The pandemic diverted resources from essential health needs of all kinds. Now America must rally the world to invest in recovery.
Tag Archives: Preventive Medicine
These Morning-After Pills May Prevent STI’s, Researchers Say
Taking a common antibiotic after sex greatly reduces the chances of developing syphilis, chlamydia and gonorrhea among men who have sex with men and among trans women.
To Prevent Cancer, More Women Should Consider Removing Fallopian Tubes, Experts Say
A top research group is urging even women without genetic risks to have their fallopian tubes removed under certain circumstances.
Do Statins Increase the Risk of Diabetes?
These cholesterol-lowering medications have gotten a bad rap. Here’s why.
After Giving Up on Cancer Vaccines, Doctors Start to Find Hope
Encouraging data from preliminary studies are making some doctors feel optimistic about developing immunizations against pancreatic, colon and breast cancers.
Extreme Religious Liberty Is Undermining Public Health
Recent rulings are empowering the moral judgments of a small but politically powerful group.
Texas Judge’s Ruling Puts Free Preventive Care in Jeopardy
A federal judge in Texas found that the Affordable Care Act’s process for determining what kinds of preventive care should be covered by insurance violates the Constitution.
U.S. to Distribute 800,000 Doses of Monkeypox Vaccine
The doses were withheld pending an F.D.A. review, which has now been completed.
Vitamin D Supplements Don’t Help Another Condition, Study Finds
The vitamin pills do not prevent bone fractures in most people or protect against many other diseases, adding to questions about medical guidance many now take for granted.
What to Know About Migraine Symptoms and Treatment
This ‘woman’s disease’ doesn’t get a lot of research funding, but the medical establishment has made strides in developing new drugs and devices to combat migraine over the last five years.
The Quest by Circadian Medicine to Make the Most of Our Body Clocks
Researchers are trying to figure out the right hour of the day to do everything. Can their studies sync us up with better health?
Daily Aspirin Regimen May Cause Bleeding
Millions of Americans take aspirin to prevent a first heart attack or stroke. Now, doctors are advising against it — especially for people over 70.
All Children 8 and Older Should Be Screened for Anxiety, U.S. Task Force Says
A panel of experts says the latest research supports early intervention for younger kids.
Covid Vaccination Rates Lag for N.Y.C. Kids. Will Shots at School Help?
New York City officials began holding vaccine clinics at elementary schools this week in hopes of improving rates among children, as coronavirus cases start to head back up.
Here Come the Artificial Intelligence Nutritionists
Companies are experimenting with personalized diet apps, saying the future of healthy eating is A.I.
Jeremiah Stamler, Who Found Ways to Curb Heart Disease, Dies at 102
He was at the forefront of studies that found links between salt, diet and other risk factors and cardiovascular ailments.
What Does It Mean to Be ‘Fully Vaccinated’ Against Covid-19?
With all the uncertainty around the Omicron variant, vaccine guidelines are evolving.
Most of the World’s Vaccines Likely Won’t Prevent Infection From Omicron
They do seem to offer significant protection against severe illness, but the consequences of rapidly spreading infection worry many public health experts.
Vaccines Prevent Severe Disease From Omicron, New Studies Say
In the lab, immune cells put up a strong fight against Omicron, suggesting that vaccines will be able to prevent the worst outcomes of the virus variant.
The Toll of Uterine Fibroids on Black Women
Black women are more likely than white women to have uterine fibroids, and the debilitating symptoms often leave them feeling fearful, depressed, helpless and alone.
Coronary Calcium Scan: A Heart Test That Can Help Guide Treatment
Many doctors recommend the heart test to pinpoint which patients would benefit from treatment to reduce their cardiovascular risk.
Why Does Medical Advice Often Change? Doctors Explain
Medical reversals about menopause hormones, knee surgery and vitamins over the years have left patients confused. But doctors say these pivots often are good medicine.
Shifting the Focus of Breast Cancer to Prevention
If protective measures were widely adopted, they could significantly reduce women’s chances of ever getting breast cancer.
What You Need to Know About the Latest Aspirin Recommendations
New recommendations about aspirin, heart health and colon cancer have left many people confused. Here’s what you need to know.
Aspirin Use to Prevent 1st Heart Attack or Stroke Should Be Curtailed, U.S. Panel Says
Adults at high risk for cardiovascular disease may face serious side effects if they start a daily regimen of low-dose aspirin.
A New Malaria Vaccine Marks a Critical Moment for Africa
A new malaria vaccine should inspire even further Africa-based science.
A ‘Historical Event’: W.H.O. Approves the First Malaria Vaccine
The disease kills about 500,000 people each year, about half of them children in Africa.
One Broken Bone? You May Be at Risk for Another
Any fracture in an older woman or man, whether from a car accident or sidewalk slip, may be a sign you should have your bone health checked.
Federal Panel Recommends Booster Shots, Opening New Campaign Against the Virus
Scientific advisers to the C.D.C. endorsed additional doses of the Pfizer-BioNTech vaccine for older Americans but not for health care workers, in a possible rift with regulators.
Study of Covid Booster Shot Benefits Fans Debate Over Extra Doses
Independent experts, including government scientists, were skeptical of the research from Israel, which included limited data over a short period.
The Black Mortality Gap, and a Document Written in 1910
Some clues on why health care fails Black Americans can be found in the Flexner Report.
A Common Heart Problem That’s Easy to Miss
About three million adults in the U.S. have been diagnosed with A-fib, a heart-rhythm abnormality that’s on the rise. Here’s how to recognize the signs and treat it.
These Sisters With Sickle Cell Had Devastating — and Preventable — Strokes
Kyra and Kami never got a simple test that could have protected them. Their story exemplifies the failure to care for people with the disease, most of whom are Black.
The Pandemic Was Bad for Our Teeth. Will It Change Oral Health Forever?
The rise of teledentistry and other alternatives have the potential to fix some of the disparities in care.
Can the Covid Vaccine Protect Me Against Virus Variants?
Vaccines do a good job of protecting us from coronavirus, but fear and confusion about the rise of variants have muddled the message. Here are answers to common questions.
Breast Cancer Centers Urge Annual Scans, Counter to U.S. Guidelines
A panel recommends biennial screenings, starting at 50, but a new study took issue with the way hundreds of centers are telling women 40 and up to come in yearly. Some experts contend that frequent mammograms can “do more harm than good.”
Lung Cancer Scans Are Recommended for People 50 and Older With Shorter Smoking Histories
New advice from an influential panel will make more women and African-Americans eligible for CT scans, but some who need them most may not be able to afford them.
Plan to Ditch the Mask After Vaccination? Not So Fast.
It’s not clear how easily vaccinated people may spread the virus, but the answer to that question is coming soon. Until then, scientists urge caution.
How to Prevent the Medical Care Crisis After Covid-19
A year of missed preventive medical care is endangering minority communities.
This Is the Health System That Biden Inherits From Trump
With medical spending down for the first time in decades, gains in care for the poor and vulnerable are under threat.
Fears of a ‘Twindemic’ Recede as Flu Lies Low
Despite early worries, flu patients are not competing with Covid-19 patients for ventilators, and the threat of dueling outbreaks may be waning.
Amid Pandemic, Scientists Reassess Routine Medical Care
All this year, patients stayed away from doctors’ offices in droves, postponing tests and treatments. Maybe there’s a silver lining.
Here’s Why Vaccinated People Still Need to Wear a Mask
The new vaccines will probably prevent you from getting sick with Covid. No one knows yet whether they will keep you from spreading the virus to others — but that information is coming.
After a Broken Bone, the Risk of a Second Fracture
Far too few patients are referred for treatment that could stave off another costly, debilitating and sometimes deadly fracture.
Health Officials Fear Postponing Preventive Care Has Long-Term Risks
Nonurgent medical procedures have seemed worth postponing in a pandemic. This could pose long-term risks, health officials fear.
Polycystic Ovary Syndrome: What It Is, How to Manage It
Often misunderstood and misdiagnosed, PCOS can play havoc with your fertility. Here’s how to recognize the symptoms and take action to protect your reproductive health.
Are We Looking for the Wrong Coronavirus Vaccines?
The best vaccines don’t just prevent a disease; they also prevent the pathogen causing the disease from being transmitted. So why aren’t we focusing more on those?
Using Telemedicine to Treat Opioid Addiction
Getting medication long meant seeing a licensed provider. Now a strategy for evading Covid-19 makes treatment available via the web.
Scared That Covid-19 Immunity Won’t Last? Don’t Be
Dropping antibody counts aren’t a sign that our immune system is failing against the coronavirus, nor an omen that we can’t develop a viable vaccine.
Attention All Women: Trump Is Coming for Your Health Care
Even with a pandemic raging, the president wants the Supreme Court to strike down the Affordable Care Act.