Non-Opioids Can Ease Post-Dental Surgery Pain Better Than Opioids, Study Shows

Over-the-counter (OTC) drugs acetaminophen and ibuprofen are better at managing dental pain than opioids.

People who had their wisdom teeth removed got better results from an acetaminophen/ibuprofen combo than with a hydrocodone prescription, researchers reported on Jan. 4 in the Journal of the American Dental Association.

T...

Can Exercise Ease Knee Pain? Here's What the Research Shows

Movement is medicine, or so they tell people with knee osteoarthritis -- but are they right?

A recent evidence review calls into question just how helpful exercise can be for easing the pain of knee arthritis.

“Exercise probably results in an improvement in pain, physical function, and quality of life in the short‐term,&r...

Sauna Misuse May Lead to Heat Stroke, Data Suggests

Basking in a sauna can be a nice way to relieve stress or relax muscles following a workout.

But soaking too long can increase a person’s risk of heat stroke, particularly if they aren’t well-hydrated, doctors warn.

Most cases of heat stroke occur on hot days, due to overexertion, researchers say.

However, “sa...

Can AI Help Make IVF More Successful?

AI might be able to boost the success rates of in vitro fertilization among hopeful families.

An AI program can help doctors analyze ultrasound scans to determine the best timing for a hormone injection associated with egg collection, researchers write in a new study published Jan. 8 in the journal Nature Communications.

Get...

The Public Policies That Really Help Prevent Suicide

Some of the most effective public policies for suicide prevention aren’t crafted with suicide or mental health in mind, a new study says.

Efforts to increase the minimum wage, prohibit gender discrimination, or reduce alcohol consumption “have spillover benefits in that they also prevent suicides,” lead researcher Jonatha...

Let's Address Tomorrow's Antivax Arguments Today: Pediatrics Expert

Public health officials must prepare to counter ongoing anti-vaccine sentiment in coming years, argues a leading pediatrician-scientist.

“Antivaccine activism became a major lethal force in America” during the COVID-19 pandemic, resulting in an estimated 200,000 deaths among the unvaccinated, according to an article in the jour...

Airport and Aircraft Noise Can Hurt Your Heart

Folks who live near airports are used to the regular roar of jet airliners taking off and landing.

But they likely don’t know that all this ruckus could be harming their heart health, a new study says.

People exposed to high aircraft noise levels could be at greater risk of poor heart function, increasing their risk of heart at...

Sugary Drinks Are To Blame for Millions of Diabetes, Heart Disease Cases Worldwide

Sugar-sweetened drink consumption accounts for more than 2 million new cases of type 2 diabetes, and 1.2 million new cases of heart disease worldwide annually.

According to new research published Jan. 6 in the journal Nature Medicine, people all over the world are impacted by this growing problem. Colombia, Mexico, and South Afric...

Can the Mediterranean Diet Boost Your Memory?

The Mediterranean diet is renown for its ability to improve heart health and help folks lose weight.

Now a new rat study says this eating pattern also might provide folks a boost in brain power.

Lab rats fed a Mediterranean diet developed changes in gut bacteria that researchers linked to better memory and improved cognitive performa...

Morning Coffee Linked to Longer Life, Heart Health Benefits

For many, coffee is a beloved morning ritual, fueling the day ahead. But what if the time you drink it could influence how long -- and how well -- you live?

New research published Jan. 8 in the European Heart Journal suggests that when you enjoy your cup of Joe might be just as important as how much you drink.

The study show...

Diabetes Prevention Program Saves People Money, Study Shows

Preventing diabetes can be as good for a person’s wallet as it is for their health, a new study says.

People participating in a diabetes prevention program saved more than $5,000 in direct medical costs over two years, researchers reported recently in the journal Diabetes Care.

These prediabetic folks saved money by no...

Despite Previous Data, Paxlovid May Be Useful for Long Covid After All

The antiviral pill Paxlovid might help some patients who are suffering from long COVID.

A five-day course of Paxlovid is known to help limit symptoms and shorten illness in patients during an initial bout of COVID-19, researchers said in a study published Jan. 6 in the journal Nature Communications Medicine..

However, eviden...

Some GLP-1s Achieve More Weight Loss Than Others: Study

Three GLP-1 drugs are best at helping obese and overweight people drop weight, including one that hasn’t yet been approved for that purpose.

A new evidence review published in the Annals of Internal Medicine shows that the widely-known drugs tirzepatide (Zepbound) and semaglutide (Wegovy) are both safe and effective at helpi...

More Evidence Bolsters the Oral Herpes and Alzheimer’s Link

That cold sore on your lip might be painful and unsightly, but it could also be a harbinger of debilitating brain aging.

The oral herpes virus appears to be linked with Alzheimer’s disease, suggesting that the common infection might play a role in the disease, a new study published in the journal Cell Reports says.

Her...

Health Advocates Are Unhappy with FDA Guidance on Lead Levels in Baby Food

The U.S. Food and Drug Association (FDA) released the first-ever guidelines for levels of lead in processed baby foods this week. However, many health and safety advocates say they are not satisfied with the guidance.

Under the FDA's new guidelines, baby food manufacturers should have no more than 10 parts per billion of lead in baby yogur...

FDA Calls for Better Accuracy of Pulse Oximeters in People of Color

Pulse oximeters -- those tiny devices that measure blood oxygen levels with a quick clip to your finger -- may soon get a major upgrade to ensure they work just as well for people of all skin tones.

The U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) released draft guidelines on Jan. 6 proposing that manufacturers conduct larger, more inclusive st...

Fluoride May Be Linked to Decreased IQ, Says "Limited Data," Hard-to-Interpret Study

Fluoride exposure appears to slightly decrease IQ scores in children, a new federal meta-analysis has concluded -- but not at the low levels recommended for U.S. drinking water.

Fluoride in drinking water was associated with reduced IQ scores at levels of less than 4 milligrams per liter, but not at less than 1.5 mg/L, according to the ana...

First U.S. Death From Bird Flu Reported in Louisiana

A Louisiana resident has died after being hospitalized with bird flu in December of last year, marking the first known U.S. death from the virus.

The patient who, "was over the age of 65 and was reported to have underlying medical conditions," state health officials announced in a statement, tested positive for the virus and developed seve...

Blood Test May Help Predict How Long Immunity Lasts

It’s long been a mystery why folks need a flu vaccine every year, even though immunizations they got in childhood continue to protect them from measles and mumps.

Researchers now think they know why vaccine effectiveness varies -- and they’ve even come up with a blood test to check a vaccine’s durability.

“Our...

DoxyPEP Lowers Rate of Sexually Transmitted Infections (STIs), Data Suggests

Worried about the risky sex you had last night?

Using a common antibiotic following sex can dramatically reduce a person’s risk of some sexually transmitted infections (STIs), a new study says.

Taking doxycycline within 72 hours after sex reduced risk of chlamydia by 79%, syphilis by 80%, and gonorrhea by 12%, results published...