Health - Resources and discussion for everything health-related

Within 48 hours of taking office, Donald Trump signed executive orders reversing Biden-era policies that expanded healthcare access, threatening coverage for over 20 million Americans.

Donald Trump signed an executive order reversing several Biden-era health policies, including initiatives to lower prescription drug costs and strengthen the Affordable Care Act (ACA).

A study led by the University of Cambridge and Exeter suggests that repurposing antibiotics, antivirals, and vaccines could help prevent or treat dementia, potentially accelerating drug availability.

Donald Trump has ordered the U.S. to withdraw from the World Health Organization (WHO) for the second time.

U.S. wine sales fell 6% in 2024, continuing a years-long decline driven by generational shifts, health concerns, and competition from alternative drinks.

Wedam Minyila, 19, is among the first to undergo a newly approved gene therapy for sickle cell disease, a condition affecting over 100,000 people in the U.S.

Dr. Derrick Todd, a former Boston rheumatologist accused of sexually abusing over 200 patients since 2010, was indicted by a Massachusetts grand jury on two counts of rape involving incidents from 2022 and 2023.

The Biden administration announced that Medicare will negotiate lower prices for 15 drugs, including Ozempic and Wegovy, under the Inflation Reduction Act, with changes set to take effect in 2027.

Homelessness among U.S. seniors is rising sharply, with housing costs and health issues creating dire conditions.

The FDA authorized the sale of 10 Zyn nicotine pouch flavors, marking the first approval of nicotine pouches as a smoking alternative.

Denmark consistently ranks among the top countries for work-life balance due to a culture of trust, flexible work policies, and generous benefits.

Advocate Health, one of the largest US hospital chains, claims to combat medical debt by canceling 11,500 liens on patients' homes and expanding charity care.

A Lancet report urges a global revamp of obesity diagnosis, citing over-reliance on BMI as misleading and harmful.

At a Glance

The family of John Michael Murdoch is suing Oregon Health and Science University for $900,000 after his face caught fire during a 2022 tracheostomy.

The FDA proposed a rule requiring front-of-package nutrition labels by 2028, highlighting levels of saturated fat, sodium, and added sugar with “high,” “medium,” or “low” indicators.

The Los Angeles wildfires have destroyed over 12,000 structures and caused at least 24 deaths, while smoke poses a severe health threat.

Despite new variants like XEC, Covid-19 appears milder, with fewer hospitalizations and severe cases, even though infections remain widespread.

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A new study in *Nature Medicine* reveals that lifetime dementia risk is higher than previously thought, rising to 42% for men and women, compared to older estimates of 14% and 23%.

A Clean Label Project report found concerning levels of lead and cadmium in protein powders, especially plant-based, organic, and chocolate-flavored varieties.

Efforts to improve Americans' diets, including the FDA's new "healthy" labeling guidelines, have minimal impact, with only 0-0.4% of people expected to change habits.

The U.S. Supreme Court will review the constitutionality of the Affordable Care Act's preventive care mandate, following a 5th Circuit ruling that deemed the task force responsible for setting these guidelines unconstitutionally structured.

The Native American Church warns of a peyote shortage, a sacred cactus used in religious ceremonies.

A new study shows that advanced kidney disease compromises the survival of B cells and significantly reduces the immune response to the influenza virus.

California wildfires have caused physical devastation and significant mental health impacts for residents and first responders.

Age-related changes in breast luminal epithelial cells may drive some breast cancers and offer potential screening and prevention targets.

cross-posted from: https://lemmy.blahaj.zone/post/20616219

The future of Medicare's drug price negotiations, initiated under Biden’s Inflation Reduction Act, is uncertain under the incoming Trump administration.

Over 15,000 doctors have signed a letter opposing Robert F. Kennedy Jr.’s nomination as health secretary, calling him "unqualified" and "actively dangerous."

A Tulane University study found that drinking coffee only in the morning is linked to a 16% lower risk of death from all causes and a 31% lower risk of heart disease compared to non-coffee drinkers.

The Biden administration finalized a rule removing medical debt from U.S. credit reports, effective March, impacting $49 billion in debt for 15 million Americans.

A study of over 540,000 women found that an additional 300mg of calcium daily—equivalent to half a pint of milk—reduces bowel cancer risk by 17%.

Indiana State Senator Ed Charbonneau, who co-authored a 2021 law allowing hospital monopolies, is now proposing its repeal.

New Alzheimer’s drugs, lecanemab and donanemab, approved in 2024, mark a significant step in dementia treatment by slowing cognitive decline by 30%.

A study by researchers from George Washington University, UNC-Chapel Hill, and the University of Michigan found a sharp rise in permanent contraception among young adults after Roe v. Wade was overturned.

The FDA has proposed stricter testing requirements for pulse oximeters after studies revealed inaccuracies in readings for people with darker skin tones.

The U.S. reported its first human death from bird flu, involving a Louisiana patient over 65 with underlying conditions who was exposed to a backyard flock and wild birds.

Insurers are increasingly denying coverage for advanced prosthetic limbs, questioning their medical necessity despite laws in some states requiring parity with Medicare.

Sugary drinks contribute to over 2.2 million new diabetes cases and 1.1 million new heart disease cases globally each year, with severe impacts in low- and middle-income countries.

The killing of UnitedHealthcare CEO Brian Thompson has reignited debates over the U.S. healthcare system, with Americans sharing stories of denial, delays, and exorbitant costs despite having insurance.

Antimicrobial resistance (AMR) could claim 40 million lives by 2050, with death rates expected to double, warns Dame Sally Davies, former chief medical officer for England.

While over 75% of Americans take dietary supplements, research shows mixed results regarding their efficacy and safety.

A study published in *Sleep Medicine* found that cheese consumption may lower the risk of sleep apnea by 28%, based on data from 400,000 participants in the UK Biobank and FinnGen Biobank.

Covid cases are surging across the U.S. post-holidays, with rising test positivity, hospitalizations, and deaths, while booster uptake remains low.

I missed this before, but apparently we're now nearly a year into Merck and Moderna's Phase-3 trials of a novel mRNA vaccine (mRNA-4157) in combination with Keytruda to slow or halt aggressive melanoma growth. (press release), and about 4 months into a similar Phase 3 trial of the same drug combo for small cell lung cancer (press release). Here's hoping that 2025 is the year we cure (some kinds of) cancer!

New research links loneliness to ill health through elevated levels of proteins associated with inflammation, immune responses, and metabolic processes.

A new nasal swab test developed by researchers at the University of Pittsburgh can identify different asthma subtypes by sequencing RNA, offering a more precise diagnostic tool than current methods.

Millions of U.S. children have lost Medicaid coverage due to procedural issues during the unwinding process after the Covid public health emergency.

It is commonly believed that human beings need eight hours sleep per night to function and perform well.

The WHO has urged China to share Covid-19 origins data, marking five years since the pandemic began. It stressed transparency and global cooperation as vital to preventing future pandemics.

Research reveals widespread parasitic infections in Mississippi’s Delta region, linked to failing sanitation infrastructure and poverty.

Colorado has become the second state to legalize psychedelic therapy, allowing psilocybin to be used for treating PTSD and depression.

The FDA has begun testing raw cow’s milk cheese for bird flu using PCR and viability tests.

Drugmakers plan to raise U.S. prices on over 250 branded medicines starting Jan. 1, 2025, including Pfizer's Paxlovid and Bristol Myers Squibb's cancer therapies.

Lawmakers and physicians are targeting prior authorization reforms as frustrations with health insurance grow.

ProPublica investigates health insurers’ reliance on controversial doctors to deny mental health treatment.

Norovirus cases are surging in the U.S., with 91 outbreaks reported in early December, up from 69 the previous week, according to the CDC.

A Gallup poll shows 62% of Americans now believe it is the government’s responsibility to ensure health care access—the highest level in over a decade.

H5N1 bird flu samples from a severely ill patient in Louisiana show mutations that could make the virus more transmissible to humans, the CDC reported.

A new NORC poll reveals that most Americans blame both health insurance profits and coverage denials alongside the shooter for the killing of UnitedHealthcare CEO Brian Thompson.

The CDC identified rare mutations in the bird flu virus from the first severe U.S. human case, found in a Louisiana resident over 65 with severe respiratory illness.

Researchers in Edmonton, Canada, are testing a “Noticing Nature Intervention” to boost mood during harsh winters.

Experts warn of a potential “silent” COVID surge in the U.S. during the holidays, driven by rising infections and low awareness following an unusually quiet fall.

Starting Jan. 1, Medicare will cap annual out-of-pocket prescription drug costs at $2,000, as mandated by the Inflation Reduction Act.

Alcon Laboratories has voluntarily recalled one lot of Systane Lubricant Eye Drops Ultra PF due to potential fungal contamination, the FDA announced.

The FDA escalated its recall of Costco’s Kirkland Signature organic, pasture-raised eggs to a Class I alert, indicating a serious risk of illness or death due to salmonella contamination.

The FDA has proposed phasing out oral phenylephrine, a common decongestant in cold medicines like Sudafed PE and DayQuil, after studies showed it is no more effective than a placebo.