Health

Millions of Americans rely on mail-order medications for convenience or insurance purposes. However, scorching summer temperatures pose a hidden threat to these vital medications. Delivery trucks can reach scorching temperatures of over 150°F, far exceeding the recommended storage range for many medications. Experts warn that extreme heat can degrade the effectiveness of several medications, including insulin, birth control pills, and life-saving liquid drugs used by transplant patients. Studies show that even without visible signs of damage, heat exposure can alter the chemical makeup of drugs, making them less potent or potentially harmful. Despite the potential risks, regulations for storing drugs…

A recent pilot study found that drinking a beverage containing erythritol (an artificial sweetener used to boost the content of stevia and monk fruit and to sweeten low-carb ketogenic products) more than doubled the risk of blood clots in 10 healthy individuals. Blood clots can break off from blood vessels and travel to the heart, triggering a heart attack, or the brain, causing a stroke. Previous research has linked erythritol to an increased risk of stroke, heart attack, and death. Dr. Stanley Hazen, lead author of the study and director of the Cardiovascular Diagnostic and Prevention Center at the Cleveland…

Early detection of cancer is critical to saving lives and mitigating the financial burden associated with treating this disease, health officials say. Understanding the mechanisms underlying this diagnosis becomes increasingly crucial as the incidence of cancer shifts to younger age groups, as highlighted in a report released in January by the American Cancer Society. The report, published in CA: A Cancer Journal for Clinicians, reveals a troubling trend: While the general population in the United States is aging, individuals under age 50 are experiencing an increase in overall cancer incidence from 1995 to 2020. This contrasts with older age groups,…

In a groundbreaking initiative, infants with peanut allergies across Australian hospitals will now have access to a life-changing treatment program aimed at building tolerance to this common allergy. The pioneering program, the first of its kind in the world, is a collaboration between the National Centre of Excellence in Allergy (NACE) and the Murdoch Children's Research Institute (MCRI). Known as the ADAPT OIT Program, it is tailored for infants under 12 months who have been diagnosed with a peanut allergy and are under the care of allergy specialists at ten children’s hospitals in five states in Australia. The treatment, provided…

Countries with limited budgets typically choose to pay for what are considered more essential health services, such as vaccines, rather than reproductive health, said Dr Ayman Abdelmohsen, head of the family planning division of UNFPA's technical division, because they produce more immediate results. But a recent UNFPA initiative to get low-income countries to shoulder a greater share of the costs has led 44 governments to sign up to a new financing model that commits them to increasing their contributions to reproductive health each year. Despite this, last year saw a significant global shortfall of around $95 million in commodity purchases.…

For many Americans, the rising tide of prescription drug prices seems like an unstoppable force, threatening to drown household budgets and access to health care. While pharmaceutical companies often shoulder the brunt of the public blame, the web of influence on drug costs is far more intricate. Today, we shine a spotlight on a critical but usually hidden player in this system: pharmacy benefit managers, or PBMs. Rebecca Robbins, a leading investigative reporter specializing in pharmaceuticals for The New York Times, takes us on a deep dive into the world of PBMs. We explore their role as middlemen between drugmakers,…

Mosquito-borne dengue fever is spreading rapidly around the world, reaching record levels and even popping up in unexpected places. The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) is warning doctors in the United States to be on the lookout for cases, as the risk of infection has increased this year. Why the wave? Several factors are driving the rise of dengue. The Aedes aegypti mosquito, which transmits the virus, thrives in warm, humid environments. Climate change is creating ideal conditions for these mosquitoes to expand their range and become more numerous. Urbanization is also bringing people closer to mosquito breeding…

The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) announced Thursday that all Americans 6 months and older should receive one of the new COVID-19 vaccines when they become available this fall. The recommendation comes amid a summer surge in COVID-19 cases, with infection rates rising in at least 39 states and territories. While most Americans have developed some immunity to the coronavirus through previous infections or vaccinations, new vaccines offer an incremental boost. However, their effectiveness wanes over a few months as immunity wanes and the virus continues to mutate. Data presented at a recent meeting of the CDC Advisory…

When I was little, my father, who rarely traveled, would tell stories of a trip to Europe he took with his parents when he was 14, in 1966. He remembered how Nonie loved the pristine Swiss roads and flowerbeds; the cozy fireplace in the hillside house near Lugano, where her father was born, with its clever alcoves for drying clothes or warming bread; and the palpable poverty in the house in Pozzuoli, near Naples, where Nonie’s aunt had lined the walls with newspaper for insulation. Occasionally, my father would show me his Kodachrome slides on a projector. As an adult,…

Ann Lurie, a former pediatric nurse turned prominent Chicago philanthropist, died Monday at her home. She was 79. Northwestern University, where Lurie was a trustee and major donor, announced her death without giving a cause. Raised in Miami by a single mother, Lurie was an only child and protested the Vietnam War during her college years. She initially planned to join the Peace Corps, but instead married Robert H. Lurie. Robert Lurie built a large real estate and investment business with Sam Zell, which included holdings such as The Chicago Tribune and the Chicago Cubs. He also invested in sports…