FDA Authorizes First Wearable To Track Both Ketones And Blood Sugar

People with diabetes can now get an early warning when a dangerous complication starts to build in their bodies.

The U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) on Tuesday authorized the first wearable sensor that continuously tracks ketones — chemicals the body makes when it burns fat instead of sugar for fuel. 

It is also th...

Inhaler Overuse Linked To Heart Risks In Asthma And COPD Patients

For people with asthma or COPD, reaching for a rescue inhaler too often may be a warning sign — not just for their lungs, but for their heart.

It's estimated nearly 1 in 5 asthma patients and 1 in 3 COPD patients overuse these products.

Researchers analyzed real-world health data from more than 280,000 asthma and COPD patients ...

Your Parents' Age Might Improve Your Health Outlook, Study Says

People whose parents have reached age 100 can expect to reap some health benefits from their folks’ longevity, a new study says.

They tend to live longer and have substantially lower risks of heart disease and high blood pressure, researchers reported Aug. 26 in JAMA Network Open.

“This study provides strong evid...

A Doctor's Take: Cyclospora or Salmonella? The Key Differences and How to Protect Yourself

Recent outbreaks of foodborne illness, like the cyclosporiasis cases that have led to hundreds of illnesses, two deaths and produce recalls in several states, remind us that food safety is an ongoing concern. 

Pathogens like Cyclospora and Salmonella each bring their own risks. Knowing how they differ can help you ma...

Hormone Therapy Might Lower Dementia Risk Among Women

Hormone therapy might reduce the risk of dementia in women after menopause, a new study says.

Women who received hormone therapy had a 16% lower risk of developing Alzheimer’s disease, researchers reported Aug. 26 in the journal Alzheimer’s & Dementia.

The benefits were greatest for women who’d undergon...

Sticking To BP Meds Lowers Heart Risk, Study Finds

Folks who think missing a dose of blood pressure medication here or there won’t harm their health should probably think again, a new study says.

Regularly missing doses not only blunts the effectiveness of blood pressure drugs, but also increases risk of stroke or heart attack, researchers will report this weekend at the European Soc...

A Third Of Women In Their 20s Haven't Gotten This Essential Cancer Screening

Nearly a third of women in their 20s have never been screened for cervical cancer, increasing their risk of disease and death, a new study says.

Women are urged to start cervical cancer screening at either 21 or 25, based on competing guidelines by the American College of Obstetrics & Gynecology and the American Cancer Society.

B...

FDA Approves First Pill To Extend Survival In Advanced Pancreatic Cancer

The U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) has approved the first drug shown to substantially extend the lives of people with advanced pancreatic cancer, nearly doubling survival time in a key clinical trial.

The pill, Rasonque (daraxonrasib), was cleared Wednesday for adults whose pancreatic cancer has spread and who have already had at ...

Thyroid Tablets Recalled Nationwide Due To Potential Over-Potency Risk

More than 3,600 bottles of a common thyroid medication are being recalled nationwide because lab testing showed the pills could be too strong.

Vitruvias Therapeutics, based in Auburn, Alabama, initiated the voluntary recall for a single batch of Thyroid Tablets, USP 30 mg. 

The medication helps to restore normal hormone levels a...

Heat Waves Linked To Dozens Of Health Problems, Emergencies

Health problems caused by heat waves extend far beyond simple dehydration or heatstroke, a new study says.

As many as 33 diagnoses can be tied to extreme heat events, researchers reported recently in the journal Science Advances.

The medical problems include rashes, kidney failure, multiple sclerosis, mental disorders, insec...

Are Scented Cleaners Creating Indoor Air Pollution?

The citrus, pine or floral scent of a freshly cleaned room may come with something unexpected: invisible air pollution.

A new study warns fragrances in both conventional and botanical cleaning products can react with ozone in indoor air, forming nanoparticles that can travel deep into the lungs if inhaled.

In a model home, researcher...

Implant Improves Speech After Brain Injury

A brain implant might be able to improve speech and swallowing problems that can occur following a traumatic brain injury, a new study says.

The implant delivers low-frequency electrical stimulation to the motor thalamus, a deep brain region connected to the motor cortex, researchers said. 

In the small-scale study, this deep br...

This Brain Skill Doesn't Decline With Age, And Can Actually Improve Among Seniors

Age doesn’t seem to degrade a person’s language skills as it does other brain functions, a new study says.

Unless a senior is affected by stroke or dementia, they are likely to retain and might even improve their ability with language, researchers reported Aug. 24 in the journal Nature Communications.

In fact, sc...

Illegal Fentanyl Use Double That For Medical Purposes, With High Risk Of OD, Study Finds

Illegal use of the powerful synthetic opioid fentanyl is more than double its use for medical purposes in the United States, a new study has found.

More than 7 of 10 people whose urine tested positive for fentanyl had not been prescribed the drug, but were using it illicitly, researchers report in the September issue of the journal eCl...