosed Musculoskeletal Pain Are Prescribed Opioids More Often than Recommended
4 Exercises to Reduce Your Risk of Falls
Decreased balance and falls are a dangerous part of getting older, but there are things you can do now in order to set yourself up for a better chance of avoiding costly, or even deadly, falls later on. The numbers are startling and frightening: the National Council on Aging (NCOA), citing information from the Centers… Continue reading 4 Exercises to Reduce Your Risk of Falls
Mental Wellness for Seniors
As our loved ones get older, the primary concern often is how to handle their growing physical limitations, like not being able to maintain a home as well as they used to or get around easily by themselves. However, it’s also important that mental wellness issues be recognized and coped with. Roughly 20% of all… Continue reading Mental Wellness for Seniors