Health - SlashGear

EU regulator finds “very rare” AstraZeneca vaccine blood clot risk: The symptoms to watch for

Chris Davies | Apr 7, 2021

The AstraZeneca COVID-19 vaccine could lead to blood clots in a small subset of people, the European drug regulator has concluded, though it's a "very rare" possibility and shouldn't prevent immunizations in general. The European Medicines Agency (EMA) had been assessing the safety of Vaxzevria - developed by the University of Oxford in the UK and AstraZeneca - after reports of an uptick in dangerous blood clots among some people who had been given the drug.

Biden moves ‘open season’ COVID-19 vaccine date to April 19

Brittany A. Roston | Apr 6, 2021

President Biden has announced that the 'open season' deadline for states to make everyone eligible to get the COVID-19 vaccine has been moved back to April 19. This is the latest adjustment to the vaccination timeline, reducing the wait for the general public from the original May 1 deadline. The updated deadline joins the revised goal to reach 200 million administered shots by Biden's 100th day in office.

Researchers warn US is fueling Canada’s growing COVID-19 conspiracies

Brittany A. Roston | Apr 6, 2021

A new study from McGill University has found that misinformation about the COVID-19 vaccine originating from the United States may be fueling conspiracy theories and other issues in Canada. Social media appears to be a driving factor in this cross-border information exchange, with Canadians who report frequent Twitter use experiencing high exposure to American news sources.

Historic windpipe transplant could be huge news for COVID-19 patients

Chris Davies | Apr 6, 2021

The first human tracheal transplant has been successfully completed, potentially paving the way to addressing medical conditions that contribute to thousands of deaths each year. The surgery, carried out by surgeons at Mount Sinai Hospital in New York City, took 18 hours to put a new windpipe into a patient who, until now, had been breathing through a tracheostomy.

Extra-strength acetaminophen recall warns of liver damage risk

Brittany A. Roston | Apr 5, 2021

Some extra-strength acetaminophen, a pain reliever sold under various brand names, has been recalled because the bottles weren't labeled properly. According to the recall notice from A-S Medication Solutions, LLM, the lack of the required OTC Drug Facts label may lead to some consumers taking the pain reliever without awareness of the potentially harmful effects.

Too much sugar may be hurting your muscles in a covert way

Brittany A. Roston | Apr 5, 2021

Muscles put in a lot of work during daily life, suffering from wear and tear that is continually repaired to keep things functioning. A type of stem cells called skeletal muscle satellite cells play a key role in repairing muscle fibers when they're damaged by exercise or general activity. Sugar, according to a new study, may negatively impact these cells.

ADHD drug recalled over trace amounts of anti-psychotic medication

Brittany A. Roston | Apr 4, 2021

Apotex Corp has announced the voluntary recall of Guanfacine Extended-Release Tablets in 2mg strength over the possible risk of 'trace' contamination with an antipsychotic medication called Quetiapine Fumarate. The drugs were distributed in the US until mid-March, according to the company, which is notifying distributors, wholesalers, and others.

Study finds experimental stimulants hidden in many OTC supplements

Brittany A. Roston | Apr 3, 2021

A new study from NSF International warns that many readily available supplements marketed for sports enhancement and weight loss contain experimental stimulants that haven't been tested in humans. The 'hidden pharmaceutical cocktail,' as the organization calls it, was identified in 17 OTC supplements sold in the US.

The CDC just changed the COVID-19 travel rules for fully vaccinated people

Chris Davies | Apr 2, 2021

New COVID-19 travel recommendations by the US CDC have given the green light to fully vaccinated people to get back on planes or take other trips, though pandemic precautions should still be observed the agency warns. The new guidance from the US Centers for Disease Control and Prevention acknowledges that fully-vaccinated travelers are both less likely to get, and to spread, COVID-19.

FDA authorizes several OTC COVID-19 tests for routine screening

Brittany A. Roston | Apr 1, 2021

The FDA has authorized multiple over-the-counter (OTC) COVID-19 tests that will enable asymptomatic people to be routinely screened for the coronavirus. The authorization covers multiple varieties of Abbott BinaxNOW, as well as the Quidel QuickVue At-Home OTC COVID-19 test and the BD Veritor System for Rapid Detection of SARS-CoV-2.

COVID-19 joined these two diseases as top cause of US deaths in 2020

Brittany A. Roston | Apr 1, 2021

The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention has published its provisional mortality data on the leading causes of death in the US last year. Having claimed around 375,000 lives, the CDC says that COVID-19 was the third-highest cause of death in the United States in 2020, coming in third only to heart disease and cancer.

Consuming sugar early in life paves way for poor learning and memory

Brittany A. Roston | Apr 1, 2021

Eating and drinking high-sugar foods early in life may pave the way for learning and memory issues later in adulthood, according to a new study from the University of Southern California. The findings are particularly concerning in light of how many food products marketed at youth contain high levels of corn syrup and other sugars.