Daily aspirin after a heart attack can reduce the risk of future events, study finds

For people who have previously had a heart attack, taking a daily aspirin could reduce their risk of a repeat cardiac event or stroke, according to a recent Danish study. The findings were presented at the ESC Congress 2023 in Amsterdam this week. "Our findings support current clinical guidelines on aspirin therapy following myocardial infarction (heart...

Read More

Be well: 5 tips for managing postpartum issues from a New York-based family physician

This story discusses suicide. If you or someone you know is having thoughts of suicide, please contact the Suicide & Crisis Lifeline at 988 or 1-800-273-TALK (8255). Giving birth is one of the most transformative experiences a woman can have — but the postpartum period isn’t always so easy to navigate.  As many as 20% of new moms may experience...

Read More

Mistreatment in maternity care, avoiding high cholesterol and the health benefits of laughter

PREGNANCY PERILS – A CDC report says one in five women are mistreated, yet some docs warn of bias and oversimplification. Continue reading… TRANSPLANT BREAKTHROUGH – After more than six weeks, a transplanted pig kidney is still functioning in a human body. Continue reading… ‘SILENT WALKING’ – A "stress-free" challenge on TikTok has people...

Read More

Unexplained fever? Malaria might be a possible diagnosis regardless of travel history, says CDC

Don’t rule out malaria just because you haven’t traveled anywhere. In light of recent locally acquired cases in the U.S., the lack of international travel should not exclude a diagnosis of malaria when Americans have unexplained fever — especially if they develop new anemia. That’s according to a recent Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC)...

Read More

'Silent walking' trend: Psychiatrist shares stress-relieving benefits of strolling in silence

The idea of taking a silent walk might seem completely intuitive — but on TikTok, people are taking part in a challenge to stroll without the accompaniment of music or podcasts. Their goal? Boosting their mental health. Content creator Mady Maio sparked the trend after posting a video that claimed walking without headphone noise granted her brain the...

Read More

AI chatbots fall short when giving cancer treatment recommendations: ‘Remain cautious’

OpenAI’s ChatGPT has become a popular go-to for quick responses to questions of all types — but a new study in JAMA Oncology suggests that the artificial intelligence chatbot might have some serious shortcomings when it comes to doling out medical advice for cancer treatment. Researchers from Mass General Brigham, Sloan Kettering and Boston Children’s...

Read More

Amid ADHD drug shortage, FDA approves generic version of medication: 'Opportune time'

In response to the ongoing shortage of ADHD medications, the U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) has approved several generic versions of Vyvanse (lisdexamfetamine dimesylate) for the treatment of attention-deficit/hyperactivity disorder in people 6 years and older. Vyvanse is available in capsules and chewable tablets, according to the FDA’s announcement. Dr....

Read More

Pig kidney still functioning in brain-dead man 6 weeks after transplant surgery: ‘Extremely encouraging’

A pig kidney is still functioning correctly more than six weeks after surgeons at NYU Langone Health in New York City transplanted the genetically engineered organ into the body of a 57-year-old man, who had been declared brain-dead. This marks the longest period a pig kidney has functioned in a human being, according to a press release from the hospital. After...

Read More

‘Laughter therapy’ is shown to reduce heart disease risk in Brazilian study: 'Exciting to see'

Laughter has been called "the best medicine" for many decades — and now there’s scientific proof. A study from the Hospital de Clínicas de Porto Alegre in Brazil has shown that regular chuckling expands heart tissue and promotes the flow of oxygen in the body, thus reducing the risk of cardiac disease. "Laughter therapy" was also shown to improve the...

Read More

Massachusetts sees first two cases of deadly West Nile virus

Two Massachusetts residents have contracted the mosquito-born West Nile virus in the state's first human cases of the year. The Massachusetts Department of Public Health (DPH) announced Tuesday, August 29 that one woman in her 70s was exposed to the virus in another area of the country and a man in his 40s was exposed in Middlesex County in Massachusetts. Authorities...

Read More

Ask a doc: 'How can I prevent high cholesterol?'

Cholesterol has some important jobs in the body — such as creating hormones, aiding digestion, building cell membranes and generating vitamin D — but too much of the waxy substance can pose a health risk. "Cholesterol only becomes problematic when cholesterol levels — and particularly LDL cholesterol — become too high," said Dr. Robert Pilchik, a cardiologist...

Read More

Yet another COVID vaccine? As Biden calls for new funding, health experts sound off: ‘A slippery slope'

Following President Joe Biden’s remarks on Friday that he plans to request funding for a new COVID vaccine amid rising cases in this country, doctors are sharing their input on whether another version is needed. "I signed off this morning on a proposal we have to present to the Congress a request for additional funding for a new vaccine that is necessary,...

Read More

Mistreatment in the maternity ward? Doctors weigh in on a new CDC report: 'Overstretched health system'

After a recent CDC report found that up to 20% of women have been mistreated in some way during the labor and delivery process, doctors are sharing their perspectives on the state of U.S. maternity care. Several expressed concern about various aspects of the study, what it uncovered and even how it was conducted.  An April 2023 Porter Novelli...

Read More

E.coli bacteria detected in Grand Canyon National Park’s water supply

E.coli bacteria has been detected in the water supply inside the Grand Canyon National Park in Arizona, according to an advisory released by the National Park Service (NPS). The announcement on Friday warned visitors at Phantom Ranch, a lodge at the bottom of the southern end of the Grand Canyon in Arizona, to boil water before using it. "These bacteria...

Read More

Potentially life-threatening health scare on the rise in Virginia as Department of Health, CDC issue warning

A public health concern with potentially deadly consequences is on the rise in Virginia, health officials said, as people are testing positive for Alpha-Gal syndrome. Alpha-gal syndrome (AGS) is a little-known meat allergy that is contracted through tick bites and can be life-threatening. It primarily causes hives, angioedema, upset stomach, diarrhea,...

Read More

Citing rising COVID cases, these US hospital systems have now reinstated mask mandates

Amid rising COVID cases and hospitalizations throughout the country, several hospital systems or hospitals have reinstated mask-wearing requirements for patients and staff, as reported by Becker’s Hospital Review. These announcements come as COVID-related hospitalizations have risen 21.6% in the most recent week and deaths have risen 21.4%, according...

Read More