Are Alternative Birthing Practices a Good Idea?

Feb. 18, 2022 — Can I eat my placenta? Is a water birth safe for my baby? These are a couple of the questions that more people have been asking Sarah Pachtman, MD, over the past couple of years amid a boom in alternative birthing practices. Pachtman, an obstetrics and gynecology doctor and a…

Overactive Bladder, Urinary Incontinence Common in Middle-Aged Women

Dec. 22, 2021 (HealthDay News) — Nearly one in five Japanese women report urinary incontinence related to overactive bladder (OAB) or stress urinary incontinence, according to a study published online Nov. 12 in Menopause. Kazue Nagai, Ph.D., from Gunma University in Japan, and colleagues investigated the prevalence and factors associated with urinary symptoms in women….

Third Transplant Patient Cured of HIV Marks Important Firsts

Feb. 16, 2022 — This week’s news that a third person has been “cured” of HIV through a unique transplant of stem cells has given hope for a larger-scale way to beat back the HIV epidemic that has plagued the world for decades. But while this case is certainly cause for celebration, experts involved in…

Other Ways to Manage Pain After Surgery

Feb. 17, 2022 — Nick Dawson, a 42-year old Montana-based ski instructor, knows a thing or two about ACL repairs. He has torn his anterior cruciate ligament four times and had surgery for the injury three times. A common but painful surgery, doctors often prescribe a hefty course of opioids for pain management after the…

Why Won’t My Therapist Just Tell Me What to Do?

If you’re looking for advice, you can call friends and family. You can speak with a spiritual leader or life coach. But if you ask your therapist, you may be disappointed. Melba Vasquez, PhD, a psychologist in independent practice in Austin, TX, has heard the plea a number of times throughout her career: “Why don’t…

Olympic Skater Blames Positive Drug Test on Heart Medication Mix-Up

Feb. 16, 2022 Russian figure skater Kamila Valieva said her positive drug test was caused by a mix-up with her grandfather’s heart medication, according to Reuters. Denis Oswald, the permanent chair of the International Olympic Committee’s disciplinary commission, said Valieva discussed the mix-up at a Court of Arbitration for Sport hearing, which was convened to…

Vaccination Reduces Chance of Getting Long COVID, Studies Say

Feb. 16, 2022 Vaccination against COVID-19 reduces the risk of developing long COVID and improves long COVID symptoms among those who were unvaccinated when infected, according to a new comprehensive review by the U.K. Health Security Agency. The review includes data from 15 U.K. and international studies, with seven studies examining whether COVID-19 vaccination before…

1,400 NYC Workers Fired Over COVID Vaccine Mandate

Feb. 15, 2022 New York City fired 1,430 city workers for failing to comply with the city government’s vaccine mandate. Mayor Eric Adams said termination notices were sent Friday to the workers, most of whom had been on unpaid leave for months, The New York Times reported. Of the fired employees, about 900 worked for…

Canada Invokes Emergency Powers to Stop Protests

Feb. 15, 2022 Canadian Prime Minister Justin Trudeau has invoked federal emergency powers to quell the trucker-led protests against COVID-19 restrictions that have clogged the capital city of Ottawa and other parts of the country. Trudeau said he didn’t plan to use the military against the protesters, but he threatened to have the truckers’ vehicles…

Biden’s FDA Chief Nominee Narrowly Wins Senate Confirmation

Feb. 15, 2022 — Robert Califf, MD, on Tuesday narrowly won Senate confirmation to once again serve as the commissioner of the FDA, overcoming protest votes from lawmakers about abortion and opioid issues. The Senate voted 50-46 in favor of Califf’s nomination. A cardiologist long affiliated with Duke University and a noted expert on clinical…