Posted today in Medical

Health Highlights: Dec. 29, 2016

Here are some of the latest health and medical news developments, compiled by the editors of HealthDay: Actress Debbie Reynolds Dies 1 Day After Daughter Carrie Fisher's Death Actress Debbie Reynolds died Wednesday, just one day after her daughter, actress Carrie Fisher, died following a heart attack during a flight to Los Angeles last Friday. Reynolds...

Posted today in Medical

Health Tip: Warding Off Wrinkles

-- Want to get rid of some of those ugly wrinkles? Here are suggestions from the American Academy of Dermatology: Protect skin daily with a sunscreen of at least 30 SPF. Avoid tanning beds and prolonged exposure to natural sunlight. Apply moisturizer regularly. Carefully test all products on a small area before using them on your face. Always...

Posted 2 days ago in New Drug Approvals

Shire Announces FDA Approval of Adynovate [Antihemophilic Factor (Recombinant), PEGylated] for Use in Children and Surgical Settings

Lexington, Mass. – December 27, 2016 – Shire plc (LSE: SHP, NASDAQ: SHPG) announced today that the U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) has approved Adynovate [Antihemophilic Factor (Recombinant), PEGylated], an extended circulating half-life recombinant Factor VIII (rFVIII) treatment for hemophilia A, in pediatric patients under 12 years of...

Posted today in Medical

Zika Fears, Opioid Abuse Crisis Top Health News for 2016

When news reports first began to emerge of mysterious, severe birth defects in Brazilian newborns, few could have imagined these isolated tragedies would explode into the leading health news story of 2016: the Zika virus. Soon, those few Brazilian cases of microcephaly -- babies born with abnormally small heads and underdeveloped brains -- grew to...

Posted today in Medical

Mouse Study Hints at Why Obese People Struggle to Exercise

Overweight mice may provide a hint as to why it's so hard to start -- and stick to -- your New Year's resolution to exercise more. Researchers found signs that the brains of obese mice may encourage inactivity. "We know that physical activity is linked to overall good health, but not much is known about why people or animals with obesity are less...

Posted today in Medical

Many Misuse OTC Sleep Aids: Survey

People struggling with insomnia often turn to non-prescription sleep remedies that may be habit-forming and are only intended for short-term use, according to a new Consumer Reports survey. The survey found that 18 percent of people who said they'd taken such over-the-counter drugs in the past year did so on a daily basis. And 41 percent said they'd...

Posted today in Medical

Health Tip: Signs of Frostbite? Head Indoors

-- Frostbite occurs when tissue is damaged from exposure to extreme cold. That's why it's important to get inside immediately at the first possible warning signs. The American Academy of Orthopaedic Surgeons says these symptoms may include: Numbness in parts of the body exposed to cold. A frozen feeling to the skin. Skin and underlying tissue...

Posted today in Medical

Hospital ICUs May Be Overused

Many patients admitted to intensive care units probably don't need treatment in that expensive setting, new research suggests. "Our study found over 50 percent of patients admitted to the ICU were categorized into groups suggesting that they were potentially either too well or too sick to benefit from ICU care or could have received equivalent care...

Posted today in Medical

Debbie Reynold's Death Puts Spotlight on 'Broken Heart Syndrome'

A stroke claimed the life of actress Debbie Reynolds, 84, on Wednesday -- just a day after her daughter Carrie Fisher died from a heart attack. Reynold's son, Todd Fisher, told the Associated Press that the stress of losing her daughter may have been a contributing factor in his mother's death. Now, doctors familiar with such cases agree that so-called...

Posted today in Medical

Artists' Brushstrokes May Offer First Hints of Brain Disease

An artist's work may reveal early signs of progressive brain disease, a new study suggests. Researchers examined the brushstrokes in nearly 2,100 paintings from seven famous artists. Two (Salvador Dali and Norval Morrisseau) had Parkinson's disease, two (James Brooks and Willem de Kooning) had Alzheimer's disease, and three (Marc Chagall, Pablo Picasso...

Recently added consumer and prescribing information: Rubraca, Eucrisa, Soliqua, Xultophy, Intrarosa, Vemlidy, Zinplava, Yosprala, Troxyca ER, Adlyxin

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REMS@FDA: An Upgraded Patient Safety Program

REMS Overview Fact: Prescription drugs are complicated, and they are getting more complicated every day. Issues with complex drugs and side effects is not just a concern for the healthcare provider, it directly impacts the patient and caregiver, too. We’ve all heard the long list of adverse effects and warnings that unfold during a primetime […]

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Drugs.com the First Major Consumer Health Publisher to Implement Full HTTPS Encryption

Drugs.com is pleased to announce the introduction of full HTTPS encryption for all web site visitors. With this significant and important change, nearly 70 million monthly visitors will have access to critical health and medicine information in a safe, secure and private environment. Why HTTPS Encryption? Almost everything you do on the Internet leaves a digital […]

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Off-Label or Off-Limits? Should You Use A Drug For An Unapproved Use?

Off-Label Drug Use: What Is It? You may be surprised to learn that you have probably been prescribed a medication “off-label” at one point or another by your doctor. Maybe you’ve heard of “off-label” drug use in the news, but what does this really mean? “Off-label” use of a drug refers to prescribing a medication […]