ALL ABOUT HEALTH -

03Mar 2023 by Janice Holland

How Can Menopause Change Your Gut Microbiome?

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A decline in sex hormones after menopause may leave women with a mix of gut bacteria that more closely resembles what’s seen in men, and a new study suggests that this change may also be associated with an increased risk of cardiometabolic diseases in some women.Post-menopausal women are at an increased risk of what’s known as cardiometabolic syndrome — which includes heart disease as well as metabolic disorders like type 2 diabetes — because of changes in their bodies that accompany decreased sex hormone production. Previous research suggests that as women go through menopause, they are more likely to experience cardiometabolic risk factors like:Sleep disruptionsElevated cholesterolWeight gainIncreased blood sugarHigh blood pressureA few studies have also linked menopause to changes in the gut microbiome, which is the collection of bacteria and other microorganisms…

03Mar 2023 by Janice Holland

CDC Alerts Healthcare Providers to Surge in Parechovirus Cases Among Children

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The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) issued a health alert in response to the growing numbers of parechovirus (PeV) cases among children and infants in the United States since May. Parechoviruses are extremely common pathogens that usually lead only to mild, if any, illness. The current surge of cases has been caused by a subvariant called A3, which tends to cause more serious disease, according to the CDC report.William Schaffner, MD, a professor of medicine in the division of infectious diseases at the Vanderbilt University School of Medicine in Nashville, Tennessee, says this CDC alert doesn’t necessitate panic. The announcement notifies healthcare providers and public health professionals about the increased cases of PeV so they can be on the lookout for it among their patients.“It doesn’t have to…

03Mar 2023 by Janice Holland

‘Bennifer’ Is Back: 7 Questions to Ask Yourself Before Getting Back With an Ex

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Ben Affleck and Jennifer Lopez — affectionately known as “Bennifer” — are back together after nearly two decades apart. The actor and singer-actor have made a dramatic return to the headlines that has many people asking the age-old question: Should I get back with my ex, too?It’s a question that plagues a lot of people, says Laura F. Dabney, MD, a psychiatrist specializing in marriage and relationships, based in Virginia Beach, Virginia.“It’s comforting to know somebody already,” Dr. Dabney says — versus the fear of something new. “And when the attraction is still there, too, that desire to make it work can be very appealing.”What’s more, it can be difficult to grieve the loss of a relationship, says Bonnie Scott, a licensed professional counselor in private practice in San Antonio,…

02Mar 2023 by Janice Holland

President Biden Has Tested Positive for COVID-19

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President Joe Biden has a mild case of COVID-19, according to a statement from press secretary Karine Jean-Pierre. Despite being fully vaccinated and double boosted, the president tested positive for the virus this morning. The press office will report Biden’s COVID status every day until he tests negative.Biden’s physician, Kevin O’Connor, DO, submitted a letter to the White House press office detailing that Biden first tested positive on a rapid antigen test and the result was confirmed with a PCR test. Dr. O’Connor wrote that Biden has a runny nose, fatigue, and a dry cough. At age 79, Biden is deemed high-risk by the CDC and therefore eligible to take the antiviral drug regimen Paxlovid, which he began this morning.The White House currently follows stricter COVID protocols than the pared-back…

02Mar 2023 by Janice Holland

New Report Details Rise in Deaths Caused by Superbugs During the COVID-19 Pandemic

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Resistance to antibiotics and antifungals rose dramatically during the COVID-19 pandemic, causing an estimated 29,400 deaths in the first year of the pandemic. It’s estimated that 40 percent of those were due to hospital-acquired infections, with the remainder occurring in nursing homes and other healthcare facilities.The surge erased much of the progress made in the last decade in the fight to contain these superbugs, according to a new report from the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC), issued on July 12.Antimicrobial resistance (AMR) was one of the country’s greatest public health concerns prior to the COVID-19 pandemic, and it remains so, said CDC director Rochelle Walensky, MD, MPH, in a statement accompanying the report. “These setbacks can and must be temporary,” she said.Bacterial and Fungal Infections Resistant to Antibiotics Rose…

02Mar 2023 by Janice Holland

FDA Approves New Vitiligo Treatment, Ruxolitinib (Opzelura)

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On July 18, the U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) approved ruxolitinib (Opzelura) cream 1.5 percent as a treatment for the most common form of vitiligo, according to a statement by Incyte, the manufacturer of the drug.Vitiligo is a chronic autoimmune condition that causes patches of skin to lose pigment and turn milky white. The most prevalent form is nonsegmental (also known as generalized) vitiligo, in which white patches appear symmetrically on both sides of the body, such as on both hands or both knees, often covering large areas.Ruxolitinib is the first medication that can restore pigment in patients with nonsegmental vitiligo. The FDA approved Incyte’s ruxolitinib cream for adults and children ages 12 and up.“This approval is monumental,” says Daniel Gutierrez, MD, assistant professor of dermatology at NYU Grossman…

02Mar 2023 by Janice Holland

Endometriosis May Raise Risk of Stroke, Study Finds

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About 1 in 10 women have endometriosis, a chronic condition that occurs when endometrial-like tissue grows outside the uterus on other organs, such as the ovaries, fallopian tubes, bowel, and outside walls of the uterus.Endometriosis, which occurs in women of childbearing age, is often painful and can cause fertility issues — and it has long been viewed solely as a reproductive health condition. But a new study highlights the importance of understanding how endometriosis may affect other parts of the body.According to a study published in Stroke on July 21, women with endometriosis may be at a higher risk of having a stroke.“The takeaway message is that, though important, endometriosis isn’t just about symptoms such as fertility issues or debilitating pelvic pain — but also about a whole-body focus on women’s well-being,” says…

02Mar 2023 by Janice Holland

8 Healthy Food Swaps That Will Save You Money at the Supermarket

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Even if you weren’t a fan of grocery shopping before, you’ve likely noticed a new reason to dread it: sticker shock at the checkout. Inflation in the United States rose 9.1 percent compared with last June, according to the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, and the U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA) Consumer Price Index (CPI) forecast predicts that food in particular will see upward of an 8.5 percent price increase in 2022. Source link

02Mar 2023 by Janice Holland

Shark Sightings Rise, But Attacks Remain Rare

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Sharks have been spotted in unusual numbers along the East Coast and the coast of California this summer — and, in a few nonfatal instances, they have bitten people. In June, a swimmer in Monterey Bay, California, survived a great white shark bite after being rescued by surfers. Last week, a surfer on Long Island, New York, became the sixth person bitten by a shark in the area in three weeks. Beaches in Massachusetts, Florida, the San Francisco Bay Area, and even New York City have been shut down temporarily (until the sharks swam away).“During the summer, especially on the East Coast, is when a lot of sharks’ prey species are closer to the coast — hence why you have more sightings,” says Nia Burnett, a marine scientist, graduate student, and…

02Mar 2023 by Janice Holland

Open-Label Placebo May Help Reduce IBS Pain in Kids

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For children with irritable bowel syndrome (IBS), a disorder that affects the large intestine and colon, causing symptoms like abdominal pain, cramping, bloating, diarrhea, and/or constipation, taking a placebo could help reduce pain, a study published in JAMA Pediatrics in April 2022 suggests.Research has shown that pain is a major symptom of IBS, which could be due to the connection between the gut and the brain. That may explain why people with IBS respond well to placebos as a pain treatment — the fake pills can have a psychological effect and help patients feel less pain. Typically, however, placebos are given to people who believe they are receiving real medicine.“Knowing that the placebo effect is so important, particularly in patients with IBS, we decided to test the hypothesis of what happens…