TUESDAY, Nov. 23, 2021 (HealthDay News) — A widely available drug used to treat alcoholism has potential as a COVID-19 treatment, researchers say. The investigators found that people taking disulfiram (Antabuse) for alcoholism had a lower risk of infection with SARS-CoV-2 and were less likely to die from COVID-19 ifContinue Reading

MONDAY, Nov. 22, 2021 (HealthDay News) — Most prescriptions for the medication gabapentin are for unapproved uses — and many patients end up taking it along with drugs that create potentially dangerous interactions. That’s the conclusion of a new study that looked at “off-label” use of gabapentin. In the UnitedContinue Reading

MONDAY, Nov. 22, 2021 (HealthDay News) — Though airborne exposure causes most cases of COVID-19, the virus lurks on objects near the beds of infected nursing home patients, according to a new study. “Coronavirus is ubiquitous and persistent in the rooms of nursing home residents with COVID-19, and highlight theContinue Reading

FRIDAY, Nov. 19, 2021 (HealthDay News) — President Joe Biden underwent a routine colonoscopy on Friday, and briefly transferred power to Vice President Kamala Harris while he was sedated for the procedure, the White House said. The colonoscopy was part of Biden’s first routine physical exam as president, and tookContinue Reading

THURSDAY, Nov. 18, 2021 (HealthDay News) — Neurologists must make sure Alzheimer’s patients and their families understand that the controversial drug aducanumab does not restore mental function, the American Academy of Neurology (AAN) said in new position statement that includes ethical guidelines. “Aducanumab is not a cure for Alzheimer’s disease,Continue Reading

THURSDAY, Nov. 18, 2021 (HealthDay News) — Race-based gaps in health care and health outcomes persist in every region of the United States, a new state-by-state report card shows. Racial and ethnic disparities woven throughout America and its system of health care mean that people of color are more likelyContinue Reading

THURSDAY, Nov. 18, 2021 (HealthDay News) — Nearly a third of health care staff in U.S. hospitals were not vaccinated against COVID-19 as of mid-September, a new study shows. Researchers analyzed data on more than 3.3 million health care workers at more than 2,000 hospitals nationwide between Jan. 20 andContinue Reading

THURSDAY, Nov. 18, 2021 (HealthDay News) — Vaccinated health care workers with breakthrough COVID-19 infections shed less virus than those who are unvaccinated and infected, according to University of California, Los Angeles researchers. “SARS-CoV-2 viral loads are known to be a critical driver of transmission,” wrote authors led by Dr.Continue Reading