The latest government data suggests that pregnancy-related deaths in the United States have dropped back to pre-pandemic levels. In 2023, around 680 women died during pregnancy or shortly after childbirth, a significant decrease from 817 deaths in 2022 and 1,205 deaths in 2021. One of the main reasons for this improvement is attributed to the
Health
During a recent hearing on proposed legislation to enhance Medicaid access and reduce improper payments, House Republicans expressed strong opposition to new Medicaid rules. These rules include minimum nursing home staffing requirements and increased pay for home care workers. While there is a consensus on the need to adequately compensate frontline caregivers and improve the
Prescribing QT-prolonging medications with known torsades de pointes (TdP) risk to older dialysis-dependent patients is a common practice among non-nephrologists, as highlighted in a recent cross-sectional study. The study revealed that a significant percentage of Medicare patients with kidney failure receiving in-center hemodialysis were prescribed medications with known TdP risk, raising concerns about patient safety
The prevalence of vaping among teenagers has been a growing concern in recent years. A study conducted by researchers at the University of Nebraska Medical Center revealed a concerning association between vaping frequency and increased levels of urine lead and uranium among adolescents aged 13 to 17. The study included 200 individuals, and it was
Loneliness is a common emotional issue among cancer survivors that can have significant implications for their overall health and well-being. A recent retrospective longitudinal study found that greater feelings of loneliness and social isolation were associated with a higher risk of mortality among cancer survivors over a 10-year study period. The study highlighted the need
The health industry has long been dominated by men, with women facing significant challenges in terms of receiving adequate healthcare and representation in research. Despite men having a lower life expectancy and being at a higher risk of certain health conditions, women actually spend more of their lives in poor health. This is largely due
Recently, Tennessee’s GOP-controlled Statehouse passed legislation that penalizes adults who assist minors in receiving gender-affirming care without parental consent. This bill, which is the first of its kind, is part of a series of anti-LGBTQ+ laws that have been enacted in Tennessee since 2015. These laws have sparked controversy and criticism from various groups, including
In today’s digital age, social media has become an integral part of our daily lives. Healthcare professionals, including doctors, nurses, and medical students, are not exempt from its influence. The rise of platforms like X, TikTok, Instagram, Facebook, and LinkedIn has provided a new avenue for healthcare professionals to share their experiences, challenges, and successes
A recent study conducted by Chinese researchers has shown promising results in the treatment of patients with relapsed or refractory hematologic cancers. The innovative approach combines sequential CD7 chimeric antigen receptor (CAR) T-cell therapy with haploidentical hematopoietic stem-cell transplantation (HSCT) and does not involve graft-versus-host disease (GVHD) prophylaxis. The findings suggest that this strategy could
The study conducted by Shima Moein and her colleagues revealed that taste dysfunction typically resolved within a year after being exposed to COVID-19. However, smell loss persisted in a significant number of individuals. The research highlighted that 30.3% of people with prior COVID-19 experienced olfactory dysfunction, compared to only 21% of those who had never