'Vampire facials' at unlicensed spa likely resulted in HIV infections: CDC

Three women likely contracted HIV after receiving so-called "vampire facials" at an unlicensed spa in New Mexico, according to a new report published by the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC). 

The shocking findings would make them the first known cases of the virus being transmitted during a non-sterile cosmetic injection procedure, the CDC says. 

A "vampire facial," according to the American Academy of Dermatology Association, is a procedure where blood is drawn from the arm, placed into a machine which "separates the platelets from the rest of your blood," then is "re-injected into you (only the part of your blood that contains a high concentration of platelets)."

CLOSED NEW MEXICO SALON WHICH GAVE 'VAMPIRE FACIALS' LINKED TO NEW HIV CASES: OFFICIALS

The procedure is also known as "platelet-rich plasma" and is considered to be a more affordable and less invasive option than getting a facelift.

Kim Kardashian is among those to have undergone the treatment. She posted an image of her bloody face after undergoing the process in 2013 but has since come out against the procedure.

The CDC’s investigation states that a woman in her 40s tested positive for HIV while traveling abroad in 2018.

The patient reported no injection drug use, recent blood transfusions, or recent sexual contact with anyone other than her current sexual partner, who received a negative HIV test result after the patient’s diagnosis. However, the patient did report exposure to needles during a platelet-rich plasma (PRP) microneedling procedure in spring 2018 at spa A in New Mexico.

Another person tested positive for the virus during routine tests for life insurance in 2018, while a third did not find out she had HIV until last year, when hospitalized with an "AIDS-defining illness."

CDC ISSUES HEALTH ADVISORY WARNING OF 'ADVERSE EFFECTS' FROM FAKE BOTOX INJECTIONS

"This investigation identified an HIV cluster associated with receipt of cosmetic injection services at an unlicensed facility that did not follow recommended infection control procedures or maintain client records," the CDC states. 

While the CDC report did not name the spa, referring to it as "Spa A," last year a spa in Albuquerque, New Mexico, was linked to several new HIV cases and the New Mexico Department of Health reached out to its former clients stating that there was a risk they may have contracted HIV, hepatitis B, and hepatitis C infection.

The spa, VIP Beauty Salon and Spa, closed in September 2018 after a multi-state agency "identified practices that could potentially spread blood-borne infections, such as HIV, hepatitis B, and hepatitis C to clients."

In June 2022, the spa's owner, Maria Ramos De Ruiz, pleaded guilty to five felony counts of practicing medicine without a license, according to KRQE. She was sentenced to three-and-a-half years in prison. 

However, the source of contamination remains unknown, the report states. 

"Although the investigative team was not permitted to collect specimens from spa A, evidence from this investigation supports the likely transmission of HIV through poor infection control practices."

Fox News’ Adam Sabes contributed to this report. 

from Health News Today on Fox News https://ift.tt/OijXMvW

Read More

Amid bird flu spread, experts reveal if it's safe to drink milk: 'Indirect concern'

Traces of bird flu have been detected in pasteurized milk — leaving many people wondering if it’s safe to drink.

The U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) released a notice on Thursday stating that one in five retail samples of commercial milk tested positive for fragments of highly pathogenic avian influenza (HPAI), more commonly known as bird flu or avian flu.

The share of milk with viral remnants was higher in areas where herds of cattle had been infected.

BIRD FLU PANDEMIC IN FUTURE? EU WARNS OF POTENTIAL SPREAD TO HUMANS DUE TO 'LACK OF IMMUNE DEFENSE’

The presence of the virus in the milk doesn’t necessarily mean there is a risk to consumers, however, the FDA noted.

"Additional testing is required to determine whether an intact pathogen is still present and if it remains infectious, which would help inform a determination of whether there is any risk of illness associated with consuming the product," the agency stated.

"Although bird flu viruses do not normally infect humans, sporadic human infections have occurred," the FDA stated in the alert.

Before milk can be sold commercially, government regulations require that it is pasteurized.

During the pasteurization process, raw milk is heated to a certain temperature for a brief period of time and is then chilled again, according to the International Dairy Foods Association (IDFA) website.

This process kills any pathogens and ensures that milk is safe to drink.

BIRD FLU VIRUS FOUND IN GROCERY STORE MILK, BUT NO RISK TO CUSTOMERS, FDA SAYS

Dr. Scott Pegan, professor of biomedical sciences at the University of California, Riverside and a biochemist for the United States Medical Research Institute of Chemical Defense, said the FDA’s finding does not mean there is any direct risks to consumers.

"In the U.S., commercial intrastate sold milk is required to be pasteurized," he told Fox News Digital. "This process is geared to kill viruses like H5N1 and other bacteria that can pose a threat to human health."

"Milk that has been pasteurized is safe and there is no current reason to avoid it or other pasteurized milk products based on the FDA’s findings," Pegan went on. 

"However, there is a substantial risk of consuming unpasteurized milk and products of that milk."

Even after viruses and bacteria have been killed in pasteurized milk, remnants can remain in the milk, he said — but they are not dangerous.

RARE HUMAN CASE OF HIGHLY CONTAGIOUS BIRD FLU CONFIRMED IN TEXAS

Edward Liu, M.D., chief of infectious diseases at Hackensack Meridian Jersey Shore University Medical Center in New Jersey, agreed that there is not a risk associated with drinking pasteurized milk.

"The pasteurization is the key — the heat treatment kills off the viruses," he told Fox News Digital. "Although the FDA’s testing picked up fragments [of the virus], the heating process destroyed it, so it’s not able to infect people."

The fragments alone are not enough to cause any kind of infection, he confirmed.

"I think the key word is ‘fragments.’ Just like with COVID, if you do a PCR test a month later, we'll detect little fragments of the virus, but it's not active anymore," Liu said. 

"So if the virus isn’t entirely intact, it shouldn't be able to infect you."

Any sporadic cases of human infection would likely occur when a farmer is handling birds directly, Liu said.

"There are some people who like to go all natural, but pasteurization has been used for decades for safety," he said. "Some degree of processing is actually better and safer for us."

The "indirect concern" within the scientific and medical community involves the increased risk of "spillover" to humans from animals with the H5N1 virus, said Pegan. 

"Prior to the outbreak in dairy cattle, this concern principally revolved around the risk of transmission to humans from wild birds or poultry," he told Fox News Digital.

"The presence of H5N1 avian flu in the milk of these cattle shows that cattle may be able to provide a new reservoir for this virus, increasing the odds of exposure to those in direct contact with the infected cattle."

The more animals that are infected, the higher chance that humans may come in direct contact with the virus — which likely would lead to a greater number of human cases, said Pegan. 

SOCIAL MEDIA USERS UPSET AS SHETLAND PONY IS STUCK IN CATTLE GRID FOR 4 HOURS WITH CREWS TOILING TO FREE HIM

"The case of cattle-to-human transmission seen in Texas is in line with this concern," he noted. 

"Also, the more mammals infected increases the chances that the virus will adapt to other mammals, such as humans."

The FDA restated its "long-standing recommendation" that consumers avoid drinking raw milk that has not been pasteurized. 

The agency also recommends that companies refrain from manufacturing or selling raw milk or raw milk products made with milk from cows that tested positive for bird flu, were exposed to the virus or showed symptoms of illness.

"Over the past few years, there has been an increased consumer demand for these unpasteurized products," Pegan said. 

"While not allowed to be sold via interstate brands, some states have relaxed local sales of these products at farmer's markets and similar outlets," he said. 

"Individuals may want to avoid those unpasteurized products until more information is obtained about this H5N1 avian flu outbreak in dairy cattle."

CLICK HERE TO SIGN UP FOR OUR HEALTH NEWSLETTER

The FDA also urged producers to "take precautions" when discarding milk from affected cows, "so that the discarded milk does not become a source of further spread."

So far, only one person has been confirmed to have contracted the virus after exposure to infected cows, the FDA stated.

"The CDC says the risk to the general public remains low," the agency said.

"The FDA and USDA continue to indicate that, based on the information we currently have, our commercial milk supply is safe."

Fox News Digital reached out to the National Milk Producers Federation, the American Dairy Association and the International Dairy Foods Association for comment.

For more Health articles, visit www.foxnews.com/health.

from Health News Today on Fox News https://ift.tt/UvEW38c

Read More

‘Sleep disorder drove my son to suicide,’ New York mother says: ‘Broke my heart’

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).

Chronic lack of sleep can cause a long list of physical and mental issues — and for one young man, his mother believes it led to his death.

Derek McFadden was just 23 when he took his own life on Aug. 17, 2018, in Tucson, Arizona.

His mother, Robin McFadden, who lives in Tuxedo Park, New York, said she believes her son’s insomnia was the "only driver" of his suicide.

SLEEP DISORDERS AND SUICIDE: A MENTAL HEALTH EXPERT REVEALS THE CONCERNING LINK

Derek McFadden was an "extremely funny kid" who loved swimming, snow-skiing and cuddling, his mother said — but for most of his life, he struggled with debilitating insomnia.

At around 8 years old, he started taking small doses of sleeping medication, which helped for several years.

Around the time he turned 18, during his senior year of high school, the medication stopped working, McFadden said.

"He never got a good night's sleep, but he soldiered through his school day and then would come home and lie down on his bed, exhausted, but couldn't fall asleep," she told Fox News Digital in an interview.

SUICIDE WARNING SIGNS ARE MISSED BY MOST AMERICANS, NEW SURVEY FINDS: IT'S 'ALARMING'

McFadden took her son to multiple doctors and they tried different medications — none of which worked, she said. 

"Derek would just lie there at night, and he was so tired, but he couldn't fall sleep," she said.

Amid the sleep struggles, her son managed to graduate from high school — but things got even worse when he left for college at the University of Arizona.

He’d chosen Arizona because he was an "avid outdoorsman" who loved fly-fishing, going off-roading in his Jeep and spending time with his dog, which he'd adopted for emotional support.

"Our hope was that with Derek being in Arizona, the sunshine during the day would stimulate his brain to wake up so he could go to sleep at night, but it just didn't work," McFadden said.

The doctor’s visits continued, but none of the experts could figure out what was causing the insomnia. 

"Every doctor would assume it was sleep hygiene, and that he was doing something wrong," McFadden said.

AMERICANS NEED MORE SLEEP, LESS STRESS, EXPERTS SAY, AS GALLUP POLL REVEALS TROUBLING FINDINGS

"They assumed that because he was 18, 19 or 20 years old that he was playing video games all night."

She added, "But Derek knew sleep hygiene. He had done so much research on his own. There was something wrong in his brain that was preventing him from sleeping." 

The family looked into holistic approaches, including hypnosis, acupuncture and "brain training," but "nothing seemed to work," McFadden said.

Many nights, he would go the entire night without sleeping — sometimes up to three days in a row, she said.

"It was really, really bad," McFadden said.

As the months went by and sleep continued to elude her son, McFadden said it began to take a toll on his immune system.

After consecutive nights without sleeping, he developed bruises all around his eyes.

SUICIDE RATES REACH ALL-TIME HIGH IN US, PER CDC DATA

"Derek was constantly getting sick, and that made him feel like he was not a normal kid," she said. "He just couldn't fight anything off. He was always at Urgent Care."

Her son developed severe acid reflux and stomach pain, to the point where it became difficult for him to eat.

"Sometimes his insomnia got so severe that he couldn't keep any food or fluids down at all," McFadden said. 

Multiple times, he ended up in the emergency room with dehydration and severe cramping, she said.

The lack of sleep also changed her son’s demeanor and personality, McFadden said.

"Derek had tremendous mood swings — he became anxiety-ridden and depressed," she recalled.

"He would have hallucinations, and was constantly losing things. He couldn't think clearly."

On the rare occasion that her son had a good night’s sleep, McFadden said, he was "a completely different person, as happy as could be."

IMPROVE YOUR SLEEP BY OPTIMIZING 6 BIOMARKERS: ‘INTEGRAL TO HEALTH’

"It broke my heart, because he was such a happy, funny, huge-hearted person, and it was really sad to watch his decline."

Unable to keep up with his studies, her son had to drop out of college.

"He couldn't even hold a job because he couldn't sleep at night," McFadden said. 

In July 2018, when her son came home from Tucson for the summer, McFadden knew something had shifted.

"We were sitting on the sofa and he said to me, ‘Mom, I'm gonna die young,’" she recalled. 

"And I said, ‘Derek, why do you say that?’ And he said, ‘Because my mind and body can't take the sleep deprivation.’"

Her son had also expressed that he didn’t want to have children because he didn't want to pass on the disorder, McFadden said.

"He saw there was no cure, no future, and he just didn't see a point in going on," she said. "Physically, he was starting to fall apart, and mentally, his cognitive ability was going."

Four weeks later, McFadden got an early-morning call from the Tucson Police Department notifying her that her son had taken his life.

After the tragedy, McFadden realized that her son had likely been planning his suicide in recent weeks.

FOR QUALITY SLEEP, TIMING IS EVERYTHING, EXPERTS SAY: HERE’S THE SECRET OF SUCCESSFUL SLUMBER

"He had contacted some old friends, and in his text messages and phone calls, he sounded very serene, relieved and calm," she recalled. "I truly believe Derek had made the decision. He just saw no future for himself."

Studies have suggested a likely connection between sleep and suicide.

Research published in the journal Current Psychiatry Reports found that treating insomnia and nightmares, or addressing the source of those issues, could help prevent "the rising threat of suicide."

Dr. Brett Osborn, a Florida neurologist and longevity expert with the firm Senolytix, said there is a "significant body of research" suggesting a link between sleep deprivation and an increased risk of suicide. 

"Sleep is crucial for emotional and psychological balance," he told Fox News Digital in an interview.

"Lack of sleep can lead to mood disturbances, irritability and decreased stress tolerance, all of which can worsen feelings of despair or depression — potentially leading to suicidal thoughts."

Sleep deprivation can also affect cognitive functions, the doctor continued. 

"This impairment can make it harder for individuals to see alternative solutions to problems or seek help, potentially increasing the risk of suicidal behavior," he said.

LACK OF SLEEP COULD BE A FACTOR IN A ‘SILENT EPIDEMIC,' EXPERTS WARN

Sleep problems are also commonly associated with psychiatric disorders, such as depression and anxiety, which are themselves significant risk factors for suicide, according to Osborn.

"Insomnia and disrupted sleep patterns are particularly prevalent in these conditions," he warned. "This can be a source of diagnostic confusion and resultant treatment errors."

Sleep also affects various biological processes, Osborn noted — "including the regulation of neurotransmitters like serotonin (which is involved in mood regulation) and stress hormones like cortisol."

"Chronic sleep deprivation may lead to dysregulation in these systems, which could contribute to depressive symptoms and suicidal ideation."

While the majority of insomnia patients respond to lifestyle changes and/or medications, Osborn noted, there is a subset of patients who are "more difficult to manage."

"Often, there are underlying medical problems, like reflux, that fly under the radar and predispose the individual to insomnia," he told Fox News Digital. 

"Another issue is the potentially reciprocal relationship between depression and anxiety," Osborn said.

"Sleep pathology is extremely complex and challenging, because sleep itself is poorly understood," he continued. "A multimodal, interdisciplinary approach — involving a psychiatrist and a sleep specialist — is always best."

SURPRISING SLEEP TRENDS REVEALED IN NEW SURVEY, INCLUDING THE RISE OF ‘SCANDINAVIAN SLEEPING'

Dr. Marc Siegel, clinical professor of medicine at NYU Langone Medical Center and a Fox News medical contributor, agreed that there is a proven link between insomnia, stress, anxiety and depression.

"Since suicide is a manifestation of severe depression, I think there is a link there, too, though insomnia wouldn't be the entire cause," he told Fox News Digital.

Siegel refers to it as a "cycle of worry."

"Anxiety interferes with sleep, which then makes you more anxious and more sleepless, especially if you add caffeine to combat the grogginess," he said.

During sleep, the brain relaxes and "cleanses" itself, Siegel said.

CLICK HERE TO SIGN UP FOR OUR HEALTH NEWSLETTER

"Waking up refreshed can improve mood, especially when accompanied by exercise," he noted. 

For those with severe insomnia, Siegel recommends undergoing a full sleep study/evaluation — typically with an EEG or video monitoring — to help determine the causes.

"Severe, resistant cases require evaluations by sleep specialists, neurologists and psychiatrists," he added.

The most "disheartening" part of her son’s tragedy, according to McFadden, was a lack of support from the health community, in her view.

"Other than sleep apnea and bad sleep hygiene, the medical community does not seem to believe that severe insomnia really exists," she told Fox News Digital. 

"And that just infuriates me."

Today, McFadden’s goal is to raise awareness of chronic insomnia — "because there are so many people in this world who are suffering from this."

For more Health articles, visit www.foxnews.com/health.

from Health News Today on Fox News https://ift.tt/vCZDt4P

Read More

To keep your teeth white, bright and healthy, follow these 7 tips from dental experts

Dental hygiene is important — as is taking pride in your "pearly whites."

But keeping your teeth bright and white can be a challenge, with various factors causing discoloration.

Dr. Ronald Santana, head of science and development at Oral Biolife in Pennsylvania, noted that tooth discoloration refers to the "staining or darkening of teeth" from internal or external factors.

TIKTOK VIDEO FROM LONDON DENTIST GOES VIRAL FOR REVEALING 3 SURPRISING TIMES YOU SHOULD NOT BRUSH YOUR TEETH

"Extrinsic discoloration is caused by color changes of the tooth enamel by external factors such as smoking, foods or beverages, including coffee, tea and red wine," he said in a statement to Fox News Digital.

"Intrinsic discoloration affects the tooth dentin and is caused by some medications taken during childhood (tetracyclines), dental trauma and certain diseases (liver disease)."

Dr. Erin Fraundorf, owner of BOCA Orthodontic and Whitening Studio in Ladue, Missouri, agreed that numerous factors can cause the discoloring of teeth.

While there is "no way to know the cause without being evaluated and diagnosed by a professional," the expert said that diet, smoking, medications, trauma, genetics, thin enamel and the wearing down of teeth via grinding and chewing can all lead to discoloration.

IS MOUTH BREATHING BAD FOR YOUR TEETH? DENTAL PROFESSIONALS SHARE RISKS AND REMEDIES

"A good general rule of thumb is that if it can stain a white T-shirt, it can stain your teeth," she told Fox News Digital.

Santana and Fraundorf offered seven tips on how to get your teeth whiter and brighter.

Fraundorf recommended brushing at least twice a day with an electric toothbrush and using toothpaste with fluoride or nano-hydroxyapatite (nHA).

"Avoid using charcoal or other abrasive toothpastes, as they damage enamel over time, making teeth darker," she said.

THESE ARE THE WORST DENTAL MISTAKES YOU CAN MAKE FOR YOUR TEETH

"Transform mundane oral care into a self-care ritual to make it an experience," she added.

While some people might feel inclined to try at-home teeth-whitening remedies, Santana stressed that "care should be exercised in selecting a safe and effective at-home approach for tooth whitening."

"Avoid trying at-home approaches before seeing a dentist, because some substances may damage the tooth enamel," he warned.

"Adequate" toothbrushing is an "effective" way to reduce the discoloration of your teeth, according to Santana.

PRACTICE GOOD ORAL HYGIENE TO PROTECT YOURSELF AGAINST PERIODONTITIS

"Tooth brushing with a correct brushing technique, employing a whitening dentifrice and using an electric toothbrush are effective resources to reduce tooth discoloration."

Fraundorf added that flossing with toothpaste, using a water flosser to remove plaque and using a tongue scraper daily to decrease bacteria can also promote whiter teeth.

Water is "the best thing you can drink to keep your teeth healthy and white," according to Fraundorf.

"Next time you have that cup of coffee or glass of red wine, take a swig of water in between sips and briefly swish around," she advised. 

"Water will not only prevent the staining particles from clinging onto your teeth, it will also help neutralize the acidity of the beverage."

Fraundorf also recommended choosing flat water rather than sparkling.

"Drink and swish with it frequently to neutralize your oral environment and fight stains," she suggested.

Studies suggest that cavities are "significantly lower" in patients who chew sugar-free gum for 20 minutes after a meal, Fraundorf noted.

DENTISTS REVEAL WHY YOU SHOULDN'T BRUSH YOUR TEETH IN THE SHOWER

"Chewing sugar-free gum increases salivary flow by stimulating mechanical and taste receptors in the mouth," she told Fox News Digital. 

"Saliva helps wash away food particles as well as dilute and neutralize acids produced by plaque bacteria on teeth, leading to a reduction in cavities and stains."

Using a straw, especially when drinking dark, acidic or sugary beverages, can help decrease the contact these substances make with your teeth.

"For extra credit, try drinking beverages more quickly to reduce the amount of time your oral environment is exposed to a lower pH, therefore decreasing the amount of enamel damage," Fraundorf said.

Certain foods and drinks — such as red wine, soda, soy sauce, curry, balsamic vinegar and coffee — may stain your teeth and should be avoided, Santana said.

ASK A DOC: 'WHY DO MY GUMS BLEED AFTER I BRUSH MY TEETH, AND WHAT SHOULD I DO ABOUT IT?'

"Moreover, although the scientific evidence is limited, consumption of a balanced, healthy diet — containing strawberries, grapes, apples, watermelon, papaya, pineapple, cheese, celery, carrots, broccoli and almonds — may limit tooth staining," he noted.

Fraundorf agreed that "superfoods may be one of the best (and tastiest) ways to whiten your teeth naturally."

"Strawberries, apples and watermelon all contain a lot of malic acid, which helps whiten your smile by removing surface stains and increasing saliva," she said.

Other superfoods that can help whiten teeth include celery and leafy greens, since their "fibrous textures act like a natural toothbrush, exfoliating plaque off your teeth," Fraundorf added.

CLICK HERE TO SIGN UP FOR OUR HEALTH NEWSLETTER

"Dark, leafy greens also contain calcium, counteracting the effects of acids, and an abundance of folic acid, which is essential to gum tissue cell growth."

"Maintaining excellent oral health is the most important thing you can do to achieve a bright smile," Fraundorf told Fox News Digital.

"Set a calendar reminder to get regular check-ups and cleanings with your general dentist."

Santana added, "Your dentist can prescribe safe and customized resources for tooth whitening tailored to your specific needs."

Although being diligent about oral care can help keep teeth bright, Fraundorf suggested that professional teeth whitening could be necessary to "take your smile to the next level." 

"Whitening treatments are not one-size-fits-all, so it is important to seek customized care," she said. 

"The most ideal whitening treatment is one specific to you, crafted based on your unique smile goals, teeth composition, diet, sensitivity level and lifestyle."

She added, "A multitude of factors go into a proper diagnosis and customized treatment plan for teeth whitening to ensure the best, most comfortable, beautiful results."

Artificial tooth structures, like crowns, veneers and composites, won’t whiten, according to the expert — which means whitening these teeth will require extra restorative work.

For more Health articles, visit www.foxnews.com/health. 

from Health News Today on Fox News https://ift.tt/K0xqVHE

Read More

Some patients who see female doctors could live longer, study suggests: ‘Higher empathy’

Patients who are treated by a female physician could live longer and have a reduced risk of hospitalization, new research has found.

These benefits were seen more in female patients compared to males, according to the study, which was published in the peer-reviewed journal Annals of Internal Medicine.

"Among older adults hospitalized for a medical condition, mortality and readmission rates were lower for patients treated by female physicians than those cared for by male physicians — and the benefit of receiving treatment from female physicians was greater for female patients than for male patients," lead study author Dr. Yusuke Tsugawa, associate professor-in-residence of medicine in the division of general internal medicine at the David Geffen School of Medicine at UCLA, told Fox News Digital.

PREGNANCY SPEEDS UP AGING PROCESS FOR YOUNG WOMEN, SAYS STUDY: ‘REMARKABLE FINDING’

The study included 700,000 Medicare beneficiaries 65 years of age and older who had been hospitalized between 2016 and 2019. 

The mortality rate was 8.15% for female patients treated by female physicians — compared to 8.38% for those treated by male physicians, according to a press release from UCLA Health.

Dr. Shana Johnson, a physical medicine and rehabilitation physician in Scottsdale, Arizona, who was not involved in the research, noted that the findings are "clinically significant," as the difference translates to an additional 1,053 female patient deaths.

Male patients also had lower mortality rates when treated by female physicians, but the difference was smaller.

Dr. Marc Siegel, clinical professor of medicine at NYU Langone Medical Center and a Fox News medical contributor, was not involved in the study but called the findings "fascinating."

"Women tend to have a higher empathy quotient, which can impact patient care and diagnosis and treatment directly," he told Fox News Digital. 

"There has been a patriarchy in medicine for a long time, and there still may be some residual discounting of women's health issues or [doctors] seeing them as emotionally based," Siegel added.

ASK A DOC: ‘HOW CAN I GET RID OF A COLD SORE AS QUICKLY AS POSSIBLE?’

There is a "growing awareness" that doctors are more sensitive to health issues when they can relate directly to their patients, the doctor noted.

"This applies to screening, diagnosis and treatment," he said. 

The findings were not surprising to the researchers, they said.

"Previous studies have shown that female patients treated by a female physician (versus female patients treated by a male physician) are less likely to experience underappreciation in symptom/illness severity assessment and communication challenges," study co-author Atsushi Miyawaki, M.D., PhD, senior assistant professor in the Department of Health Services Research at the University of Tokyo, told Fox News Digital.

"Also, female physicians may help alleviate embarrassment, discomfort and sociocultural taboos during sensitive examinations and conversations [with] female patients," he said.

Other research has shown that female physicians are more likely to "adhere to clinical guidelines" and spend more time listening to patients compared to their male counterparts, which are "indicators of high-quality care," added Tsugawa.

Johnson agreed, pointing out that prior studies have found male physicians may underestimate pain, gastrointestinal symptoms and heart symptoms when experienced by women. 

"For instance, if a male and a female presented to the emergency room with upper stomach pain, the male would be checked for a heart attack and given medication for an upset stomach," she told Fox News Digital.

"The woman, however, may only be given medication for an upset stomach."

The study had some limitations, the researchers acknowledged.

"Due to limited clinical information available in our data, we could not identify the specific mechanisms underlying better outcomes for female patients treated by female physicians," Tsugawa told Fox News Digital.

Miyawaki also noted that the study focused on older patients admitted to hospitals for medical conditions.

"Hence, our findings may not be generalizable to younger patients, commercially insured patients, those treated by other specialists or patients receiving care in an outpatient setting," he told Fox News Digital.

More research is needed to better understand the differences between female and male physicians, Tsugawa said. 

"Those include guideline concordance and communication style, which lead to better patient outcomes for female physicians."

CLICK HERE TO SIGN UP FOR OUR HEALTH NEWSLETTER

Johnson also noted that while the study is of "good quality," there are "inherent limitations to the study design."

She said, "With a retrospective review, unmeasured factors can affect and skew the results. The findings do align with other research in the area, however."

At the society level, Miyawaki said, the research suggests that increasing the number of female physicians could benefit women’s health.

"At the individual level, patient-physician interactions, rather than physician gender itself, are important for patient outcomes, our study suggests," he said. 

"Thus, individuals may focus on the importance of the doctor-patient relationship rather than on whether to choose a female doctor."

Tsugawa agreed, noting, "It is important to consider multiple factors about physicians, such as their clinical experience and training, your prior experiences with them, and their communication style, rather than focusing solely on the physician's sex."

For more Health articles, visit www.foxnews.com/health.

from Health News Today on Fox News https://ift.tt/ohKlPYS

Read More

A military vet's Parkinson's battle, plus AI's role in cancer care and a mother's fight

‘A NEW KIND OF SERVICE’ – After 17 years in the military, a Minnesota man received a shocking diagnosis – and is now committed to helping others with the same disease. Continue reading…

PERFECT MATCH – A young girl with acute leukemia is now in cancer remission thanks to her sister’s lifesaving bone marrow donation. Here's the heartwarming story. Continue reading…

CANCER PREDICTIONS – Can artificial intelligence predict whether cancer treatments will work? Researchers say the early results are promising. Continue reading…

AGE ACCELERATORS – These 8 bad habits could speed up the aging process, according to experts. Continue reading…

WATER HAZARD – The risk of having potentially harmful chemicals in your drinking water may depend on your zip code, a study found. Get the details here. Continue reading…

GOT MILK? – Toddler milk is "potentially harmful" and could "undermine breastfeeding and child health," according to children's health officials. Here's what doctors have to say. Continue reading…

THE SLEEP-STRESS CONNECTION – Most Americans need more sleep and less stress, a new study finds. Doctors explain why. Continue reading…

HEAT HAZARD – Many regions across the U.S. experienced "record-breaking high temperatures" in 2023 due to extreme heat, according to the CDC. Here's what health officials want you to know. Continue reading…

A MOTHER'S FIGHT – A Utah mother is fighting for her teenage daughter’s access to diabetes medicine. Alison Smart shares her mission with Fox News Digital. Continue reading…

Facebook

Instagram

YouTube

Twitter

LinkedIn

Fox News First

Fox News Opinion

Fox News Lifestyle

Fox News Health

Fox News Autos

Fox News Entertainment (FOX411)

Fox Business

Fox Weather

Fox Sports

Tubi

Fox News Go

Fox Nation

from Health News Today on Fox News https://ift.tt/1AX4DNm

Read More

Bird flu virus found in grocery store milk, but no risk to customers, FDA says

Samples of pasteurized milk on grocery store shelves have tested positive for remnants of the bird flu virus that has already infected herds of dairy cows, the U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) said Tuesday.

The FDA stressed that the material is inactivated and that the findings "do not represent [an] actual virus that may be a risk to consumers." Officials added that they're continuing to study the issue.

Bird flu virus, known as Highly Pathogenic Avian Influenza (HPAI) or H5N1, is a disease that is highly contagious and often deadly in poultry. 

Infection with the virus causes decreased lactation, low appetite and other symptoms in affected cattle, the FDA says.

CDC ISSUES BIRD FLU HEALTH ALERT TO CLINICIANS, STATE HEALTH DEPARTMENTS, PUBLIC AFTER TEXAS FARMER INFECTED

The FDA and U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA) said that commercial milk supply is safe because of the pasteurization process.

The pasteurization process involves killing harmful bacteria and viruses by heating milk to a specific temperature for a set period of time to make milk safer. Federal regulations require milk that enters interstate commerce to be pasteurized.

"The pasteurization process has served public health well for more than 100 years," the FDA said. "Even if [the] virus is detected in raw milk, pasteurization is generally expected to eliminate pathogens to a level that does not pose a risk to consumer health."

"To date, we have seen nothing that would change our assessment that the commercial milk supply is safe."

Pasteurization is different from complete sterilization, which extends shelf life but is not required to ensure milk safety, the agency said. 

Officials with the FDA and the USDA had previously said milk from affected cattle did not enter the commercial supply. Milk from sick animals is supposed to be diverted and destroyed. 

FDA officials did not indicate how many samples they tested or where they were obtained. The agency has been evaluating milk during processing and from grocery stores, officials said. Results of additional tests are expected in "the next few days to weeks."

The PCR lab test the FDA used would have detected viral genetic material even after a live virus was killed by pasteurization or heat treatment, Lee-Ann Jaykus, an emeritus food microbiologist and virologist at North Carolina State University told the Associated Press. 

AVIAN INFLUENZA: SYMPTOMS OF THE DISEASE AND HOW IT AFFECTS BIRDS AND HUMANS

"There is no evidence to date that this is [an] infectious virus and the FDA is following up on that," Jaykus said.

Scientists confirmed the H5N1 virus in dairy cows in March after weeks of reports that cows in Texas were suffering from a mysterious malady. 

The FDA says HPAI has now been confirmed in domestic livestock in 33 herds across eight states: Idaho, New Mexico, Texas, South Dakota, Kansas, Michigan, Ohio, and North Carolina.

While the virus is lethal to commercial poultry, most infected cattle seem to recover within two weeks, experts say.

The National Milk Producers Federation (NMPF) echoed the FDA’s assertions that pasteurization is effective against HPAI and that commercial milk supply is safe.

"Viral fragments detected after pasteurization are nothing more than evidence that the virus is dead; they have zero impact on human health," the NMPF said in a statement. 

"Further, the federal PMO prohibits milk from sick cows from entering the food supply chain. Milk and milk products produced and processed in the United States are among the safest in the world."

The news comes after a goat in Minnesota tested positive HPAI in February, which marked the first U.S. case of bird flu in domestic cattle, sheep, goats or their relatives.

The positive juvenile goat was residing on a Stevens County farm that already had bird flu infected poultry, according to the Minnesota Board of Animal Health. 

To date, two people in the U.S. have been infected with bird flu. A Texas dairy worker who was in close contact with an infected cow earlier this year developed "eye redness" and has recovered, according to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC).

In 2022, a prison inmate in a work program caught it while killing infected birds at a Colorado poultry farm. His only symptom was fatigue and he also recovered.

The Associated Press contributed to this report. 

from Health News Today on Fox News https://ift.tt/YRuSn2w

Read More