Search results

Bariatric surgery is probably the most successful means of reducing body weight (and fatness) in obese people. But Body Mass Index is not necessarily the best predictor of diabetes remission with the stomach surgery, although it has been the main criterion of eligibility for it.

As measured using objective reviews and standardized parameters, a large survey revealed that an astounding 55 percent of doctors are beaten down by their profession, a major increase over the prior three years. It is likely this trend will get worse, and both doctors and patients will suffer.

Dr. Bennet Omalu, a leading authority on concussion research, wrote in a recent op-ed in the New York Times that children should be banned from playing football, and other "high-impact contact sports," until they are educated enough to decide for themselves. But we wonder whether his proposal will actually protect kids, since they need more activity, not less.

Early this month the FDA sent warning letters to five supplement companies, advising them that picamilon, an ingredient they included in some of their products, does not meet the standard for dietary ingredients.

A new report highlights the number of Americans who are candidates for reducing their risk of heart and vascular disease because they have elevated LDL levels. It also reveals how many of them are actually taking lipid-lowering drugs, such as statins. And as it turns out, it's not enough.

Healthcare is increasingly viewed as a consumer-driven service that can be rated similar to hotels. Not only does the literature not support improved health outcomes from online patient reviews of doctors, they can have potentially damaging consequences.

A new study from Chinese researchers found a small, but significant, benefit among smokers trying to quit who have a particular gene variant related to the dopamine reward system. The benefit is not large enough to give any smokers comfort: just don't even start.

The seasonal nature of the flu shot, as well as misinformation about its perceived toxins, have damaged the vaccine's public image and contributed to its perceived ineffectiveness. But as researchers attempt to come up with a long-lasting universal flu vaccine, a new study may have an answer as to why we are failing to develop it.

Say you're a woman having a screening mammogram and the radiologist finds something suspicious. But it turns out to be a so-called "false-positive," and not any type of cancer. So you're off the hook. Right? Maybe not, because a new study says that result might have implications for developing cancer at a later time.

Most people have heard of SAD, or Seasonal Affective Disorder, which is a fancy term for depression that typically has its onset in late fall or early winter a period when the days are getting shorter. A study found that treatments involving exposure to light, as well as taking medication, showed promise in helping sufferers.

Just when we thought the increase in Type-2 diabetes would go unabated, new statistics published by the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention cast a glimmer of hope in what was an otherwise grim trend. The news was so eye-opening, even CDC researchers were surprised.

Rather than taking AIDS medication prophylactically on a daily basis, it's now possible to use it the following day, a practice that still prevents infection quite well. While this is surprisingly good news, there are also downsides to this approach.

Ritalin, a staple for the treatment of ADHD in children, is the subject of a new Cochrane Report questioning its effectiveness. The review, which also contains caveats that somewhat undercut its primary finding, indicates that the widely-used drug may have a better reputation than it deserves.

A new study using PET scans on the brains of older individuals shows a three-fold higher risk of mild cognitive impairment (MCI) among those with elevated levels of amyloid-beta, a proteinaceous material associated with neurodegeneration. MCI is a known risk factor for Alzheimer's disease.

We're used to thinking that men typically drink more than women. That's still true but it may not continue to be so if current trends are an indication of future behaviors. Based on survey data, nearly half of all women reported consuming alcohol within the previous month, a finding which is up from 10 years earlier. Meanwhile, for men, tipping a drink, dipped.

Women with relatively severe PMS may be at higher risk of developing high blood pressure (HBP), or hypertension. It's not clear how such an interaction may occur. Premenstrual syndrome sufferers may be at especially high risk of developing HBP before age 40. Thiamine and riboflavin may reduce the increased risk.

Most fad diets do not work for everyone, regardless of what someone writing a book claims. So why is that the case? A new study seeks to create an algorithm to predict better results.

Amblyopia, or lazy eye, is a condition that affects roughly 3 percent of kids in the U.S. Traditional treatment methods use a patch or vision-blurring eye drops to intermittently block the stronger eye, forcing the weaker eye to work harder. But new FDA-approved programmable glasses that mimic these tactics are offering an intriguing treatment option.

When Turing Pharmaceuticals bought Impax Pharmaceuticals, the sole supplier of the antiparasitic drug Daraprim, and jacked up the price more than 50-fold, patients and doctors were furious. Enter a third company, which is now selling a similar pill for a $1, compared to Turin's which cost $750. Does this dollar deal make sense? Maybe, and here's why.

At long last, the FDA approved biotech salmon, AquaAdvantage, which is bred to grow to twice the size of other fish. But in contrast to every scientific study and advisory, the editorial board of The New York Times writes that the genetically-modified fish should be labelled. We take issue with that position.

Obese individuals have yet another reason to shed extra pounds -- this time to prevent knee cartilage degeneration. A recent study found that obese patients who lose at least 10 percent of their body weight can slow down the progression of cartilage damage and potentially avoid knee replacement surgery.

Metformin has long been the front runner of oral medications prescribed for glucose control in Type-2 diabetics. But could it also help adolescents with Type 1? Apparently not, as a recent JAMA study failed to find any statistically-significant benefit in improving blood sugar control.

Today is #GivingTuesday, and the American Council on Science and Health is excited to be a part!

A new drug for pertussis, or whooping cough, targets the bacteria's deadly toxin. It could be an important player in treating the infection, given that both vaccines and antibiotics are losing their effectiveness.

Since 1965, U.S. births by cesarean section have increased seven fold, from 4.5 percent then to 32.2 percent of all deliveries in 2014. While this significant trend does not appear to be increasing maternal or neonatal mortality, the issue of why have C-sections have become so popular remains up for debate.