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White House Could Punish Big Pharma's High Prices by Removing Patents

The Biden administration is flexing some federal muscle in its push for lower drug prices, warning pharmaceutical companies that it might use its authority to cancel patent protections if a medication costs too much.

Federal law allows the government to grant patent licenses if taxpayer dollars were used in the development of inventions --...

Biden Administration Delays Decision on Menthol Cigarette Ban Amid Pushback

The Biden administration has again delayed enacting a ban on menthol cigarettes following intense lobbying from the tobacco industry.

Along with that pressure, other critics of the ban have warned that it might anger Black smokers, who use menthol cigarettes at far higher rates than whites -- just as President Biden gears up to run for re-...

Tennis Ball Impacts Can Also Cause Concussions

Games like football, soccer and rugby come to mind when thinking about sports-related concussions.

But a smashing tennis shot could cause a traumatic brain injury if the ball whacks a player’s head, a new study argues.

Concussions can happen if a tennis ball traveling faster than 89 miles per hour hits someone on the head, research...

Some Older Women With Early-Stage Breast Cancer Can Safely Skip Radiotherapy: Study

Women in the their 50s and 60s who've gone through menopause may be able to safely skip radiation treatment if they're diagnosed with a common form of breast cancer, new research shows.

The study focused on early stage HR+ breast cancers, which comprise the large majority of new cases. In HR+ breast cancer, tumor cells carry receptors for ...

PFAS Chemicals May Harm Bones of Hispanic Teens

“Forever” PFAS chemicals appear to harm bone health in Hispanic teenagers, a new study finds.

The more PFAS chemicals found in the bodies of Hispanic adolescents, the lower their bone density was, researchers report in the Dec. 6 issue of the journal Environmental Research.

Peak bone mineral density in adolescence helps...

Watching Your Cholesterol? Virtual Doctor Visits Work Just as Well

In a win for telemedicine, new research shows that folks fighting high cholesterol benefit just as much from online coaching as they do from in-person visits with a dietitian.

“This study reinforces the idea that comparable clinical outcomes can be achieved using the virtual format,” said lead researcher Dr. Shannon Zoulek, a resident ...

Exercise Brings Better Quality of Life to Women With Advanced Breast Cancer

Exercise can boost the quality of life of women who are battling advanced breast cancer, a new study has found.

Women who took part in a nine-month structured exercise program reported less fatigue and a better overall quality of life, according to results presented Thursday at the San Antonio Breast Cancer Symposium.

“Optimizing q...

Rheumatoid Arthritis Drug Could Put Brakes on Type 1 Diabetes

A drug long used to curb rheumatoid arthritis may be a potent foe against another immune disorder, type 1 diabetes.

Australian researchers report that baricitinib (Olumiant) appears to help patients newly diagnosed with type 1 diabetes maintain their natural ability to produce insulin, slowing progression of the disease.

Type 1 diabe...

Your Organs Are Aging Differently, and a New Test Could Pinpoint Risk

A certain organ or organs might be growing old faster than the rest of a person's body, placing them at increased risk for disease and death, a new study suggests.

About one in every five reasonably healthy people aged 50 or older are walking around with at least one organ aging at an accelerated rate, researchers report in the Dec. 6 issu...

Acne in Adults Can Bring Stigma at Work and Socially

Acne can be terribly embarrassing for a teenager, but a new study has found that adults' blemishes might have even greater consequences for their social and professional reputation.

People are less likely to want to be friends, have close contact or post a pic on social media with a person who has severe acne, researchers found.

“O...

New Weight-Loss Drug Zepbound Is Now Available, Company Says

The newly approved weight-loss medication known as Zepbound is now available for patients to take, drug maker Eli Lilly announced Tuesday.

"Today opens another chapter for adults living with obesity who have been looking for a new treatment option like Zepbound," Rhonda Pacheco, group vice president of Lilly Diabetes and Obesity, ...

As One Spouse's Blood Pressure Rises, So Does the Other's: Study

In sickness and in health -- and in blood pressure, too?

A new international study finds that if your blood pressure rises with time, your spouse's might, also.

“Many people know that high blood pressure is common in middle-aged and older adults, yet we were surprised to find that among many older couples, both husband and wife ha...

Folks at High Risk of Heart Disease May Gain From Eating Mackerel, Tuna

Folks with a family history of heart disease might benefit from eating more oily fish like salmon, mackerel, herring and sardines, a new study finds.

Oily fish contain high levels of omega-3 fatty acids, which cannot be produced by the body and must be obtained from the diet.

People’s risk of heart disease increased by more than 40...

Minorities Expect and Prepare for Unfair Health Care, Survey Shows

Few people look forward to doctor visits, but a new survey shows that many minorities feel a deep sense of dread.

Some even try to dress especially well for their visit, to try and ward off the possibility they'll face insults or unfair care.

The new poll, conducted by health policy research group KFF, found 3 in 5 Black ...

State Abortion Bans Have New Doctors Staying Away

States that ban abortion could be headed to a brain drain when it comes to up-and-coming medical professionals.

Three out of four future U.S. doctors say state access to abortion is a key factor in choosing where they’ll apply for their residency training, according to a survey published Dec. 5 in the journal Medical Ethics.

Mind, Body Symptoms Can Precede MS Diagnosis for Years

Patients in the earliest stages of multiple sclerosis might develop certain symptoms that offer an early clue to the degenerative nerve disease, researchers report.

Depression, constipation, urinary tract infections and sexual problems are all more likely in MS patients five years before their official diagnosis, compared with people who ...

Starting Periods Early Linked to Higher Odds for Diabetes, Stroke

Girls whose periods begin before the age of 13 are at higher risk of becoming adult women with diabetes, compared to girls who start menstruation later, new research shows.

An earlier onset of periods also appears to hike a woman's odds for stroke before the age of 65, the same study found.

Why the link? According to the research tea...

Spotting Epilepsy in Kids Isn't Always Easy: Know the Signs

Neurologist Dr. Deborah Holder says she often has parents come to her with kids who've experienced what they call "funny spells."

 “Sometimes I start talking to a parent and find out the parent has [also] had ‘funny spells’ for years, but had no idea they were epileptic seizures," said Holder, who practices at Cedars-Sinai Gueri...

It's Hunting Season: Keep Safety in Your Sights

TUESDAY, Dec. 5, 2023 (Healthday News) -- Hunting season has begun in many parts of the United States, with millions of Americans heading into the woods in hopes of bagging a big buck.

But with the season comes tragic accidents.

“Every year, within the first 72 hours of hunting season, we see hunting-related injuries,” said Amy B...

New Syndrome May Be Affecting Babies Exposed to Fentanyl

Doctors report they are seeing what they think is a new syndrome in babies who are exposed to fentanyl while in the womb.

All of the infants have cleft palates and unusually small heads, and all were born to mothers who said they'd used fentanyl and other drugs while pregnant.

Six babies were first` identified at Nemours Children's H...