Mary Brown, the director of the Sickle Cell Disease Foundation, was upset about a Saturday Night Live skit that made a mockery of sickle cell disease. The skit contained stereotypes and made sickle cell, which affects 100,000 Americans, look like a joke. Three sickle cell advocacy groups condemned the sketch, and advocates felt that the…
Ethan Waisberg and his colleagues warn about the substantial threat to ocular health from cork eye injuries when opening bottles of champagne or sparkling wine. They highlight the potential for significant injuries, including permanent blindness, and the need for preventive measures such as warning labels and alternative packaging materials. They cite studies that have documented…
A study published in the Christmas issue of The BMJ found that sales of emergency contraception in the US increased by about 10% in the week after the New Year holiday, indicating a greater risk of unprotected sex associated with this time period. The researchers also suggest unmet contraceptive needs in the US, given the…
The inability to burp, known as retrograde cricopharyngeus dysfunction (R-CPD), is caused by the throat’s muscle failing to relax and allow gas to be released. A study of 199 affected adults found that R-CPD leads to abdominal bloating, embarrassing gurgling noises, excessive flatulence, and difficulty vomiting. Many participants did not seek help or felt they…
Heart failure is caused by various conditions such as high blood pressure, coronary disease, diabetes, obesity, and sleep apnea. Lifestyle changes and medication, including ACE inhibitors and beta blockers, can improve survival rates for heart failure patients. Other advanced therapies include pacemakers, defibrillators, LVADs, or heart transplant. Lifestyle changes such as low-sodium diets and exercise…
A new study shows that after the elimination of mandatory training for prescribing buprenorphine for opioid use disorder, prescriptions for the drug decreased, but total doses and Medicaid payments increased. The study compared 2020 and 2021 data from the Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services State Drug Utilization Data, finding a 3.1% decrease in the…
The food choices we make not only impact our overall health but can also affect how the medications we take work in our bodies. Some foods can interact with certain medications, causing them to be less effective or leading to unwanted side effects. For example, alcohol can interact with various medications and lead to complications…
Estrogen-only use after hysterectomy is linked to a higher risk of dementia in women. This finding came from a study that looked at the relationship between hormone therapy and dementia. The study suggests that estrogen-only therapy may have a negative impact on brain health. The use of cookies on the website is also mentioned, with…
The partnership between Hello Alpha and TrestleTree aims to support overweight and obese patients through primary care, mental health support, chronic condition management and coaching. Hello Alpha provides virtual women’s health services, while TrestleTree connects people to a health coach. Patients will receive care and prescriptions from Hello Alpha and access to a health coach…
Dr Aisling Loy is a Consultant in Genitourinary Medicine at St James’s Hospital in Dublin. She is also the national specialty director for GUM training, medical director of Himerus Health, a lecturer in Trinity College Dublin, and the Medical Director for women’s health service and anti-human trafficking HSE clinic. In addition to her work, she…
