Eight weeks of acupuncture was found to reduce the dose of methadone needed to control opioid cravings, which could make patients likelier to stick with their treatment.
Why it matters: Methadone is one of the most effective medications for curbing opioid addiction, but uncomfortable side effects can cause people to stop treatment.
Public health officials seeking a better view of how bird flu is spreading in cows have a new pitch for resistant dairy farmers: anonymized testing.
Why it matters: Many farmers are refusing to test their herds, fearing the economic consequences, while concern builds that the relatively benign virus could morph into a much bigger risk to humans.
Don't get hysterical about your child's screen time or yank away their cellphone protectively, says Dr. Michael Rich, a pediatrician who runs a leading treatment program for kids with so-called "internet addictions" (a term he detests).
Children will go through life with a smartphone, he points out — and it's important for the adults in their lives to teach them to use one wisely.
A new study found popular brands of tampons may contain toxic metals, such as lead and arsenic.
Why it matters: Chemicals absorbed vaginally enter directly into the body, without detoxification, the study noted. Despite more than half of those who menstruate in the U.S. using tampons, the researchers said theirs was the first endeavor to assess the concentration of metals in tampons.
The big picture: The California Democrat, 79, is the latest member of Congress to face health issues amid a re-election campaign as President Biden faces questions about his age and health.
Prescription drug middlemen took in nearly $1.6 billion in extra revenue on two cancer drugs in less than three years, by steering business to affiliated pharmacies, a new Federal Trade Commission report finds.
Why it matters: The findings underscore the degree to which vertical integration and concentration among pharmacy benefit managers allow the companies to influence the drug supply chain, potentially driving up cost to patients.
A federal judge in Texas blocked a Biden administration policy aimed at preventing Medicare insurers from paying agents and brokers to sign people up for certain plans.
Why it matters: The decision came last week from U.S. District Judge Reed O'Connor, a go-to judge for industry groups looking to target Democrat-backed health policies.
Two of the buzziest technology trends in health care — artificial intelligence and weight-loss drugs — appear to be converging as companies increasingly scope out the potential to capitalize on both.
Why it matters: Some companies tell Axios the explosive demand, outsized costs and wide range of potential of uses for GLP-1s — the category of drugs that includes diabetes drug Ozempic and its weight-loss counterpart Wegovy — make them the perfect test case for AI's potential.
Why it matters: After reporters demanded White House press secretary Karine Jean-Pierre provide more details on a top Parkinson's disease specialist's meetings with Biden, his physician released a letter late Monday that emphasized the specialist had only conducted routine annual physical examinations.
President Biden was examined by a neurologist who specializes in Parkinson's disease and other movement disorders as part of his annual physical examinations, per a letter from White House physician Kevin O'Connor released late Monday night.
Why it matters: White House press secretary Karine Jean-Pierre told reporters at a testy briefing earlier Monday that she wouldn't identify Dr. Kevin Cannard nor details of any of his visits due to privacy reasons amid concerns about Biden's health.
There are oft-shared theories about pregnancy: If you carry low, it's a boy. If you've got bad morning sickness, it's a girl.
Why it matters: There's not a lot of evidence that widespread gender predictors are accurate, says Tiffany Pham, OB-GYN and Flo Health medical adviser.
