Mystery Cause Of Lupus Revealed, Experts Say

One of humanity’s most common viruses is behind the autoimmune disorder known as lupus, according to a new study.

Epstein-Barr virus (EBV) resides silently in the bodies of 19 out of 20 Americans, most commonly causing mononucleosis among teens and young adults, researchers said.

But the virus can cause a minuscule number of im...

Extra Support Helps Cancer Patients Make It To Radiation Treatment Sessions

Radiation therapy is a highly effective way to treat cancers, but only if patients make it to their regular treatment sessions.

Unfortunately, as many as 1 out of 5 U.S. cancer patients miss two or more of their recommended radiation appointments, increasing their risk of dying from cancer or suffering a repeat bout of disease.

But p...

Early Warning Sign Revealed For A 'Silent Killer' Cancer

Pancreatic cancer is known as a silent killer, showing few symptoms until it reaches its deadly final stages.

But researchers think they’ve found a warning sign that could help detect pancreatic cancers at an earlier, more treatable stage.

Enlargement of the pancreatic duct — which connects the organ to the bile duct &mda...

Self-Hypnosis Can Thwart Hot Flashes

Self-hypnosis might help some women in menopause find relief from hot flashes.

Hot flash frequency and intensity decreased by more than 50% among women who listened to a daily audio hypnosis session, researchers reported Nov. 11 in JAMA Network Open.

“All sessions were self-administered hypnosis, which demonstrated tha...

Dr. Richard Pazdur Appointed to Lead FDA’s Drug Division After Turbulent Year

The U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) has appointed one of its most respected cancer drug regulators to lead the agency’s main division for approving new drugs.

The appointment of Dr. Richard Pazdur comes after a turbulent year with hundreds of staff departures within the agency.

Pazdur, who has been with FDA for 26 years...

Global Tuberculosis Cases Hit Record High, WHO Warns

Global tuberculosis (TB) cases climbed again last year, reaching their highest level on record, according to new data from the World Health Organization (WHO).

The agency reported 8.3 million new TB cases worldwide in 2024, surpassing a record set the previous year. That figure represents about 78% of all estimated infections, meaning many...

Poor Sleep Nearly Doubles a Runner’s Risk of Injury, Study Finds

If you’re a regular runner, logging miles on little sleep might be doing more harm than you think.

A new study found that runners who slept poorly were nearly twice as likely to get hurt.

The study, published in the journal Applied Sciences, surveyed 425 recreational runners and tracked their sleep habits and injuries ...

New Merck Pill Cuts 'Bad' Cholesterol by 60%, Potentially Replacing Injections

A new pill from Merck could change how millions of people treat high cholesterol and help prevent heart attacks and strokes without the need for injections.

The drug, called enlicitide, slashes levels of harmful LDL cholesterol by up to 60%, similar to injectable PCSK9 drugs already on the market. 

The pill blocks a liver protei...

Heart Health Impact Of Food Deserts Can Be Blunted By Healthy Grocery Deliveries, Study Says

Black adults living in food deserts can beat high blood pressure, with a little help.

Folks living in an area with few grocery stores had a greater reduction in blood pressure if they participated in a program that home-delivered healthy eats, researchers recently reported in the Journal of the American Medical Association.

...

Ultra-Processed Foods Linked To Diabetes Risk In Young Adults

Chowing down on ultra-processed foods – fast food, packaged snacks, heat-and-eat meals – increases young adults’ risk of health problems that contribute to diabetes, a new study warns.

An increase in ultra-processed food intake is associated with a higher risk of prediabetes, in which early-stage high blood sugar can lead...

Headaches Affect Almost a Third of People Worldwide

Do you have regular migraine headaches? If so, you’ve got a lot of company.

Nearly 1 in every 3 people worldwide suffer from a headache disorder, affecting almost 3 billion people, researchers will report in the December issue of The Lancet Neurology.

It’s especially bad for women, who experience more than double...

High Blood Pressure Rates Double Among Children & Teens

The rate of kids and teens with high blood pressure worldwide nearly doubled over the past two decades, according to a startling new report.

In 2020, more than 6% of children and adolescents under 19 had high blood pressure, up from around 3% in 2000, researchers reported Nov. 12 in The Lancet Child & Adolescent Health.

...

Poverty, Debt Lead To Early Death In The U.S., Studies Say

Poverty and indebtedness increase a person’s risk of dying young, a pair of new studies say.

People with poverty-level family income or increasing debt levels during early adulthood have higher odds of premature death, according to two studies published in the November issue of The Lancet Public Health.

Further, the mo...

Personalized Prehabilitation Improves Surgery Outcomes, Trial Finds

People facing a major surgery might understandably think they need to conserve their energy, both for the procedure as well as the rehabilitation to follow.

But they’d be better off if they engaged in “prehabilitation." And a new study found prehab works best if a patient receives some one-on-one attention.

Patients who g...

FDA Lifts Major Warnings on Hormone Replacement Therapy

The U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) is eliminating the prominent "black box" warnings on many hormone replacement therapy (HRT) medications, signaling a major shift in how the treatment is viewed for menopausal women.

The decision affects products containing estrogen or progestogen, alone or combined, that are prescribed to treat t...