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Category: Health

‘Laughing Gas’ May Help Tough-to-Treat Depression

by rachelmeadows
June 14, 2021
0

By Alan Mozes HealthDay ReporterTHURSDAY, June 10, 2021 (HealthDay News) -- When antidepressants fail to rein in hard-to-treat depression, the common anesthetic most know as "laughing gas" might be a safe and effective alternative, new research suggests.The finding follows work with 28 patients struggling with "treatment-resistant major depression," a severe condition that investigators say affects about one-third of all patients — an estimated 17 million American adults — who develop major depressive disorder. For such patients, antidepressants often fail to provide relief. But following three one-hour laughing gas inhalation sessions spread across three months,...

U.S. Not On Pace To Meet Biden’s Vaccination Goal : NPR

by rachelmeadows
June 14, 2021
0

NPR's Michel Martin talks with William Hanage of Harvard's T. H. Chan School of Public Health about President Biden's goal of reaching 70% vaccination by July 4. U.S. Not On Pace To Meet Biden's Vaccination Goal MICHEL MARTIN, HOST: We'd like to turn now to President Biden's handling of the pandemic here in the U.S. and the goal he set last month of having 70% of Americans vaccinated against COVID-19 by the Fourth of July. And by that, he means either fully vaccinated or having received at least one dose. While some states are...

Outbreak of Poisonous Browntail Moth Caterpillars Plagues Maine

by rachelmeadows
June 14, 2021
0

While parts of the country deal with swarms of cicadas this summer, Maine is struggling with an infestation of an invasive species of caterpillar with poisonous hairs that can cause people to develop painful rashes and even breathing problems.The caterpillars, known as browntail moths, are about 1.5 inches long and have white dashes down their sides and two red dots on their backs.Browntail moths are most common along Maine’s coast and on Cape Cod, but they’ve been spotted this year in all of Maine’s 16 counties, said Jim Britt, a spokesman for the Maine...

Tips to Help You Get Through the Day

by rachelmeadows
June 13, 2021
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The day-to-day demands of work can pose many challenges when you have arthritis. That’s true whether you work at a desk job or a job that requires lifting and bending. Fortunately, a few simple principles can help most people get through the day without undue pain. Ergonomically designed chairs, desks, and specific equipment can also help take the strain off painful joints. Here are eight tips from arthritis experts.1. Take Breaks From Repetitive MotionsWhether you work at a computer or on a construction site, chances are your job requires some repetitive motions. “Repetitive movements...

3 Experts Quit An FDA Panel Over Alzheimer’s Drug Approval : NPR

by rachelmeadows
June 13, 2021
0

Dr. Aaron Kesselheim (left), a professor at Harvard Medical School, at a documentary film screening in 2018 in Boston. He has resigned from a Food and Drug Administration advisory panel over the FDA's decision to approve an Alzheimer's drug. Scott Eisen/AP Images for AIDS Healthcare Foundation hide caption toggle caption Scott Eisen/AP Images for AIDS Healthcare Foundation Dr. Aaron Kesselheim (left), a professor at Harvard Medical School, at a documentary film screening in 2018 in Boston. He has resigned from a Food and Drug Administration advisory panel over the FDA's decision to approve an...

The Big Number: HIV infections have dropped by 73 percent in the past 40 years

by rachelmeadows
June 13, 2021
0

HIV infections have declined by 73 percent nationwide since peaking in the mid-1980s, according to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. New infections numbered 20,000 in 1981, reaching 130,400 in 1984 before declining to 34,800 by 2019, the CDC reported recently. HIV — the human immunodeficiency virus — attacks cells that the body needs to fight infection. If untreated, an HIV infection can lead to AIDS (acquired immunodeficiency syndrome). In the 40 years since the onset of the AIDS epidemic, 2.2 million people 13 and older in the United States have developed an...

Expiration Dates on J&J COVID Vaccine Extended

by rachelmeadows
June 12, 2021
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FRIDAY, June 11, 2021 (HealthDay News) -- U.S. regulators have extended the expiration date on millions of Johnson & Johnson coronavirus vaccine doses by six weeks, the company announced Thursday. A U.S. Food and Drug Administration review concluded the shots remain safe and effective for at least 4 1/2 months, J&J said in a statement. In February, the FDA first authorized the vaccine for up to three months when stored at normal refrigeration temperatures. State officials had warned earlier this week that many J&J doses in storage would expire before the end of...

Why Vaccination Has Stayed Low And Case Counts High In This Colorado County : NPR

by rachelmeadows
June 12, 2021
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Mesa County, Colo., still has low vaccination rates and case counts high enough to keep its hospital full. Even those who have worked in the medical field are refusing the vaccine. AILSA CHANG, HOST: More than half of Americans are now fully vaccinated against COVID-19. But across the country, there are pockets where rates are much lower and hospitalizations are high. That includes the most populous county in western Colorado. Colorado Public Radio's Stina Sieg reports. STINA SIEG, BYLINE: In the red-rock, high desert of Mesa County, health care workers are exhausted. THOMAS TOBIN:...

Plan, Be Flexible, Travel Safe

by rachelmeadows
June 12, 2021
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Highlights: Be smart. Only travel lif it makes sense for your situation.  Domestic may be safer than international.  Driving may be safer than flying.  Get fully vaccinated. June 11, 2021 -- In normal times, summer travel is all about unwinding, spending time outdoors, and putting most cares aside, at least temporarily. Through the lens of the COVID-19 pandemic, however, carefree summer travel looks more challenging. Consider the safest way to get to your destination, what health precautions remain necessary, and what the COVID-19 case numbers look like at...

New Controversial Alzheimer’s Drug Provides Hope, Says Patient : NPR

by rachelmeadows
June 12, 2021
0

Many scientists have criticized the FDA for approving Aduhelm, a costly Alzheimer's drug that may not do much to slow the disease. But a patient taking the drug says it has given him hope. MARY LOUISE KELLY, HOST: People with Alzheimer's disease will soon have access to a newly approved drug that may alter the course of the disease. It's still unclear whether the drug will help preserve a person's memory and thinking. But as NPR's Jon Hamilton reports, it is already providing a benefit that's harder to measure - hope. JON HAMILTON, BYLINE:...