SATURDAY, Nov. 9, 2019 (HealthDay News) — A commonly prescribed muscle relaxant known as baclofen can leave older kidney patients so disoriented that they land in the hospital, a new study warns. “It can present with acute stroke-like symptoms, even though it’s not a stroke,” said senior researcher Dr. AmitContinue Reading
FRIDAY, Nov. 8, 2019 (HealthDay News) — The popular herbal supplement kratom may cause liver damage, researchers warn. Kratom is widely available in smoke shops and online. It’s a botanical product made from Mitragyna speciosa, a tropical evergreen tree found in Southeast Asia. At low doses, it’s a stimulant. AtContinue Reading
(HealthDay News) — Nicotine typically is as addictive as heroin, says the University of California San Francisco. Within minutes of smoking, the brain releases chemicals that give users a rush. Smokers then get hooked on this pleasant feeling. And when people stop smoking, withdrawal side effects commonly appear. The schoolContinue Reading
MONDAY, Oct. 28, 2019 (HealthDay News) — People struggling with anxiety, depression or other psychiatric problems shouldn’t pin their hopes on medical marijuana, a new review suggests. Dozens of studies involving more than 3,000 people did not provide compelling evidence that medical cannabis can help treat disorders of the mind,Continue Reading
WEDNESDAY, Oct. 23, 2019 (HealthDay News) — Some widely used drugs alter the population of microbes in the gut, and a number raise the risk of antibiotic resistance, a new Dutch study shows. The gut microbiome includes at least 1,000 species of bacteria and is influenced by a number ofContinue Reading
(HealthDay News) — Pain relievers like ibuprofen, naproxen and celecoxib are popular anti-inflammatory drugs for back pain, headache and other aches and pains. Though these drugs have a good safety history, the risk of serious side effects rises when the medications are taken for long periods or in high doses,Continue Reading
THURSDAY, Oct. 17, 2019 (HealthDay News) — Many people who take cholesterol-lowering statins may not benefit from them, researchers say. Drugs like atorvastatin (Lipitor) and fluvastatin (Lescol) provide little value to people without heart disease, new research shows. Yet these heart-healthy folks represent a sizable number of statin users. WhileContinue Reading
SATURDAY, Oct. 12, 2019 (HealthDay News) — Fall can be a challenging time of the year for kids with asthma, an expert says. “Although asthma can flare up for a number of reasons, a lot of people with allergies also have asthma, and asthma can be triggered by allergies. SoContinue Reading
(HealthDay News) — Deciding to stop abusing drugs and alcohol is important to your health, says the American Academy of Family Physicians. But learning to live without these substances can be difficult, and some medicines can actually trigger a relapse. To take medicine safely after substance abuse recovery, the AAFPContinue Reading
TUESDAY, Oct. 1, 2019 (HealthDay News) — A tuberculosis vaccine commonly used in other parts of the world might reduce a person’s risk of developing lung cancer if given early in childhood, a six-decade-long study reports. The Bacille Calmette-Guerin (BCG) vaccine is the only vaccine approved for preventing tuberculosis (TB)Continue Reading