Towns across the country plunging into debates on fluoride in drinking water

NEW YORK (AP) — The decision to add fluoride to drinking water rests with state and local officials, and fights are cropping up nationwide. Communities in Florida, Texas, Oregon, Utah, Wyoming and elsewhere have debated the idea in recent months — the total number is in the dozens, with several deciding to stop adding it [...]

By |2025-01-02T15:10:47-05:00Friday, December 27, 2024|

FDA moves to phase out leading decongestant found in many cold medicines

WASHINGTON — U.S. officials are moving to phase out the leading decongestant found in hundreds of over-the-counter medicines, concluding that it doesn’t actually relieve nasal congestion. Phenylephrine is used in popular versions of Sudafed, Dayquil and other medications, but experts have long questioned its effectiveness. Last month, the Food and Drug Administration formally proposed revoking [...]

By |2025-01-02T15:14:54-05:00Thursday, December 26, 2024|

FDA updates 30-year-old definition of ‘healthy’ for food product packaging

Packaged food companies in the United States will have to follow new rules in order to call products “healthy,” according to changes finalized last week by the Food and Drug Administration. It’s an update of the agency’s definition originally devised 30 years ago. The move is aimed at helping Americans navigate food labels at the [...]

By |2025-01-02T15:19:51-05:00Tuesday, December 24, 2024|

FDA: Phase out off-brand versions of Lilly obesity drugs

WASHINGTON (AP) — Specialty pharmacies and online companies that have been selling off-brand copies of two blockbuster drugs for obesity and diabetes will need to phase out their versions next year under a federal decision issued last week. The Food and Drug Administration said that a nationwide shortage of Eli Lilly’s Zepbound and Mounjaro has [...]

By |2025-01-02T15:19:58-05:00Tuesday, December 24, 2024|

Analysis disputes uses of opioid settlements

People with substance use disorder across the country are not getting a formal say in how most of the approximately $50 billion in opioid lawsuit settlement money is being used to stem the crisis, a new analysis found. Some advocates say that is one factor for why portions of the money are going to efforts [...]

By |2024-12-13T10:38:39-05:00Wednesday, December 11, 2024|

Insurer reverses decision on anesthesia

One of the country’s largest health insurers reversed a change in policy after widespread outcry, saying it would not tie payments in some states to the length of time a patient went under anesthesia. Anthem Blue Cross Blue Shield said in a statement that its decision to backpedal resulted from “significant widespread misinformation” about the [...]

By |2024-12-11T15:01:57-05:00Tuesday, December 10, 2024|

Bird flu virus found in raw milk from California farm

The detection of bird flu virus in unpasteurized milk sold in California stores underscores what health experts say are the known and potential risks of raw milk. Raw Farm LLC, of Fresno, Calif., voluntarily recalled one lot of “cream top” whole raw milk after Santa Clara County health officials found the bird flu virus in [...]

By |2024-12-03T10:20:21-05:00Monday, December 2, 2024|

HIV-positive transplants OK under new rule

People with HIV who need a kidney or liver transplant will be able to receive an organ from a donor with HIV under a new rule announced this week by federal health officials. Previously, such transplants could be done only as part of research studies. The new rule is expected to shorten the wait for [...]

By |2024-12-02T10:09:26-05:00Friday, November 29, 2024|

Blood test developed at Ohio State may predict risk for preterm birth

School officials say a blood test developed at The Ohio State University College of Nursing may be able to predict the risk for preterm birth in early pregnancy, one of the leading causes of childhood death. The test was developed after a team led by Shannon Gillespie, Ph.D., assistant professor at the College of Nursing, [...]

By |2024-12-02T10:09:35-05:00Friday, November 29, 2024|
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