ALL ABOUT HEALTH -

07Mar 2023 by Janice Holland

FDA Finds Viagra and Cialis in Some Honey-Based Products

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It’s time to check your honey.The U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) found unlisted traces of tadalafil (Cialis) and sildenafil (Viagra) in multiple honey-based consumer products. The agency issued warnings to four companies for adding the prescription erectile dysfunction drugs to honey supplements intended for sexual enhancement. Selling products marketed as food with active drug ingredients is against federal law.“These undeclared ingredients may interact with nitrates found in some prescription drugs, such as nitroglycerin, and may lower blood pressure to dangerous levels,” said the FDA in a press release.People with heart disease, diabetes, high blood pressure, and high cholesterol often take nitrates to treat their conditions. The American College of Cardiology (ACC) and the American Heart Association (AHA) issued a joint statement advising that patients taking nitrates shouldn’t be given…

06Mar 2023 by Janice Holland

FDA Approves New Treatment for People With Plaque Psoriasis

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The U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) approved Zoryve (roflumilast) cream 0.3 percent for the treatment of plaque psoriasis, including intertriginous areas (where skin rubs against other skin) in people 12 years of age and older, according to a press release issued by Arcutis, the manufacturer of the drug. Once-daily Zoryve is the first and only approved topical phosphodiesterase-4 (PDE4) inhibitor, the first and only FDA-approved steroid-free cream in its class.PDE4 inhibitors suppress the immune system by reducing the action of an overactive enzyme (phosphodiesterase 4), thereby reducing inflammation.“It is always great to have another topical option to treat psoriasis, so this approval is exciting,” says Marisa Garshick, MD, a board-certified dermatologist at MDCS Dermatology in New York City. Zoryve will be a good choice for those patients who prefer…

06Mar 2023 by Janice Holland

Childhood Abuse Can Lead to Physical and Mental Problems Decades Later

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Childhood abuse can cast a long shadow. Young victims of physical abuse are twice as likely to experience depression and anxiety in later life, and are more likely to develop diabetes, cancer, migraines, arthritis, heart disease, and chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD), according to a study in the September 2022 issue of Aging and Health Research.This latest research contributes to an already well-established body of evidence, per the U.S. Children's Bureau, demonstrating that childhood maltreatment can lead to a multitude of long-term physical and behavioral consequences.“Sadly, our findings suggest that the traumatic experience of childhood physical abuse can influence both physical and mental health many decades later,” said the lead study author, Anna Buhrmann, a research assistant at the Institute of Life Course & Aging at the University of Toronto…

06Mar 2023 by Janice Holland

Banana Boat Sunscreen Recalled for Traces of a Carcinogen

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The parent company of Banana Boat issued a voluntary nationwide recall of a popular sunscreen on Friday, July 29. Traces of the carcinogen benzene were found in three lots of Banana Boat Hair & Scalp Sunscreen Spray SPF 30 during an internal audit, according to Edgewell Personal Care, which owns the Banana Boat brand.The company said that while benzene is not an ingredient in any of its products, the chemical was discovered in the propellant that sprays the product from the can.What Is Benzene?According to the CDC, the chemical benzene is found in oil, gasoline, and cigarette smoke, as well as naturally formed in forest fires and volcanoes. Long-term exposure to benzene in the air can cause cancer in humans, according to the agency.An independent health assessment says exposure to…

06Mar 2023 by Janice Holland

Hormone Replacement Therapy Not Linked to Breast Cancer Recurrence, Study Finds

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Breast cancer survivors often experience symptoms of declining estrogen levels, including hot flashes, night sweats, vaginal dryness, and urinary tract infections. While hormone replacement therapy (HRT) can be an effective treatment for these adverse effects, some types of HRT have been associated with a higher risk of breast cancer recurrence, according to BreastCancer.org.The American Cancer Society warns that higher estrogen levels may heighten the risk of breast cancer growth, and doctors may caution women with a history of breast cancer to not take types of systemic HRT that affect the entire body. HRT has also been linked to cardiovascular risks, such as heart disease, stroke, and blood clots.A study published this month in the Journal of the National Cancer Institute, however, found that menopausal hormone therapy for breast cancer survivors…

06Mar 2023 by Janice Holland

Study Shows When Violent Crime Rates Fall, Heart Disease Death Rates Drop, Too

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While people are often encouraged to get healthier, the social determinants of health — conditions in which individuals are born, grow, live, work and age that are shaped by factors of oppression and privilege — can make that challenging. These conditions have been shown to contribute to health disparities, according to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC).Now a new study, published on July 14 in the Journal of the American Heart Association, illustrates how exposure to violent crime can affect heart health.For the study, researchers looked at death rates for cardiovascular disease, stroke, and coronary artery disease in the 77 community areas of Chicago from 2000 to 2014, and compared them with violent crime rates in each area over the same period. During that 14-year period, researchers noticed a…

06Mar 2023 by Janice Holland

Oatly and Premier Protein Products Among 53 Nutritional and Beverage Products Recalled by Lyons Magnus

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Lyons Magnus, the maker of numerous nutritional and beverage products, has voluntarily recalled multiple types of food and beverage products because of potential Cronobacter sakazakii contamination. To date, no illness or complaints related to the products have been reported, according to the July 29 announcement from the U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA). The recall is being conducted in cooperation with the FDA.Cronobacter is a germ that can live in very dry places, and it has been found in dry foods, such as infant formula and powdered milk. The bacteria can cause severe bloodstream infections (sepsis) or meningitis, an inflammation of the membranes that protect the brain and spine, according to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC).Although Cronobacter infections are very rare, they can occur in anyone, and some…

06Mar 2023 by Janice Holland

People Who Eat Higher Amounts of Potassium and Calcium May Reduce Their Risk of Recurrent Kidney Stones

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People who eat a diet low in calcium and potassium may be more likely to develop first time and recurrent kidney stones, according to a new Mayo Clinic study. Lower dietary caffeine, phytate, and fluid intake were also associated with higher odds of incident symptomatic kidney stones, according to the results, published on August 1 in Mayo Clinic Proceedings."These dietary findings may have particular importance because recommendations for preventing kidney stones have been based primarily on dietary factors associated with first-time rather than recurrent stone formation," said senior author Andrew Rule, MD, a nephrologist at Mayo Clinic in Rochester, Minnesota in a release. "Patients may not be likely to adjust their diet to prevent an incidence of kidney stones, but they are more likely to do so if it can help…

06Mar 2023 by Janice Holland

Finding Time to Think Is More Enjoyable Than Expected, Study Says

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Most people still underestimate just how much they would enjoy simply sitting alone with their thoughts, according to new research published by the American Psychological Association. While our modern instincts may be to use our devices constantly, that behavior can put us at risk of information overload and decision fatigue.Previous research has suggested that intentionally letting your mind wander has real-world benefits. A study published in Psychology of Consciousness: Theory, Research, and Practice in 2019 found it helped people process difficult emotions; other research has found links with problem solving and even enhanced creativity.Despite these rewards, “individuals have difficulty appreciating just how engaging thinking can be,” explained Kou Murayama, PhD, a professor of educational psychology at the University of Tübingen in Germany, and one of the study authors, in an APA press release.Undistracted Thought…

05Mar 2023 by Janice Holland

Highly Processed Foods Linked to Accelerated Cognitive Decline

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Too many daily calories from highly processed foods like lunch meats, frozen dinners, and packaged cookies may speed up cognitive decline, a new study suggests.In the study, researchers examined the diets and cognitive function test results of more than 8,000 adults in Brazil. At the start of the study, participants consumed an average of about 2,850 calories a day. About 28 percent of their daily calories came from highly processed foods.After about nine years of follow-up, cognitive test scores for memory and executive function declined the most for participants who ate the most highly processed foods, according to preliminary study results presented at the Alzheimer’s Association International Conference held July 31–August 4 in San Diego.“There is growing evidence that what we eat can impact our brains as we age, and…