Decongestants should not be given to children under 6—and given with caution in children under 12—as there is no evidence that they alleviate symptoms such as a blocked or runny nose, and their safety is unclear, say experts in The BMJ today. Instead, they advise doctors to reassure patients that a cold is distressing but […]
‘Silent’ high cholesterol more common than thought, warns leading global report
Improving the knowledge of a genetic condition which causes cholesterol levels to soar could lead to fewer people dying from heart disease. The findings come from the largest report to date on the global status of familial hypercholesterolaemia (FH), a hidden killer which can affect otherwise healthy individuals irrespective of their lifestyle. FH is an […]
FDA Issues Warning on Pet Reactions to Common Flea Medicine
FRIDAY, Sept. 21, 2018 — Flea medicines protect your pet, but some animals can have serious side effects from products containing isoxazoline, U.S. health officials warn. Although most dogs and cats handle this powerful pesticide just fine, others can have severe reactions, the U.S. Food and Drug Administration said Thursday. Isoxazoline products have been associated […]
AHA: Common Treatment for AFib May Also Lower Anxiety, Depression
TUESDAY, Sept. 18, 2018 (American Heart Association) — Levels of anxiety and depression seen in people who have a common heart rhythm disorder called atrial fibrillation may be affected by how the heart condition is treated, a new study suggests. Past studies have shown that anxiety, distress and depression are common among people with AFib. […]
Study to examine possible effects of cannabis compound for common movement disorder
Researchers at University of California School of Medicine are preparing to launch a novel clinical trial to examine the safety, efficacy and pharmacological properties of cannabis as a potential treatment for adults with essential tremor (ET). Currently, ET is treated using repurposed medications originally developed for high blood pressure or seizures. Surgery is another option. […]
Daily and weekly cycles of epileptic seizures more common than previously thought
The timing of seizures may be linked to natural rhythms in around 80% of people with epilepsy, according to the largest study of individual patients’ seizure cycles including more than 1,000 people, published in The Lancet Neurology journal. Most people’s seizures occurred in a circadian (ie, 24-hour) rhythm, but some people experienced weekly and 3-weekly […]
A potential new way to treat some of the most common blinding diseases
Many eye diseases, including diabetic retinopathy and macular degeneration, exhibit increased permeability of blood vessels in the macular (central) portion of the retina leading to abnormal fluid accumulation and vision loss. Therapies targeting a specific cytokine, vascular endothelial growth factor (VEGF), have transformed clinical care; however, not all patients respond well. A new report in […]
Common anti-smoking treatment makes no difference in shisha tobacco addiction
Researchers at the University of York has shown that a drug commonly used to help smokers overcome addiction to cigarettes does not have the same effect in shisha smokers. Smoking tobacco through a waterpipe, often referred to as shisha or hookah smoking, is becoming popular, particularly among young people, across the globe. It is often […]
Microvascular dysfunction—a common cause of heart failure with preserved pumping capacity
Microvascular dysfunction, or small vessel disease, can be an important cause of heart failure with preserved ejection fraction (preserved pumping capacity), according to an international team including researchers from Karolinska Institutet and AstraZeneca. Their study is published in The European Heart Journal. The results could play a crucial role in identifying people at risk for […]
New antibiotic found in common weed
Researchers in Switzerland made this suggestion after discovering a compound with a new type of antibiotic activity on the leaf of the thale cress, a common weed. Many of today’s antibiotics stem from natural compounds made by bacteria that live in soil. The bacteria produce them to defend against other microorganisms. But the new study […]